This morning my Morning Edition co-hosts started their day the same way NPR journalists have for decades. They got up while most of the country was still sleeping, made a cup of coffee (or two), then headed into work to bring you the news.
It seems like any other morning, but today marks a historic turning point: it is the first day in more than 50 years that public media operates without federal funding.
In the years that I’ve worked for NPR, I’ve seen how public media touches people’s lives. I’ve had conversations just about everywhere you can think of — living rooms, statehouses, barber shops, actual palaces, PTA meetings, town halls and the side of the road. In all of these conversations, I try to do two things — to let people know I’m listening, really listening, and that I am carrying their words far beyond us.
I think that news can empower people with information, but sometimes it’s just about letting people know that they matter. But with our resources suddenly more scarce, voices like the ones I spent my career amplifying could now go unheard.
Despite the financial challenges this moment brings, our commitment to informing the public has not changed. We will continue to report the news without fear or favor. We will keep telling stories that enrich lives and celebrate humanity. We will continue to serve you.
