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Crisis Communications: Federal Funding

  • Writer: Eric Freeland
    Eric Freeland
  • Aug 30, 2025
  • 2 min read

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Background


I was the architect and driver of the Value Detroit PBS campaign, a multi-phased effort developed in response to the elimination of federal funding for public media.


  • Strategy & Messaging – Designed and executed the campaign strategy in two phases.


    • Phase 1: Coordinated with PBS and APTS national advocacy partners, focused on mobilizing audiences to contact lawmakers and advocate for preserving federal funding. Despite close votes in both houses of Congress, funding was ultimately cut.


    • Phase 2: The campaign then shifted into a fundraising phase, rallying financial support from the community to sustain Detroit PBS’s operations and mission.


  • Integrated Narrative Leader – Unified Marketing, Membership, and Content teams to deliver consistent multiplatform messaging across broadcast, digital, social, newsletters, and the new detroitpbs.org/value hub.


    I guided Detroit PBS’s voice during both phases by preparing the CEO for media interviews, orchestrated op-ed articles, shaping member and partner communications, and driving a clear public narrative that educated audiences, mobilized donors, and reinforced organizational resilience.


Results

  • Reached 500,000+ people across platforms with advocacy and value messaging, generating some of the highest engagement rates of the year (CEO emails averaging 45–50% open rates vs. a 30% baseline).

  • Helped drive a 4% net increase in membership revenue in FY25, surpassing the organizational goal of +3%, with double-digit year-over-year growth in online donations during Giving Tuesday and year-end campaigns.

  • Engaged current members and 212,000 lapsed donors, resulting in thousands of renewals and reactivations, strengthening the donor pipeline.

  • Joined a national advocacy campaign that mobilized more than 3 million Americans to contact their lawmakers, positioning Detroit PBS as both a local leader and a national partner in the fight to protect public media.


Op-Eds and Articles

 
 
 

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