County Board members are honoring WETA’s upcoming 61st birthday and pledging to support the public-media outlet as it faces budget challenges and a hostile Trump administration.
“We are extremely proud to defend you and stand by you,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said on Sept. 16 during the presentation of a proclamation honoring the organization’s first day on the air: Oct. 2, 1961.
Founded by civic titan Elizabeth Campbell (1902-2004), the Greater Washington Educational Television Association predated the national public-broadcasting system PBS by nearly a decade.
Originally broadcasting from makeshift studios at Yorktown High School, the organization has been headquartered in Arlington ever since. Its broadcast and office facilities today are in Shirlington.
Accepting the resolution on behalf of WETA was its senior vice president and general manager, Miguel Monteverde Jr.
“We are committed to being here for the long haul,” he said of the organization’s relationship with Arlington.
The Trump administration and Republican-led Congress have taken direct aim at public broadcasting.
“You all know what we’ve been enduring the last several months, fighting to convey to the decision makers just how important public media is in a healthy democratic society,” Monteverde said.
The cuts in federal funding approved by Congress total about 7% of station revenues, WETA officials told ARLnow in July. Recently, the organization had layoffs and production cuts to a number of local programs.
“We did have to downsize — we are defunded, but we are not defeated,” Monteverde said. He added, “We will be fine. The real concern is the smaller stations in the rural areas that … depend more on the federal government. We’re part of an ecosystem and we have to ensure it is strong.”
In addition to its local presence, WETA is a major producer of national content for PBS.
Monteverde used his time at the dais to tout the upcoming WETA/Ken Burns/Florentine Films documentary “The American Revolution.” Set for national release in mid-November, it totals 12 hours over six episodes.
