NPR Lawsuit Backed By 29 Public Stations And 23 States.

In support of the lawsuit brought by National Public Radio and three of its Colorado-based member stations against President Trump and federal agencies over an executive order that they argue unlawfully cuts off their federal funding, a coalition of 29 NPR member stations across the U.S., joined by a group of 23 states – along with other media organizations – have filed friend-of-the-court amicus briefs highlighting public stations' importance to their communities.

The NPR member stations' amicus brief, filed by attorneys at the nonprofit Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, includes support from a group of states led by Colorado and joined by Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Their brief argues that “defunding NPR and PBS would be detrimental to public safety in the amici states. Member stations provide invaluable services to local communities – particularly rural and tribal areas where news, educational programming, and emergency alerts are significantly more limited – [such as] public announcements relating to weather, public safety, and transportation.”

The brief also notes that public media is “an important public good, one that has grown more precious and is deserving of more support, not less. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 was carefully designed to promote and expand public media—especially at the local level— while avoiding government influence and intrusion.”

Additionally, the Radio Television Digital News Association, Digital Content Next, ProPublica, and the Intercept, represented by Ballard Spahr LLP, filed an amicus brief focused on the unconstitutionality of Trump's executive order and the danger it poses to free speech and free press rights beyond public media. Along those lines, the ACLU along with its branches in Colorado and the District of Columbia filed a brief also arguing the executive order's unconstitutionality as a matter of settled First Amendment law.

“These perspectives from organizations across America showcase the importance of public media and the depth of contribution that stations make in their local communities,” NPR's release says. “The commitment of this alliance of organizations in supporting the issues of our challenge expresses a wide range of opinions and a strong bi-partisan voice. NPR is grateful for their acknowledgement and support, and we are even more determined to represent and protect First Amendment rights for all Americans.”