April 13, 2023

A STATEMENT FROM DARREN LASHELLE, PRESIDENT & CEO of NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC MEDIA

Dear Friends and Supporters of Northern California Public Media (KRCB TV, KPJK TV, KRCB FM),

Last week the social media platform Twitter labeled PBS and NPR’s official Twitter accounts as “state-affiliated media,” a designation usually given to government-controlled media outlets. Twitter later changed that label to “government-funded media.” Both labels are inaccurate.

PBS and NPR have therefore announced that their organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine PBS and NPR’s credibility by falsely implying that PBS/NPR are not editorially independent.

NorCal Public Media will cease posting to our Twitter accounts with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future. We believe in the sanctity of our constitutional guarantee of a free press and we are not answerable to our government in making editorial or programming decisions. Unbiased, truthful, fact-based reporting, and service to the community are at the heart of public media and what we do. The fact that we are not beholden to funding or influence from any individual person, corporation, foundation, government agency, or otherwise is the reason we exist. We are accountable to one group of people and one group only: you, the public.

We remain committed to serving the greater Bay Area with trusted, essential, independent news and programming on our broadcast television and radio stations and on multiple digital platforms including NorcalPublicMedia.org, our free mobile app, our free television streaming app, on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.

We are proud to serve you, and we thank you for your support.

Darren LaShelle
President & CEO