Since the first time student journalists began typing away impactful stories, they’ve been asked the same thing: “The journalism industry is dying. Why would you dig yourself in a hole like this?” For the past years, it’s been easy to fight back against this and say that our voices will never be silenced. However, once the Trump Administration passed the Recessions Act of 2025, this was all blown out the door.
The Recession Act of 2025 was passed by Congress in early August, cutting $9 billion in previously allocated funds. This includes $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and about $7 billion in foreign aid. This was a calculated move from the administration to cut all federal support for National Public Radio (NPR), Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and their member stations. This is an attack on not only the United States as a whole, but on the principles of the free press.
During the decision regarding this cut to a vital factor of American culture, North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams rose to defend public broadcasting, stating “When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year, public broadcasting was there when traditional communications failed… the public radio was how they [North Carolinians] received their news.”
Radio stations are not only known for their sensational collection of songs that blare through car rides, but as a way to communicate with each other dating all the way back to Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats.
NPR is known for its unbiased and reliable journalism that chooses to report on diverse cultural perspectives for the sole purpose of keeping the population informed. It is not only limited to politics and hard news reporting, but also for its in-depth coverage of topics in fields of science, arts, and social justice issues.
In case there were any doubts, NPR has won many prestigious journalism awards for their work such as Peabody Awards, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award, etc. Ironically enough, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shot down all those achievements in just a couple short, false sentences.
“I am not sure how NPR helps the public safety of our country, but I do know that NPR, unfortunately, has become really just a propaganda voice for the left,” she said.
When NPR sent reporter Elissa Nadworny to follow two kindergarten best friends who were torn apart by the war in Ukraine to shine a light on the horrible reality, was that propaganda? When Victoria Eavis reported firsthand on survivors’ experiences from Mozambique’s beheadings and humanitarian crisis, was that also propaganda? When NPR focused on a young transgender teen’s story on his life and daily struggles with societal expectations, was that also just a story to promote the left agenda?
On the other hand, PBS is known for its iconic children’s programming that encouraged young kids to dream and learn. For reference, some of these iconic stories stem from shows like Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, and Sesame Street. These shows are more than just cartoons on the TV screen in the living room; they were famous for their preparation for success in school by building foundational skills.
However, PBS is more than just its child programming. PBS offers student journalists the opportunity to become a part of the student advisory team every year to help brainstorm ideas for hard news coverage. For one student specifically, who prefers to stay anonymous, it was a vital part of their student journalist career.
This student journalist has been a part of the PBS Student Advisory team for three years now and has been featured on “On Our Minds: Election 2024,” which has been highlighted in the New York Times, PBS NewsHour, and The Boston Globe. However, this success and involvement stemmed from previous PBS memories.
“Through shows like Sesame Street, NOVA, and American Experience, I encountered a vision of America that was honest, inclusive, and aspirational. PBS didn’t tell me the country was perfect. It showed me that it could be better and that I had a role in making it so.”
Advisors for high school publications and organizations also worry about what this may look like for their talented students. Here in the Sunshine State, the Florida Scholastic Press Association (FSPA) has celebrated student journalism every year since 1947. The board of directors and journalists critique and offer insight on how student journalists can become the best they can be. For FSPA President Ben Langevin, he worries about the invasion of freedom for his students and writers around not only Florida, but the world.
“I’m worried about the first amendment encroachments at the national level with this current administration blocking access to credentialed journalists to public events. Digital journalism is journalism. Defunding NPR is only going to limit who can access the important work those journalists do.”
PPCHS student journalist Janeyliz Baez poses a simple, yet striking question: “If more news stations continue to be defunded, the question rises of whether or not we can do our jobs as journalists with the lack of support coming from our government who funds these stations.” For Baez, she mentions how journalism is how she “informs those around” her and shares people’s stories. She not only fears for those not fortunate enough to have easy access to information, but that she won’t be able to help them.
The Trump Administration is using this money for the chance to fund defense and border security and Make America Skilled Again. While this seems like a scary time for not only journalists, but for the common citizen, there are brighter days ahead. The ones who always fight even in the darkest times will always prevail. Journalism will prevail.
