Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association

This grant would provide support for the PBS NewsHour, which continues to be a vital source of objective television news. The NewsHour operates in a very challenging fundraising environment, as corporate funders have significantly reduced their underwriting of the program. Thus, the Foundation’s funding—which has been regular since 2001—has proved particularly important in recent years. TECHNOLOGY AND VIDEOCONFERENCING

This grant to the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association would provide general support for the PBS NewsHour—one of the most influential television news programs in the United States. The NewsHour provides objective reporting that offers balanced, thoughtful analysis about issues relevant to all the Foundation’s grantmaking programs. In May, the NewsHour announced that Jim Lehrer will be stepping down from his longtime role as anchor, although he will remain involved in the editorial direction of the program. This change has been anticipated for quite some time, and we do not believe that it will have a significant effect on the program’s quality or its influence.

This grant would provide general support for the PBS NewsHour, which offers objective reporting and balanced, thoughtful analysis of issues relevant to all the Foundation’s grantmaking programs. The NewsHour consistently ranks among the most trusted broadcast news organizations in the country, and it is our belief that institutions like it are essential, especially as the business model for journalism continues to change.