As many of you know, I have been involved in several ways over the last ten years with the largest of Southern California’s local public radio stations – 89.3 FM KPCC, now known as the multi-platform news outlet LAist. I am absolutely gutted by the presidential and congressional actions to take back previously approved monies to fund public media, including LAist, National Public Radio (NPR), and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). It is a devastating blow that will force numerous layoffs nationwide and make thoughtful reporting and useful programming in the radio, television, and online spheres even more rare than it is now.

I think of my many friends who either work for LAist or once did. They are first-rate journalists – reporters, producers, editors, and other support staff who put their hearts, souls, and even sometimes their physical safety on the line to tell the stories of Southern California. And they do it in ways that are clear, fair, intelligent, and empathetic. They do it without shouting, even when asking questions of powerful people in our society. They do it without stereotyping, avoiding the simplistic caricatures that hinder our ability to truly see and understand people who are different from us. And they do it without chasing ratings through stunts, gimmicks, and, well, covering car chases.

They tell the stories in our communities that aren’t considered “sexy” enough to grab headlines. They pay attention to the quiet trends in our neighborhoods that we’re too busy in our daily lives to notice. They talk with prominent people that have both money and influence, and also with people who have neither..

In my experience, the people of LAist bring folks from sometimes vastly different backgrounds into conversation with each other, opening minds and hearts to consider other points of view. And along the way, they enable us to see how much we have in common and how solutions to big issues in our society may not be as far off as we feared.

The ability to do all that has now taken a massive hit.

It hurts. A lot.

In Southern California, you can help LAist! Become a financially supporting member. No, I don’t get anything out of it; all my involvement with LAist is on a volunteer basis. Here’s where to get started.