Public Media Takedown
With an FCC investigation and a bill in front of Congress that could strip funding, NPR and PBS are fighting for their lives
This is Grok’s attempt at showing FCC Chair Brendan Carr stealing an public media fan’s tote bags.
The government is coming for your favorite tote bag suppliers. Last week, amid the blizzard of executive orders, targeted firings, crazy rants, unfounded accusations, and hurtful tariffs, the Federal Communications Commission notified the country’s two public broadcasting organizations, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), that they are now the subjects of an investigation into their underwriting practices.
In a letter to NPR’s president and CEO, Katherine Maher, and her PBS counterpart Paula Kerger, newly appointed FCC Chair Brendan Carr claims that the roughly 1,500 public radio and TV stations are breaking the terms of their operating licenses—which is a big deal that comes with some potentially serious consequences.
OK, we’re going to get technical here for a second. Under Section 397 of the Communications Act, all NPR and PBS affiliate stations are noncommercial educational broadcast stations—NCEs in government speak. That means they must be publicly owned or operate as a nonprofit private foundation. They have to be free to use. They can’t support political candidates. And they can’t run commercials—which is what Carr is accusing NPR, PBS, and their affiliates of doing.
If you flick on your local public radio or TV station it won’t be long until you hear what has Carr so worked up: an underwriting announcement. Plenty of charity organizations, corporations, and local businesses donate money to public broadcasting. In return, that underwriting support is often mentioned between news segments or TV shows. Carr is contenting that these announcements cross a very specific line.
“The FCC has long held that these underwriting announcements are for identification purposes only,” he writes. “These announcements should not promote the contributor’s products, services, or businesses, and they may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent, or lease.”
Basically, underwriting announcements can’t be commercials—which, in a statement, Maher assured they aren’t.
“NPR programming and underwriting messaging complies with federal regulations,” Maher writes, “including the FCC guidelines on underwriting messages for noncommercial educational broadcasters, and Member stations are expected to be in compliance as well.”
Carr isn’t so sure. He’s tasking the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and Media Bureau to dig into the issue, and he plans to pass along their findings to Congress, which could be a big issue for both NPR and PBS. Both indirectly receive federal funding. Let JMM explain. In 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act allocated $525 million for fiscal year 2024, which wrapped up last June, to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the parent organization of both NPR and PBS. That money is then split into a few pieces, most notably $267 million goes to local PBS stations and $83 million to local NPR stations. That money, along with cash raised during fund drives, as well as from underwriting gifts and charitable donations, is then paid back to the national organizations as licensing fees for things like NPR’s “All Things Considered” and whatever historical documentary Ken Burns is cooking up for PBS. In his letter, Carr said he doesn’t believe either deserves that federal help.
“For my own part, I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS,” he writes.
Carr isn’t alone. Despite being rated as one of the closest to neutral news organizations in the country, many Republicans believe NPR is liberal propaganda. As proof, they point to last spring, when NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner wrote a diatribe about what he claimed was unchecked bias at the news organization. He detailed what he saw as deliberate attempts to slant the news in favor of Democrats, from burying the Hunter Biden laptop story to interviewing Democratic lawmakers over Republicans. NPR pushed back against Berliner’s accusations, of course, but it was “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep who went further, countering each of Berliner’s points in a mic drop of a Substack post.
But that didn’t matter to NPR’s critics. To them, the news organization is woke media. Many have clamored to cut its funding, most notably back in 2022, right before that $525 million was allocated. That push is now back, two legislators, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), introducing the “No Propaganda Act” into each chamber of Congress in December. The bill would strip the CPB of any funds, effectively cutting off NPR and PBS from any federal dollars.
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting refuses to provide Louisianians and Americans with fair, unbiased content. It wastes taxpayer dollars on slanted coverage to advance a leftist political agenda. The No Propaganda Act would save taxpayer money by putting an end to Big Brother’s propaganda outlet,” Kennedy said in a statement on his website.
So, Carr’s threats to send any findings of wrong-doing to Congress have some real ramifications. While the No Propaganda Act—technically known as Senate Bill 5427—was introduced during the last congressional session, nothing stops Kennedy and Perry from rolling the bill out again. And this time, with Republicans controlling all levers of power in Washington D.C., it would likely pass.
And losing funding would be devastating for some stations. According to Protect Our Public Media, it could severely limit services. It would cut educational programming. It would eliminate jobs. It could result in stations shutting down, leaving many rural areas in the country without a local source of news and weather.
But with Elon Musk’s Department of Governmental Efficiency actively looking for any program to cut, there’s plenty of worry that the CPB’s allocation will end up chopped anyway. If it does, stations will have to scramble to stay alive, hoping NPR’s 42 million listeners will buy enough socks and tote bags to make up for the funding loss. But if the FCC cuts NCE licenses of affiliate stations, then many will have to go dark all together, ending the storied run for America’s only public news organization.
