Despite funding loss, public media vow to soldier on, seek public support

 By Jayvee Vallejera

With federal funds being yanked from beneath their feet, public media in Guam and the greater Pacific are turning to the public as an alternative source of funds, in hopes of being able to keep themselves afloat and keep their core programs running.

KGTF Channel 12 (PBS Guam), Guam public radio KPRG and the Honolulu-based media organization Pacific Islanders in Communications were among the media outlets affected by the passage of the law that rescinds federal funds for public broadcasting in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

These media outlets vowed to remain committed to ensuring that communities historically left out of mainstream coverage could continue to tell their own stories, where education, culture, and truth take precedence over market demands and influence.

All these groups receive federal funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That agency will now shut down after the Rescissions Act of 2025 became law on July 24. The law cuts previously approved federal funding, around $9 billion, for many government programs, including foreign aid and public broadcasting.

CPB will lose about $1.1 billion that was meant for the next two fiscal years.

Cheryl Hirasa, PIC executive director, said this law eliminates the foundational federal funding for the entire public media system.

Earlier this year, President Trump abolished the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which resulted in the shutdown of the agencies it funded, including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Benar News.

“It is a profound and unsettling moment—not just for [PIC], but for every community that has found voice, connection, and belonging through public media,” she said.

Hirasa said CPB’s support accounts for about 75 percent of PIC’s annual funding.

At KPRG, federal funds make up approximately 30 percent of its annual budget, said general manager Chris Hartig.

"KPRG brings the world to the Mariana Islands and the Mariana Islands to the world," he said.

Hartig assures that there will be no immediate changes to the station, but staffing and programming cutback decisions will have to be made in the future.

PIC, PBS Guam and KPRG are vowing to soldier on, though.

“This decision undermines nearly six decades of bipartisan commitment to ensuring universal access to high-quality, non-commercial, educational programming,” said Ina Carillo, general manager, PBS Guam, KGTF Channel 12.

“While we know the impacts of this loss are in motion, we don’t intend to give up,” said Hirasa.

“Despite this setback, we remain resolute,” said Carillo.

Hirasa said everyone at PIC and its board of directors have been preparing for this possibility for months. They came up with a worst-case scenario plan to safeguard PIC’s core operations.

Part of that plan is for PIC to deepen its relationships with philanthropic partners and funders as alternative sources of funds.

PIC also appealed to the public to support its fundraising efforts, either directly to PIC or through its hosted events and screenings.

PIC also encourages the public to continue to advocate for the continued importance of public media. That includes streaming PIC-funded films at PBS (PBS.org, PBS App, PBS YouTube) and PIC YouTube and attending film festivals featuring Pacific Islander filmmakers.

In the meantime, it is indefinitely suspending its funding initiatives, including the Media Fund and Shorts Fund open calls.

At PBS Guam, Carillo said they will keep working with other public media partners and congressional leaders to advocate for the restoration of public media funding through the congressional appropriations process.

She acknowledged that there is a “very real possibility” that these efforts may fall short. This is where the local community could help through donations, Carillo said.

She also urged the Guam legislature to consider providing supplemental funding to tide PBS Guam through this unprecedented gap.

At KPRG, Hartig said the station believes that, after 31 years of service to Guam and the CNMI, both communities deeply care “about our little station and will donate to fill the gap.” The radio station recently finished its fund drive.

Hartig encourages the public to donate at KPRG’s website, islapublic.org

Hirasa emphasized the important role of public media for training a spotlight on underrepresented sectors, away from the influence of commerce.

Carillo said PBS Guam has always provided culturally relevant programming like the annual Liberation Day Parade broadcast, emergency alerts, educational programming and free educational resources.

She said these services are more critical now than ever. Yet, because of the funding loss, Carillo expects PBS Guam’s ability to serve the people of Guam to diminish significantly.

Hirasa said two things have become crystal clear to her: that civic engagement is essential for democracy to work the way it should, for all. And why those working in public media do the work they do, why stories matter, “why public space for culture, identity, and lived experience is not a luxury, but a necessity.”

“Public media is a cornerstone of our democracy. It belongs to the people, and it exists to serve them,” she said.

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