On Tuesday, March 25, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sent a joint letter to the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency. The press freedom organizations called for bipartisan support for media freedom and public broadcasting ahead of the subcommittee’s March 26 hearing titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable.”
In the letter, the press freedom advocates urged the subcommittee to recognize the critical role of a free and pluralistic press. They cautioned against rhetoric that undermines journalism, warning that such language can encourage hostility toward reporters and media outlets and increase the risks journalists face, especially when covering public officials from across the political spectrum.
Public broadcasting is a trusted source of fact-based local reporting for millions of Americans, particularly in rural communities. To effectively serve the public, it must remain independent from political or governmental influence—an obligation that Congress is responsible for upholding. With many local news outlets struggling financially, leading to widespread “news deserts,” public media often steps in as the only reliable provider of local news and emergency information. Public stations continue to invest in their newsrooms, filling gaps that the private sector is unlikely to address. A recent CPJ report highlighted growing threats to journalists in the U.S., including violence, harassment, legal challenges, and criminalization. This hearing is taking place amid an increasingly hostile climate toward the media. For these reasons, the tone and conduct of the March 26 hearing are crucial.
Read the letter here.