Power of Public Media

A Message from Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and Chief Executive Officer of WETA

Dear WETA Friends:

Just after midnight on July 18, Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for public media in America. This loss of funding is a serious blow. WETA will lose $9 million in this fiscal year and $9 million in the next fiscal year as well. Public media is a highly collaborative, interdependent system, and the full ramifications of the rescission will take some time to ascertain. We will keep you updated as we decide what programmatic cuts we must make.

It is important for you to know that although WETA will deeply feel the impact of this funding cut, this institution remains vibrant and enduring. We will move forward to do our important work to inform and to educate and to make lifelong learning available and accessible; and we will continue to deliver outstanding content to our audiences.

We will also continue to advocate strongly for federal funding of public media as Congress considers federal appropriations this fall. Public media is a great investment in this country and its people, and Americans understand and respect the unique role we play in our society.

WETA will be here for you — and we are committed to serving you. We face challenges, but we will not retreat from our mission.

You are vital to our future. Thank you for your essential ongoing financial contributions, for rallying in support of public media, and for your continued trust in us to serve this community and the nation.

Sharon Percy Rockefeller
 

FEDERAL FUNDING ZEROED OUT FOR PUBLIC MEDIA

Congress has voted to zero out federal funding for WETA and public media stations across the country.

While WETA isn’t in danger of closing its doors, the removal of federal funding has opened a more than $9 million budget gap this year and next, leaving us with many hard decisions to make to remain fiscally resilient this year and in the years ahead. We will be forced to cut programs you count on unless we can make up this gap.

What WETA needs most right now is steady, reliable support from monthly sustainers. Faced with these difficult program and budget cuts, your ongoing monthly gift provides the stability we need to keep delivering the trusted programs and services our community counts on.

Donate Now

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Illuminating our Nation’s Stories

WETA serves as one of the top producers for PBS, telling the nation’s stories through insightful history documentaries. Partnering with filmmaker Ken Burns and Harvard scholar Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., we produce fascinating history series that illuminate our country’s journey, explore our humanity and share lived experiences. As well, the WETA Well Beings multiplatform national health campaign offers vital  content and resources that highlight mental health challenges facing America’s youth.

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Providing a Trusted Source of Journalism

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Our acclaimed news and public affairs series such as PBS News Hour and Washington Week with The Atlantic are staples on PBS stations across the country. They keep the nation informed, with in-depth reporting that offer valuable context and perspective.

Inspiring Audiences Through Local Productions

WETA explores the rich history and culture that make our community such a vibrant place to live with productions like If You Lived Here, Signature Dish, Get Out of Town, WETA Arts, and It’s Academic. These programs celebrate the stories that shape the unique character of our region. We take pride in spotlighting our local community via series that honor the people, places and culture of the national capital area.

If You Lived Here: show-mezzanine16x9

Celebrating the Artistry of Classical Music

WETA Classical

WETA Classical is the exclusive radio home for classical music in the D.C. area and is a haven for listeners to connect with the music they love every day. From broadcasts of beloved masterpieces to local and national recordings and arts presentations, WETA Classical is a treasured and inspiring listening experience for devotees of the genre’s magnificent music.

Preparing Children for Success

WETA PBS Kids programming makes  a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based entertainment. For generations, families have trusted public media to help kids learn to read, count, and navigate the world. Shows like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Curious George don’t just entertain—they teach.

Plus, WETA is  out in our local community conducting educational workshops and programs for students, parents, teachers and childcare providers for low-income families.

Daniel Tiger

Public Media Is For Everyone

Coffee on a scale

Public Media delivers unparalleled value, achieving remarkable impact for about $1.60 per person per year. 

Public media is for everyone. It’s free, accessible, and reflects our local community’s values and range of experiences. Unlike commercial media, which is driven by profits and advertisers, we are driven by you, our neighbors, and a mission to serve the public good. 

With federal funding for public media being zeroed out, WETA now faces a $9 million budget gap. While WETA isn’t in danger of shutting its doors, the loss of federal funding places stations around the country at risk; our system is interconnected so federal defunding of CPB would weaken the entire structure, imperiling PBS and hundreds of stations nationwide that carry our programs. 

Watch the short video below to learn how federal funding supports public media — and why it matters so deeply to our communities across the nation.

How to Help

  • 1. Donate Now

    Support your public media station and ensure that WETA can continue to deliver the programs you count on.

    Donate Now

  • 2. Join our e-mail mailing list

    Be the first to get show updates and previews, event invitations, special offers and so much more. Stay in-the-know about all things WETA and PBS.

  • 3. Get Involved

    Go to Protect My Public Media to learn about how you can protect WETA and public media stations across the country.

    Get Involved

WETA: Public Media for the D.C. Region