Apparently KCRW General Manager Ruth Seymour's on-air pleas to listeners to help save public broadcasting funding has rubbed some of the station's audience the wrong way.
In a new spot, which I just heard tonight, Seymour is now asking listeners with an opposing opinion to tape their point of view (in 30 seconds) and send them to the station, which will then air 'em.
Last week, in a letter to station supporters, Seymour wrote: If these cuts stand, KCRW may lose over $1,000,000 from its operating revenue. This would severely impact KCRW's local programming and our ability to sustain NPR.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is the independent organization created by Congress to support public broadcasting and act as a heat shield against political interference. But now, ironically, the Corporation itself is providing the heat.
Chairman Ken Tomlinson has politicized matters by framing the issue of balance on news programs as liberal versus conservative. We vehemently object to this characterization which is intended to put public broadcasting on the defensive and influence program decisions.
She may annoy me at pledge drive time, but Seymour's got a point. This whole debate over whether PBS is too liberal misses the point, plain and simple. (And seems to be centered on just one show, "Now with Bill Moyers." Unless they're also pissed at that left-wing commie Elmo.)
The majority of PBS's schedule isn't even political in nature. Or is simply serving the public too "liberal" for these groups? PBS has its problems -- relying too much on frivolous programs during pledge drives, etc. -- but it's still the only game in town for several kinds of programs. Cable networks that once rivaled PBS in offering classy, intellegent fare are now going the reality TV route -- making PBS just as important as it's ever been.
No comments:
Post a Comment