According to an April 22, 2005 Washington Post article, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) may have to alter their programming to meet balanced standards. “The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, say they are merely seeking to ensure balance and fairness in the network's presentation of political news and ideas.”
The CPB is responsible for part of PBS’ annual revenues. The article explains, “[u]nder its mandate from Congress, which created the agency in 1967, CPB is required to act as an independent buffer between lawmakers and public broadcasters, although it can set broad programming goals. Appointees of President Bush currently control the majority of seats on CPB's eight-member board. Each board member serves a six-year term….Late last week, CPB's board declined to renew the contract of its chief executive, Kathleen Cox, a veteran administrator at the agency. She was replaced by Ken Ferree, a Republican who had been a top adviser to Michael Powell, the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. The Ferree appointment followed the dismissals or departures in recent months of at least three other senior CPB officials, all of whom had Democratic affiliations.”
Voices from Officials
The Post article goes on to say, “[a] senior FCC official, who would not speak for attribution because he must rule on issues affecting public broadcasting, went further, saying CPB ‘is engaged in a systematic effort not just to sanitize the truth, but to impose a right-wing agenda on PBS. It's almost like a right-wing coup. It appears to be orchestrated.’
In an interview yesterday, CPB board chairman Ken Tomlinson called such comments ‘paranoia,’ and said critics of CPB's initiatives should ‘grow up.’
‘We’re only seeking balance,’ said Tomlinson. ‘I am concerned about perceptions that not all parts of the political spectrum are reflected on public broadcasting. [But] there are no hidden agendas.’”
Read more about issues like this in What’s At Stake: TV, Radio and Cable.
