The Public Broadcasting Service

Alexandria, United States

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a nonprofit American television network that offers educational and cultural programming for viewers across the United States, aiming to provide content that informs, educates, and inspires.

CCI Score

61.77

July 16

Latest Event

PBS Responds to Defunding Vote with Executive Advocacy

Following a narrow House vote to rescind federal funding for public media, PBS issued a public statement condemning the politically motivated measure and emphasized the indispensable role of independent, nonprofit journalism in serving local communities. PBS leadership, led by CEO Paula Kerger, has vowed to continue fighting for funding, framing the effort as a defense against authoritarian attempts to control the media.

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LEADER

The Public Broadcasting Service is currently rated as a Leader.

+45 to +100 CCI Score

Companies in this range actively lead the fight against authoritarianism by rejecting oppressive practices and championing democratic values. They implement robust policies, engage in transparent governance, and drive initiatives that set the standard for corporate responsibility.

Latest Events

JUN

12

2025

PBS Responds to Defunding Vote with Executive Advocacy
74.29

Following a narrow House vote to rescind federal funding for public media, PBS issued a public statement condemning the politically motivated measure and emphasized the indispensable role of independent, nonprofit journalism in serving local communities. PBS leadership, led by CEO Paula Kerger, has vowed to continue fighting for funding, framing the effort as a defense against authoritarian attempts to control the media.
+75

Executive Political Engagement

July 16

PBS executive leadership has actively pushed back against politically motivated funding cuts initiated by Trump and supported by partisan votes. Their public response and advocacy for continued federal funding for independent media is an anti-authoritarian action aimed at preserving access to balanced, local journalism. This stance is crucial in resisting fascist attempts to suppress dissenting voices in the media.

House votes to kill funding for public media
MAY

05

2025

PBS Challenges Trump's Executive Order Cutting Public Funding
78.42

Following President Trump's executive order aimed at ceasing federal funding for PBS (and NPR), PBS leadership condemned the move as an attack on independent media and emphasized the crucial role of federal support in sustaining community-based broadcasting. The network is reportedly exploring legal avenues to contest the order.
+80

Public and Political Behavior

July 16

PBS is taking a stand against an authoritarian effort by the Trump administration to defund a vital public media service, thereby upholding democratic values and supporting independent journalism. This public political behavior is seen as a strong anti-authoritarian action given the current political environment.

Trump's attack on funds for NPR and PBS is authoritarianism 101
MAY

02

2025

PBS Resists Defunding Amid Trump Executive Order
78.36

On May 2, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at ceasing federal funding for NPR and PBS. In response, PBS leadership, including CEO Paula Kerger, announced that they are exploring all available legal and operational options to continue serving the American public with essential educational and cultural programming. This response underscores PBS's commitment to independent, nonpartisan media, in defiance of what they view as politically motivated and authoritarian interference.
+80

Executive Political Engagement

July 16

PBS's public response, led by CEO Paula Kerger, frames the defunding order as a politically motivated attack on independent media. By exploring legal challenges and alternative funding avenues, PBS demonstrates strong resistance to authoritarian measures, reinforcing its commitment to impartial public service broadcasting. Such proactive engagement in safeguarding the freedoms of press and information is viewed positively within the anti-fascist framework.

Trump signs executive order to stop federal funding for NPR and PBS
APR

29

2025

PBS CEO Warns on Impact of Proposed Funding Cuts
48.93

PBS CEO Paula Kerger highlighted the existential risk facing PBS stations if the Trump administration succeeds in rescinding over $1 billion in public media funding. Kerger emphasized that these funding cuts could eliminate critical services, including emergency alert broadcasts, underscoring the importance of robust public media in serving communities.
+50

Public and Political Behavior

July 16

PBS’s public statement is a defense of essential public services against politically motivated funding cuts by the Trump administration. This stance reinforces the role of public media as a bulwark against authoritarian policies and maintains support for communities that rely on PBS for critical communications.

PBS CEO weighs in on the potential impact of cutting public media funding
APR

15

2025

PBS Targeted by Authoritarian Funding Cuts
77.99

A memo from the Trump administration, part of an alleged authoritarian playbook, aims to rescind federal funding for public media including PBS. This move represents an attack on independent public broadcasting, a key pillar for fostering democratic and progressive discourse.
+80

Public and Political Behavior

July 16

The article describes a government memo intended to cut federal funding from public broadcasters like PBS as a tactic to suppress dissent and promote right-wing narratives. PBS, as a nonprofit provider of educational and culturally enriching programming, stands in stark opposition to authoritarian measures. This resistance to censorship and support for democratic values merits a strong positive score under Public and Political Behavior.

Cuts to PBS, NPR Part of Authoritarian Playbook
MAR

26

2025

PBS Executives Testify Amid Congressional Funding Debate
48.48

On March 26, 2025, PBS chief executives, along with NPR leadership, faced questioning during a congressional hearing as lawmakers considered a bill that would eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a key source of support for public media. The event highlighted PBS's role in defending the importance of federal support for educational and cultural programming.
+50

Executive Political Engagement

July 16

PBS executives participated in a congressional hearing to defend the federal funding that supports public broadcasting. Their engagement underscores a commitment to maintaining a robust public media sector that informs and educates the public, an essential counterbalance to authoritarian tendencies. This active political engagement is viewed positively from an anti-fascist perspective.

Americans more likely to support than oppose continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS
APR

12

2014

PBS Highlights Surveillance Tech and Privacy Concerns
25.92

PBS's Newshour aired an investigative report on advances in wide-area surveillance technology and its potential impacts on privacy and civil liberties. The report, initially published on April 12, 2014, examines how technologies such as enhanced fingerprint databases, facial recognition, and digital mapping could be used by law enforcement, raising questions about government overreach and citizen privacy.
+80

Media Influence and Propaganda

July 16

By publishing an in‐depth investigation into surveillance technologies and highlighting potential risks to civil liberties, PBS supports democratic oversight and public awareness. This proactive journalism fosters transparency and serves as a check against authoritarian overreach, earning a strongly positive score in the Media Influence and Propaganda category.

Wide-area surveillance technology triggers privacy concerns