The Threats to Minority Public Broadcasting

Portrait of Sioux Indian in 1908

The current issue with the Trump Administration budget cuts of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Endowment for the Arts will affect culturally diverse broadcasting. Such public broadcasting stations include Native American radio and television channels that are used for cultural events like tribal meetings.

The argument regarding this hot spot is split two ways: the budget given to CPB helps spread cultural and other diverse media that otherwise would not receive substantial funding. It is also a preservation method for important Native American traditions and history. However, others argue that the government should not be involved in public broadcasting to the extent that it now is.

Ideologies in Tension

In a historical perspective, these opposing viewpoints mirror the ideologies in tension of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, specifically the implications of liberalism vs. conservatism.

Liberalism

From an 18^th century liberalism view, funding for Native American media is part of universal human rights, that the Native Americans have a right to receive funding for reasons of cultural media sharing. 

Utilitarianism 

However, in the 19^th century viewpoint of liberalism, a utilitarian society would deem that funding for Native American broadcasting does not benefit the majority, solely the minority group of Native Americans, and therefore funding should be pulled.

Conservatism 

Conservatism of the same time period would argue that if the Native Americans were part of the lower social hierarchy as Social Darwinism advocates, then they would be “naturally selected” out of the funding for their broadcasting; this would be their failure of social survival and therefore it would be unnecessary to provide them funding.

Digital Culture Sharing

In a digital civilization, the importance of connectivity in ethnic cultures is incredibly important. Where imperialism essentially separated the Native Americans from their home lands, the digital age allows for the connection of Native American culture and increases their sphere of influence. Almost all political, ethic, or religious groups thrive on the media that they produce and the Native American groups who receive federal funding for public broadcasting are no different.

Image Credit: Portrait of Red Bird (Public Domain Image via Wikimedia Commons)