Via the NYT: Public Broadcasting Monitor Had Worked at Center Founded by Conservatives

A researcher retained secretly by the chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to monitor the “Now” program with Bill Moyers for political objectivity last year, worked for 20 years at a journalism center founded by the American Conservative Union and a conservative columnist, an official at the journalism center said on Monday.

The decision by the chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, to retain the researcher, Fred Mann, without the knowledge of the corporation’s board, to report on the political leanings of the guests of “Now” is one of several issues under investigation by the corporation’s inspector general.

At the request of two Democratic lawmakers, investigators are examining whether Mr. Tomlinson has violated any rules as he has sought, he says, to ensure that public television and radio provide greater program balance.

His critics, including some lawmakers and executives of public broadcasting, say he has sought to tilt the corporation, which provides $400 million to radio and television stations and producers, toward a conservative agenda.

Ok, time for me to get on my own personal hobby horse on this topic: if the federal government didn’t supply money to PBS and NPR, the question of content would be moot.

The problem isn’t bias, the problem isn’t Bill Moyers, the problem is the government funding programing and especially funding news and opinion programming.

The only way to stop this from being a problem is to stop funding the programming. Granted, it isn’t 100% funding, but even partial funding of these kinds of programs creates an inherent political struggle over the programs themselves. Further: it isn’t the government’s job to provide, even in part, the monies for such enterprises.

I have no doubt that PBS and NPR could function on their own. The government has no business funding these enterprises. Especially when the board is appointed by the Presient.

Interestingly, Tomlinson was appointed to the CPB board by President Clinton.

One Response to “More on the CPB Wars”

1. Arguing with signposts… » Public Broadcasting Says:
   June 21st, 2024 at 11:40 am

   [...]
   Lots of commenting these days about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Steven Taylor: Ok, time for me to get on my own personal hobby horse on this topic: if the federal government [...]