WTCI reacts to President Trump’s executive order to cut public broadcasting funding
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Our local PBS station, WTCI, is reacting to President Trump’s executive order to cut funding to cut public broadcasters.
The President says in his executive order that in his view, public broadcasters are biased and that the government funding is a waste of money.
He said in his executive order in part, “Unlike in 1967, when the CPB (Corporation of Public Broadcasting) was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options. Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence. ”
In a statement sent to News 12, WTCI president Bob Culkeen said:
“WTCI PBS has served the Tennessee Valley for over fifty years, with essential emergency alert capabilities, local storytelling, and the trusted PBS KIDS educational programming & services that families throughout our region depend on.
Any action to eliminate the essential funding that WTCI PBS receives from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would be devastating to our mission. We encourage everyone whose life has ever been touched by WTCI and PBS to contact their representatives in Congress to urge them to continue funding for public media. Here is a link to protect my public media.
We also reached to Chattanooga’s NPR affiliate WUTC for comment, but did not hear back.