Go Directly to Jail
There’s a difference between an oath and a law—and that’s what has some Hawaiian journalists worried. Three Democrats in the Aloha State have introduced a bill that would make the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics legally binding. The bill, Senate Bill No. 1618, titled only as “Relating to Journalism,” would establish an entire system of journalist ethics, including a board that could dole out unspecified penalties for violations.
“The legislature finds that in today's rapidly evolving media landscape, the need for ethical standards in journalism has never been more urgent,” the bill states. “The rise of social media, deepfake technologies, and generative AI has amplified the spread of misinformation, posing new challenges for journalism and public trust. … Traditional journalism, though valuable, often falls short in addressing the ethical dilemmas presented by emerging technologies. The legislature believes that strengthening ethical standards for media outlets will enable the State to combat misinformation, rebuild trust, protect the privacy of citizens, and equip them with the necessary tools to adapt to the digital age.”
The bill goes on to demand the creation of a Journalistic Ethics Commission within Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, mandate that working journalists receive ethics training, provide a system by which citizens can file complaints, and establish a commission to hear those complaints and any appeals from the identified journalists.
It’s all unnerving and, honestly, in JMM’s opinion, misguided. Hardworking journalists already get a heavy dose of ethics in j-schools; it’s standard. And reporters for local newspapers aren’t the ones creating deepfakes or using AI to generate misinformation. So, to think that legally binding them inside a code of ethics they already live by will make things better is silly. It’s like making the Goonies oath legally binding. They’re gonna live by the code regardless, no threat of jail required.
The bill was introduced Jan. 23 and, as of Jan. 27, had passed the first reading in the Hawaiian senate and was referred to a subcommittee. While there are some bills out there that might actually help journalists and increase coverage—see California’s doomed Assembly Bill 886, the Journalism Preservation Act—this would just add a burden on working journalists, a layer of unnecessary bureaucracy, and a method for trolls to harass journalists beyond the comments section.
Instead, support good journalism from upstanding organizations with your time and attention. Maybe by a subscription or two. Or at least share a story on your favorite social network. And ignore the trolls, the conspiracy nuts, and the owner of X. Because the truth is vetted, not spewed.
Level Up
Keeping up with all the advances in AI is about as easy as negotiating a real estate deal for Greenland—it’s just not going to happen. But you can always get a better understanding of what you can do with Chat GPT, DeepSeek, Gemini, Claude, and all the other large language models.
And that’s where Chris Snider and Chris Porter come in. Drake University’s Innovation Profs are offering another webinar on discovering just what AI is capable of. The immersive, hands-on deep-dive workshop is designed specifically for professionals, educators, and innovators. By the end of the session, you’ll be a prompt master, making all those bots do your totally evil bidding The workshop is Fri., Feb. 7, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. You can get your tickets here.
Help Wanted
Drake Broadcasting System (DBS) is looking for some new blood. The student media organization currently needs an Editor, Entertainment Director, and Sports Director for the spring semester. To apply, go to the DBS Instagram page (@DrakeDBS) and click on the link in our bio, or click here. Applications will be due on Sunday, Feb. 9,,at midnight. For more information or for job descriptions, please visit our Instagram page or refer to the posters distributed throughout Meredith Hall.
If you don’t want a leadership gig, then maybe consider participating in DBS’s live dating ahow inspired by The Cut's "The Button". Contestants will participate in a dating show where two contestants (Contestant A and Contestant B) will sit at a table together for 30-90 seconds and 'speed date.' A button will be placed in the center of the table that, if pressed by contestant A, will eliminate contestant B. Contestant B will then be replaced by another contestant at the table, while contestant A will play again. If both contestants refuse to eliminate each other, the two will 'win' and be considered a romantic match.
DBS is recruiting Drake students to join us for a speeding-dating show in our Valentine's Day Special on Friday, Fed. 14, at 1 p.m. To sign up, either go to the link in our Instagram bio or click here!
Finally, DBS’s first General Member Meeting of the Spring semester will take place Thurs., Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Meredith Hall basement. At the meeting, we will be discussing content for our three Drake Relays shows, as well as ideas for our Women's History Month show in March. No experience is required to start working with DBS, so please come if you are interested!
If you have any questions, please reach out to DBS President Emma Stroner at emma.stroner@drake.edu.
Internships, Fellowships, and More
• The Cato Institute is looking for multiple summer intern. Positions include working as a Cato Press Intern, a government affairs intern, or even a Libertarianism.org editorial intern. Positions run May 20-Aug. 8. Interns work 25 hours a week. The must be available to work in Washington D.C. Pay is $15-$20 an hour. For more information, check out Handshake. To apply, click here.
