By: The Black Church in Detroit Initiative:
There is trouble brewing in Washington, D.C., that could have serious and long-lasting consequences for our community. Locally owned and accessible to all, the ability of Detroit PBS to provide programs and services that Detroit and all Southeast Michigan have come to rely on is now under threat.
The current administration issued an Executive Order aimed at eliminating federal funding of public television and radio across the nation, along with a proposal to take back previous allocated funding for the essential services and programming these stations provide, which make us a stronger and more united community.
As church and community leaders, we know the value of Detroit PBS to Detroit and surrounding area. We are members of the station’s Black Church in Detroit Advisory Committee, which meets every month to discuss the issues that matter most to our congregations and the communities in which we live. These lively and inspiring conversations have real results, helping to guide and shape the content on Detroit PBS local shows, including “American Black Journal,” now entering its 58th year, the nation’s longest-running program of its kind.
This is just one example of the station’s sustained commitment to our city. The PBS system is universally recognized as the unsurpassed provider of educational television, which is delivered both on air and online. But Detroit PBS goes far beyond that. Its Education team works tirelessly to bring time-tested and teacher-approved workshops and events to neighborhoods throughout the community.
Detroit PBS is also the leader of the Michigan Learning Channel, a 24/7 broadcast and online educational service, available to every household in the state, reaching more than 400,000 students, educators and caregivers annually. It bridges learning gaps, especially for students with limited internet access. For parents in our city, who are striving to enhance the learning opportunities for their children, this channel is a difference-maker.
Just as important is the cultural programming that is another Detroit PBS hallmark. Each day, the station brings into our homes the very best in the arts, showcasing both local and national talent. Detroit PBS also manages 90.9 WRCJ, the only classical and jazz station in the city. All this entertainment comes to us free of charge.
Protecting Detroit PBS is a commonsense, not a political issue. Over the years, the PBS system has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support. It has been ranked as the most trusted media institution in America for 22 consecutive years. Detroit PBS, like other public television stations, is staunchly nonpartisan. Its guiding principle in news coverage is to present in-depth, fact-based reporting, which seeks to tell the authentic stories of the many diverse communities that make up Metro Detroit.
Detroit PBS is the only locally owned television station in Michigan. It is also licensed to the community.
It belongs to us, and it is ours to protect.
The average American pays just $1.60 per year to support a public media system that accomplishes what it set out to do decades ago.
That is why we are asking you to join us by raising your voice and join people across this country to ensure the continued funding and vitality of our American system of public media.
We urge you to let your Congressional representatives know that Detroit PBS and 90.9 WRCJ matter to you, our city and the future we are building together.
Please sign the petition of support at protectmypublicmedia.org
Thank you.
Signed,
Neil Barclay
Pastor Paula Lee-Barnes
Rev. Dr. Steve Bland Jr.
Rev, Torion J. Bridges
Rev. Dr. Remonia Chapman
Bishop Mbiyu Chui
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III
Rev. Ralph L. Godbee Jr.
Pastor Georgia A. Hill
Pastor Aramis D. Hinds
Pastor Velman Jean Overman
Pastor K.C. Pierce II
Rev. QuanTez Pressley
Pastor Barry Randolph
Pastor Carnel Richardson
Rev. Lawrence W. Rodgers
Rev. Cindy Rudolph
Freda G. Sampson
Rev. Larry L. Simmons Sr.
Rev. Dr. Constance Simon
Bishop Herman Starks
Pastor Semmeal J. Thomas
Rev. Dr. Theodore T. Turman
Bishop Edgar Vann
Rev. Charles Williams II
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