For those of you majoring in journalism or planning to enter the field post-grad, you can probably relate to the most common responses when you mention your area of study: either a polite “good luck with that” or a more blunt, “isn’t journalism dying?” 

Given the sobering reality of the media’s public perception, these comments land heavier now than they used to. This summer, the Trump administration signed an executive order seizing federal funding for NPR and CBS, alleging in a White House report that “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.” Although President Trump and the Republican-majority Congress previously approved funding for public broadcasting, Congress then passed  legislation rescinding $1.1 billion in funding.

For those of us who grew up with shows like “Sesame Street” or fell asleep to our parents listening to “All Things Considered,” the idea of pulling the plug on public media feels wrong and almost unbelievable. For students who chose this major because we believe in the impact and power of storytelling, the idea that our work doesn’t matter feels personal. 

So yeah, we’re scared. Who can blame us?

But with so much negativity in the world right now, I’m choosing to look on the bright side. Not because these cuts aren’t serious — they are — but because journalism has survived upheaval before and it will again. 

The history of public broadcasting is a reminder that journalism is never at a standstill. When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act in 1967, he called it a way to “enrich man’s spirit.” During this time, television was the cutting-edge technology that was shaping culture. No one could have predicted that TikTok journalists and live-streamed war would become the new normal. 

Journalism changes with every new medium. Although platforms rise and fall, the need for credible information never goes away. Adaption is what journalism does best. 

It’s important to keep in mind the impacts that this funding fight will have on smaller, local news publications. NPR will be fine. In fact, it only receives about 1% of its operating budget from federal dollars. But for smaller outlets, they have a lot more to lose. 

When these trusted outlets are threatened, communities rally. The cuts have sparked new conversations about alternative funding, community-based support and collaborative reporting networks. Ironically, as the administration has turned its back, public media stations have never worked more closely together to deliver coverage. That sense of resilience is worth holding onto. 

In an era of clickbait and disinformation, honest reporting stands out. Even amidst criticism from all sides of the political spectrum, the expectation that these outlets will prioritize fairness, accuracy and depth still holds weight.

For student journalists, this is our opportunity. If we lead with integrity and double down on truth-telling rather than chasing trends and click-worthy stories, we can help rebuild that trust in an industry people love to call “dying.”

The future of journalism is still worth fighting for.  So what can we do? Journalism needs support from readers, listeners, viewers and voters. Subscribe to a local paper. Read critically instead of letting social media dictate your worldview. And shameless plug: support student journalism when it matters most. 

So no, I don’t think journalism is dying. Yes, it’s being defunded in Washington. And yes, it’s being questioned and mocked from every angle. But every hit makes clear just how crucial it is.