February 21, 2004

Grover needs help

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Public radio and television, whose funding does not depend on commercials and ratings, is essential to the flow of information in a democracy. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) promotes and funds public broadcasting, helping to support programs and services that are educational, innovative, locally relevant, and reflective of America’s common values and cultural diversity. This mission is increasingly important in a media environment dominated by a handful of giant corporations more interested in the bottom line than in serving the public interest. In 2004, CPB faces several threats to its independence and ability to ensure objectivity in its programming. These challenges illustrate the increasing efforts of some in the industry to force out diverse viewpoints and continue the disturbing trends in media consolidation.

Given the rollover by the House/Senate Republican conference committee during the omnibus spending bill negotiations which overrode the 35% ownership percentage agreed to by the full Congress, allowing big media to own up to 39% of television stations nationwide, public broadcasting is needed more than ever.

According to published reports, Senate Commerce Committee chairman Senator John McCain (R-AZ) intends to submit a reauthorization bill that essentially continues CPB as constituted in current law. But public broadcasting critics on the committee, including Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), may try to amend this legislation in ways that will reduce public broadcasting’s editorial independence.

The Bush Administration has appointed two people to the CPB Board, both of whom are highly partisan and very big Republican contributors. One (Cheryl Halpern) stated during confirmation hearings that she felt it was fine if the Board intervened to promote "balance" in programming; the other (Gay Gaines) was chairman of Gingrich's GOPAC at the time he was trying to cut all funding to CPB. I think it's safe to assume that Gingrich's goals for public broadcasting are shared by Gaines.

Here's a list showing the annual appropriations CPB has gotten since its inception in 1969. Here's the Common Cause article from which the above info was gathered. Thanks to Raye for the pointer.

Posted by Linkmeister at February 21, 2004 02:52 PM
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