DENVER, CO – The Colorado Media Project (CMP), a nonpartisan philanthropic initiative working to ensure Coloradans have access to reliable local news and information, reaffirms its commitment to a free and independent press and to the critical role of public media in our state. This statement comes in response to a combination of recent threats to public broadcasting, including an executive order directing the defunding of National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and a recent vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to rescind funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). In response, NPR and its Colorado partners, including Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT Public Radio, have filed a legal challenge against these actions.
A free, independent, and robust press is essential to American democracy. Within this ecosystem, public media organizations like Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, KSUT Public Radio, and other vital Colorado-based public broadcasters serve a unique and irreplaceable function. They provide in-depth, fact-based reporting, diverse cultural programming, and essential local civic information that commercial models may not always sustain. Actions that could be perceived as politically motivated or that risk imposing a chilling effect on journalistic inquiry are a matter of profound concern. Such measures not only challenge the principles of a free press but also directly threaten the access to essential information for many Coloradans. This is especially true for those in rural and underserved communities where these public media outlets often serve as the primary, and sometimes sole, source of trusted local news, emergency alerts, and civic information.
Colorado Media Project stands in solidarity with Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, KSUT Public Radio, and all public media organizations that champion journalistic independence. We are proud to support these and other key public media partners in Colorado, and we are steadfast in our belief that they must be able to operate without fear of undue government influence or retaliation for their reporting. While we respect the right of any administration to set policy, such policies must not infringe upon the constitutional protections afforded to the press or undermine the operational integrity of news organizations dedicated to serving the public interest. The ability of journalists to report on all branches and levels of government, thoroughly and without reprisal, is paramount for a well-functioning democracy and an engaged populace.
For years, CMP has invested in strengthening Colorado’s local news landscape, recognizing that access to reliable, high-quality information is crucial for all Coloradans. Our support for Colorado’s public media institutions, including CPR, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT, is a core part of this commitment. These outlets are not just news providers; they are community institutions that foster dialogue, understanding, and connection. A media environment free from unwarranted interference is critical to their mission and to ensuring that the voices and stories of all Coloradans, regardless of geography, are heard and valued.
We trust that the legal process, spurred by the principled stand of NPR and Colorado’s own public media outlets, will carefully consider the fundamental First Amendment principles at stake and the profound impact any erosion of those principles would have on citizens’ access to information and the health of our public media institutions and our democracy. Colorado Media Project will continue to advocate for a vibrant, independent, and resilient news and information ecosystem, with strong public media as an integral part, serving all Coloradans and upholding the democratic values essential to our communities and our nation.
About Colorado Media Project:
The Colorado Media Project is a nonpartisan philanthropic initiative committed to ensuring Coloradans have the local news and information they need to thrive, and that our state’s democracy is well-served. CMP invests in, and works alongside, local newsrooms, journalists, and communities to build a stronger, more equitable, and more trusted Colorado news and information ecosystem.
