I did not come to Rochester just to lead a station. I came here because I believe in what WXXI represents – a local public media institution that is deeply embedded in the heart of this community, trusted for generations, and rooted in the values of truth, service, and belonging.
And right now, that institution – and others like it across the country – is in danger.
On Tuesday (June 3), The White House formally submitted a request to Congress to rescind federal funds that public media stations like ours have already been promised. These aren’t future hypothetical cuts. These are dollars already approved by Congress that support children’s educational content, local journalism, community programming, and so much more. Congress now has up to 45 days to review and vote on the proposal.
If rescinded, the effects could ripple across the country, destabilizing stations in rural communities, cities like Rochester, and everywhere in between. Let me be clear: this is not business as usual. We are entering a period of heightened political volatility where public institutions – the ones that hold space for civil discourse, that center facts, that invest in community storytelling – are being chipped away.
This isn’t just about WXXI losing funding. This is about you losing access to independent journalism. This is about your children losing access to early learning tools they may not find anywhere else. It’s about our region losing one of the few remaining spaces where people of vastly different experiences come together to hear one another.
And yet – I remain hopeful. Because if there’s one thing I’ve seen again and again in my first months here, it’s this: Rochester loves WXXI. And WXXI loves Rochester back.
WXXI is at the kitchen table with you in the morning, bringing the news you trust. It’s in classrooms, supporting teachers and families. It’s at The Little Theatre, spotlighting local filmmakers and global stories. It’s your neighbors telling their truth on “Connections.” It’s your child learning to read with “Sesame Street” before they ever step into a classroom. It’s where Rochester turns in moments of crisis and moments of joy.
The trust between WXXI and Rochester is not something we take lightly. It’s something we’ve built over decades – in person, on air, online. And it’s something we intend to honor, protect, and grow.
But we can’t do it alone.
If you value and appreciate the work we do, we encourage you to call your Members of Congress to urge them to vote against rescinding public media funding. Protect My Public Media has a patch-through calling system which will put you in contact with your Congressional representative and offers talking points to help you make the call (https://protectmypublicmedia.org/rsc-calls/).
I know this community – its brilliance, its resilience, its complexity. I’ve seen how deeply Rochester believes in education, in culture, in civic life. WXXI is here not just to broadcast – but to reflect, amplify, and invest in that belief.
I chose to be here because I see in Rochester a model for what public media can and should be. Not an echo chamber. Not a luxury. But a lifeline. A mirror. A space where truth matters and everyone belongs.
So, let’s rise to this moment – together. Let’s show the country what it looks like when a community stands up for its stories, its kids, its democracy. WXXI is here for you. Be here for us.
Chris Hastings, President & CEO
WXXI Public Media
Note: On Tuesday, June 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. Chris Hastings will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall Meeting to share the state of public media and what WXXI is doing to fight against possible defunding. Reserve a free spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wxxi-virtual-community-town-hall-tickets-1400200139309?aff=oddtdtcreator.
