At PBS North, our mission has always been to be more than just a television station. We are a bridge between rural and urban neighborhoods, a storyteller for eight Tribal nations, and a source of trusted news for six counties across Northern Minnesota.
Recently, that mission faced a significant threat.
The elimination of federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) created an immediate $17 million shortfall for public media across Minnesota. For many stations, these cuts represent up to 50% of their operating budgets, threatening the very existence of local reporting and emergency communications.
A Lifeline for Public Media
Today, we are heartened to announce a critical step toward stability. PBS North has been awarded an emergency grant through the Save the Signal Minnesota Fund, a collaborative initiative led by Press Forward Minnesota.
This grant is part of a half-million-dollar effort to provide immediate relief to the five Minnesota stations most severely impacted by federal cuts.
“This support from Press Forward Minnesota is a vital investment in our ability to keep our community informed and connected,” Patricia Mester, President and General Manager of PBS North.
Why This Matters for Northern Minnesota
In a region as vast and diverse as ours, “the signal” is often the only reliable source of local news and emergency information. Our service footprint includes nearly 19,000 Indigenous residents and countless rural families who depend on PBS North to stay connected to the world, and to each other.
This funding provides us with the breathing room needed to maintain our core services while we work toward a long-term plan for sustainability.
A Community Effort
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the coalition of funders who recognized the urgency of this crisis:
- The McKnight Foundation
- The John Larsen Foundation
- The Ordean Foundation
- The Minneapolis Foundation
- The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
- The Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
- The Bhatt Family Fund at The Minneapolis Foundation
- The Mortensen Family Foundation
- Schwab Charitable
How You Can Help
While this emergency grant is a vital, the work to secure the future of public media in Minnesota is just beginning. Public media fosters community connection, but it requires community support to survive.
You can help us keep the signal strong:
- Become a Member: Your individual contributions are the most sustainable way to ensure our programming remains free and accessible to all.
- Learn More about Press Forward Minnesota: See how a statewide coalition is fighting to save public media.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we will ensure that Northern Minnesota’s stories continue to be told.