The attack on public broadcasting is already having a serious impact—and we still don’t know the full extent of the damage.

The Indiana Public Broadcasting collective, which has long staffed a team of journalists at the Statehouse, has been told their jobs will end at the close of 2025. These reporters have covered news from across the state for years, but as of 2026, their work will come to an end.

WFYI radio and television in Indianapolis also employs a number of journalists. At this point, no one knows what the future holds for them. Management has not provided specifics about potential staffing cuts but has acknowledged that sustaining the current level of service is at risk as state and federal funding disappears.

Some conservatives have argued that public broadcasting—particularly at the national level—leans too far to the left. In my experience, the journalism produced by public broadcasting, both nationally and locally, is consistently top-notch. Reporters seek out and present a wide range of perspectives, including those from the political right, when covering major issues.

Public broadcasting fills a void no commercial operation can match. WFYI’s news team often covers stories that other outlets cannot or will not. And in the realm of documentary storytelling, no commercial network, cable channel, or streaming platform comes close to matching the work of filmmakers like Ken Burns.

I have supported public broadcasting for as long as I can remember. While I can’t always respond to every fundraising appeal, I have consistently renewed my membership with WFYI.

If you live in WFYI’s coverage area, I encourage you to support their work—by becoming a member, or by giving whatever contribution you can afford.

For more on how to contribute to WFYI, use this link.