Collaborating to Support Local Public Media Organizations
Local public media organizations are essential civic institutions in America.
Rooted in locations around the country, local public media organizations have a shared mission to serve the informational, educational, public safety, and cultural needs of their communities. These organizations are often some of the last locally-owned-and operated media dedicated to serving local needs in communities that need them more than ever. They complement and supplement for-profit media outlets by providing programs and services that are not commercially viable but still valuable to their communities. Across the country, public media organizations are a source of local connection and inspiration and, after decades of service, they have earned the trust of their communities.
Amid shifting technology and audience behaviors, these institutions must adapt to meet community needs—particularly as audiences embrace new platforms and formats. That is why leaders from seven public media support organizations—American Public Television, Contributor Development Partnership (CDP), Greater Public, Public Media Company, Public Television Major Market Group (MMG), PRX, and Station Resource Group (SRG)—are collaborating to ensure these local institutions thrive during this period of profound change.
We envision local public media as more than broadcasters: they are trusted gathering places for local news, conversation, arts, and culture. They must be resilient, responsive, and able to connect with audiences through multiple platforms, backed by a strong support network. Our common goal is to help local organizations devote more resources to content and community services, while minimizing administrative and operational costs.
Over the past several months, we’ve deepened our understanding of local needs and coordinated around solutions, focusing on four areas:
Leadership Development: Equip senior executives to navigate change, lead strategically, and cultivate agile leadership teams.
Audience and Content Development: Create high-quality, relevant programs and services to reach broader, more diverse audiences in an evolving digital landscape.
Digital and Data Infrastructure: Develop platforms and infrastructure that leverage community data, ensuring local public media remain integral and accessible.
Resources: Sustain and grow financial support—leveraging essential CPB funding to unlock additional resources—while exploring efficiencies and emphasizing major giving.
As we develop solutions, we remain flexible about how we organize ourselves. The question driving our work is: What do local public media organizations need to meet the challenges ahead? That answer should determine the support structure and shared services efficiencies that stations implement and, ultimately, the types and number of support organizations.
Despite the complexities we face, we believe in a bright future for public media. Local organizations, grounded in trust and service, can do more for their communities than ever before. We are ready to help them realize that potential