Reply #4: More about possible influence on public programming. [View All]

[madfloridian]

July this year: The Testimony of
Ms. Kathleen A. Cox
President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=1265&wit_id=3646

SNIP..."Freed from the day-to-day decisions about what program to air, CPB can take the long view. We can look at the system as a whole, not station by station, spotting problems and identifying possible solutions. And when there are unmet needs – for a certain kind of programming, or research, or training – we can step in to provide it. CPB is guided by the principle of localism – that local stations make the best decisions about public broadcasting in their own communities. But localism does not mean – and cannot mean – local only. CPB’s ability to direct resources to system-wide needs ultimately offers more benefits to individual stations than they would otherwise receive. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, CPB does for the community of stations what they “cannot do at all in their separate and individual capacities.” National programming, for example, is not something set apart from the work of stations, but a resource that draws viewers (and ultimately members), and that educates, informs, enlightens, and enables them to participate more fully in the lives of their communities. So CPB is conducting the biggest audience research project in public broadcasting history. The results will help producers and programmers ground decision-making about primetime public television in knowledge about audiences and members – effectively bringing audiences into the room when decisions are being made.

CPB’s view across the whole system informs more than programming. Just one example: CPB funded a study of public television finances that identified major gifts as an untapped revenue source for stations. (Just imagine the major gifts being from major corporations eventually)

PBS to fight for Federal funding.
http://www.beachbrowser.com/Archives/eVoid/July-99/PBS-Will-Fight-For-Federal-Funding.htm

Thoughts on the funding of public television and radio.
http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv027.htm
This one seems to just deny, deny and deny any influence from the government or elsewhere.

Not sure what is happening, but we had to quit watching most of TV or listening to most of NPR at times. Just some random thoughts about it.

I was teaching when the federal aide to schools really got started. We were all very concerned about the influence that would be exerted. We were right. Sometimes it was not too bad, but now that our government has become so corporate, it has had tragic influence.