“PBS Information Weekend” will log off for good on Sunday after federal funds cuts pressured the broadcaster to “rework” its staffing and programming.
“PBS Information Hour” anchors Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett shared the replace throughout their Friday night broadcast, the place they invited weekend anchor John Yang to mirror on his time at PBS.
“We need to word a change for us right here at PBS Information,” Bennett began off earlier than handing over the replace to Nawaz, who added, “As a result of federal funds cuts, we’ve needed to make the troublesome choice to remodel our staffing and programming. And, this Sunday, our ‘PBS Information Weekend’ workforce will log off the air.”
Earlier than turning the ground over to Yang, Nawaz expressed simply how a lot the PBS household will miss the newsman.
“Thanks doesn’t even start to cowl it,” she added. “You and the workforce have achieved unbelievable storytelling and lined main breaking information each weekend.”
Yang took a second to focus on the foremost information moments his “small however mighty workforce” had lined during the last a number of years, together with the October 7 assaults, the primary assassination try on President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
“We’re pleased with the creativity and the dedication they dropped at each section week in and week out,” he continued. “I’ll be leaving PBS Information on the finish of the month, as I step again from full time work. However, I’m delighted to say, that many members of this workforce shall be sticking round.”
Per Yang, a few of his staffers shall be “producing some thrilling new programming” that’s set to reach within the close to future.
Watch the information replace above.
The announcement comes mere days after the Company for Public Broadcasting shared that its Board of Administrators had voted to dissolve the group following Congress’ rescission of all federal funding.
The CPB had beforehand introduced plans to wind down again in August, however the Monday vote made it official.
“For greater than half a century, CPB existed to make sure that all Individuals had entry to trusted information, academic programming and native storytelling,” CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison mentioned in a press release. She famous that dissolving the group was a obligatory transfer to guard the integrity and independence of public media.
President Donald Trump focused Nationwide Public Radio and PBS following the 2024 election, when he formally referred to as on Congress to cancel public broadcaster funding. By mid-July, Congress had permitted the taking again of $1.1 billion, which had been put aside for public broadcasters for the subsequent two years.
Studies of restructuring and canceling “PBS Information Weekend” floor again in November, when it was mentioned 34 positions can be eradicated throughout echnical, editorial, administrative and company help companies roles.
PBS Information Weekend’s ultimate broadcast will happen on Sunday, January 11 at 6 p.m. ET.
