Progressive
critics of PBS have long been aware of the extent to which PBS
has capitulated to pressure from conservative Republican politicians
egged on by right wing advocacy groups. Lat year, writing for
Current, the public broadcasting trade paper, former CBS and
ABC news correspondent Jerry Landay revealed that three conservative
foundations-Bradley, Olin and Scaife-subsidized at least 17
single programs or series on PBS over the period 1992-2000.
All the programs served as "a platform for the views"
of the foundations' grantees and their organizations. These
included a program on "scientific creationism," another
that blamed lack of self-reliance for problems in the black
community, an attack on "political correctness" based
on alleged "reenactments," a three-part series on
the "gender wars," dominated by anti-feminist voices
and a debate on "school choice" with 38 of 42 guests
supporting public funding of private schools. Not only did these
shows air, but there was no public acknowledgement of their
sponsor's interest in the subject matter.
In
contrast, liberal Democrats avoid any discussion of PBS programming,
so PBS officials feel free to ignore the pleas of progressive
public interest groups for fairness and accuracy in their coverage
of social issues. For example, two years ago a large coalition
of feminist/women's rights groups asked for some time to balance
the three conservative programs on the "gender wars."
PBS rudely rebuffed them.
When
it comes to the left, PBS officials typically mount the high
horse of the first amendment and declare that they will not
be intimidated. When it comes to the right, they frequently
assume a supine position. The explanation is obvious. Again,
Republicans use the power of the purse to pressure PBS into
programming concessions. Democrats almost never do.
The
one exception I can think of is when the Congressional Black
Caucus appealed to PBS President Ervin Duggan to put the global
human rights program, Rights and Wrongs, on the PBS National
Program Schedule. Duggan ignored them. But then the Congressional
Black Caucus did not control the key committees and did not
threaten to cut funding if PBS did not comply.
The
rather obtuse PBS program underwriting guidelines have been
used selectively to reject programs supported by labor and public
interest groups and to green light programs supported by conservative
foundations, especially if pushed by powerful Republican politicians.
This hypocrisy shames a service dedicated to serving as "a
forum for controversy and debate" where we "can hear
the voices of groups not normally heard" and "see
America whole, in all its diversity."
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