KRCB, Host of Outbeat Radio for 26 Years, Needs Your Support
| The following is from an op-ed written by Darren LaShelle, President and CEO, Northern California Public Media, for the Press Democrat released Sunday, April 27 2025. Public media is one of America’s best chances for bringing people together and healing the divisions we see across the political and economic spectrum—and I’d like to tell you why. Stations like Northern California Public Media—which includes KRCB TV Cotati, KPJK TV San Mateo, KRCB FM Rohnert Park, and KRCG FM Windsor—have made significant strides in serving our communities, even while operating for decades with limited resources. At a time when we need more government support to elevate facts over conjecture and tell the stories of all Americans so that we may understand each other better, our modest federal funding is being threatened. The current administration has proposed rescinding future funds that Congress has already approved. This funding is essential. Local stations like NorCal Public Media stretch every federal dollar by raising six additional dollars from local sources—foundations, sponsors, and members like you. This local-national model, baked into public media since its creation, ensures that communities are active participants in our nonprofit service. While this model works well in wealthier metropolitan areas, it’s often unsustainable in rural or low-income regions. Federal funding safeguards access to public media for all Americans, regardless of geography or income. Public media was established through the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 to counter what FCC Chairman Newton Minow described as a “vast wasteland” of commercial television. Since then, commercial media has grown even more polarized and profit-driven, while public media has remained committed to education, factual reporting, and local storytelling. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was created to oversee federal funding and support a system that now includes 1,500 local TV and radio stations, reaching 99% of the U.S. population. More than 70% of CPB’s funds go directly to local stations like ours. Public broadcasting costs the average taxpayer about $1.60 per year—less than a cup of coffee. NorCal Public Media receives about 10% of its annual budget from CPB. That money supports our staff, programming, and the infrastructure necessary to fulfill our mission. Public media serves a broader and more diverse audience than many realize. Around 60% of our television viewers live outside urban areas. We are a trusted source for 87% of homes without internet, 56% of low-income households, and 55% of rural homes. Public media has bipartisan appeal: 35% of our audience identifies as Democrat, 26% Republican, and 37% Independent. In fact, a recent YouGov survey showed that 65% of Trump voters believe public television is either adequately funded or underfunded. For the 22nd consecutive year, public television was ranked the most trusted American institution, with 76% of citizens agreeing it provides excellent value. Our children’s programming is unmatched. PBS Kids reaches more children—especially multicultural and low-income children—than any other kids’ TV network. A notable 88% of parents trust PBS Kids as a safe, educational space for their children to watch content and interact with digital learning tools. Public media also helps fight the spread of local news deserts. Across the country, public radio stations employ over 3,100 journalists focused on community, state, and regional news. We are the nation’s largest journalistic enterprise. At KRCB 104.9 FM, we are actively expanding our coverage of Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Mendocino counties, both on air and online, because our community deserves reliable, factual reporting in an age plagued by misinformation. Our impact goes beyond journalism. Public media is an essential part of the nation’s emergency alert system. NPR powers lifesaving emergency alerts for the nation’s radio stations via the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS). For TV, PBS operates the Warning Alert and Response Network (WARN) which enables nationwide broadcast distribution of emergency alerts. From wildfires to earthquakes and floods, our stations play a critical role in keeping communities safe. During emergencies, public media stations are often the only outlets providing hyper-local information of value—including emergency shelters, evacuation routes, and messages from local authorities at the municipal and county level. Without this infrastructure, many parts of the emergency broadcast and cellphone alert system would simply collapse. Federal support for public broadcasting is a small but vital investment in communities that rely on us. That support must not be rescinded. We urge Congress to continue funding public media and preserving its ability to inform, educate, and unite Americans. I respectfully disagree with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who stated, “We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime,” during a recent US House subcommittee hearing on public broadcasting. There is no hate in public media, only a mission to tell the stories of our communities, uphold the highest journalistic standards, and bring people together around high quality news, educational programming, and local community outreach events that unite us instead of dividing us. Public media does all of this for a modest investment and provides these free services to every American. |
 Darren LaShelle President & CEO |