• KCCI-TV Channel 8 in Des Moines is looking for news interns. The spring in-person positions are part-time, while summer positions are full-time. You’ll work as either a producer, a digital editor, reporter, or photographer. The position is paid, though the specific amount is not listed. Click here to apply.
• Warner Bros. Discovery has 117 summer internships listed, including positions like the Food Network & HGTV Commerce Editorial internship, the CNN Desk Newsgathering internship, and Documentary Production internship. Seriously, there’s a ridiculous number of cool gigs here. And they are paid, though that depends on the job. Positions are available in New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, and other cities. For the full list, click here.
• The American Prospect is looking for summer editorial interns that can create narrative interpretations of complex issues. Summer interns can be remote, hybrid, or based in Washington D.C. and work May through August. Full and part-time positions are available. Pay is $17.50. Deadline to apply is March 17. Get more info here.
• DotDash Meredith has posted a slew of summer internship opportunities including video, strategy, editorial, and social media positions. All 14 positions are based in New York City. The full-time gigs are paid $20 an hour, run June 9-August 8, and include extra learning opportunities outside of your position. Deadline to apply is Feb. 14. Check out the complete list here.
• The Conversation US wants a summer editorial intern to help edit local news stories written by academics targeted at either Detroit or Philadelphia—very specific. Preference will be given to those with ties to the area. The full-time gig pays $15 an hour. The position is remote but with the option to work in-person in Boston or New York. Deadline to apply is March 7. For more info or to apply, click here.
• The Blue Trunk Foundation is seeking a part-time remote spring social media and content intern. Blue Trunk works to make it easier for everybody to travel regardless of age, disability, or health conditions. Your job is to help spread that message. You’ll work 10 hours a week Feb. 17-June 13. Pay is $15 an hour. Apply here.
• Sports streamer GameChanger is looking is looking for a summer Social Media intern to help create content for Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. The full-time gig pays $30 an hour (yes, you read that right) and runs June 8-Aug. 15. The positions is remote, but includes a trip to New York City for training. For more info, click here.
• Brit + Co is looking for a graphic design intern. The remote position will help with social media design, illustration, and more. Pay is $15 an hour. No word on the number of hours available. Submit your resume and design portfolio to ali@brit.co with Graphic Design Intern as the email subject line.
• American Public Media, home of Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio, is looking for multiple summer interns to work remote, hybrid, or in-person internships in Minneapolis. Positions include internships in video production, digital reporting, investigative reporting, social media, podcasting, brand marketing, digital fundraising and more. Position start dates vary, as do the length of commitment. Get the full rundown of all the positions here.
• The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting wants a year-long editorial intern. The position is perfect for a recent grad looking to build up their industry contacts and reporting skills. The full-time gig is remote, but can be based in Washington D.C., pays $37,440, and starts May 27. It even comes with insurance after three months! Check out the details here.
• Dropbox needs a summer social media intern that can help create social videos for the brand. The position is remote. Pay is $4,500 per month. You must be a current student graduating by 2027. Your start date is flexible based on your school schedule, ensuring you get a full 12 weeks working for Dropbox. Get more info here.
• My Fitness Pal is looking for a News & Trends intern for this summer. The remote-friendly position will have you monitoring health and wellness content across social platforms and pitching content that aligns with the brand’s mission. Pay is $25. You must be a rising junior or senior. There may be an opportunity for the position to transition to full-time. Get more info and apply here.
• Newsday is looking for summer editorial and social media interns. The 10-week full-time positions are based at the brand’s Melville, NY, headquarters. Pay is $20 an hour. Applicants are limited to juniors, seniors, and recent grads with at least one internship at a professional news organization. Click here for more info.
• Iowa High School Athletic Association has three summer internship positions available. The 12-week design, social media, and video gigs are full-time with a target start date of May 19. Pay is $18 an hour. Application deadline is Feb. 14. For more info and to apply, click here.
• Her Campus is actively seeking journalism students to work as national news writers. If selected, writers work two four-hour shifts per month pitching and writing timely news for the site, while also contributing weekly in-depth stories to various sections. Her Campus positions are strictly internship-for-credit, though do provide lots of clips for your portfolio. Click here for more information
• The Iowa Cubs are looking for a slew of power hitters to fill multiple summer intern spots. Positions include video, merchandising, corporate partnerships, and creative services (read social media content creator). Hours and start dates vary by position. For more information and to apply, click here.
Got Some Super Special News?
Do you have some essential info or are you the new Global Social Media Strategist for Boston Scientific like Kate Krug (Mags, ’11)? If so, then let JMM know by sending that juicy news on over to jeff.inman@drake.edu. JMM will treat it like this one-hell-of-a-year post from Kaili JiMei (Mags, GD, Fr, ’22) and tell everyone about it.
Finally, always remember to stock up.