So I've been bummed about the whole NPR fiasco for a few weeks now - every time I think about it, I get a wave of disappointment - mostly directed at a specific group of people - but we can talk about my ideological standings in a rant you're inevitably going to endure if you know me for long enough. Anyway, I'm in Toastmasters - which is a group that practices public speaking and general speech giving - and as part of its curriculum, there's a speech I must give with the theme "Persuade with Power". I'm not sure how powerful my persuasion is, but this speech sure gave me an outlet to let out my frustrations a little. I gave it yesterday - so for those who were there to hear it, thanks for the feedback. Here it is again in written form.
If you get too tired to finish reading it, here is the punch line - public broadcasting in the form of NPR and PBS is the not enemy - it makes mistakes- and recent media has made that all too obvious; but it is one of the only media left that is humble enough for self-examination, and quickly adjusts when it feels unbalanced by bias. We have a voice and deciding power in public media. We have no power over corporate sponsored networks. Support public media- 170millionamericans.org.
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Let’s step out of the political prison. What can we expect from our democratic society? We deserve health with a reasonable degree of choice. We are free to speech with the understanding that everyone who gives it deserves our respect. And as modern men and women, we have the right to be informed and educated not only as children, but as we grow and mature as adults. Let’s stay on this topic of freedom to access information and education.
The brouhaha focused on National Public Radio Corporation has turned my interests to learning more about the public broadcasting system. The more I understand the mission of public broadcasting, the more I appreciate its free services as a vital vehicle to entertain and educate children while informing and engaging those who have stepped away from conventional education. Without its services, low income and rural areas would be without access to news and culture. And without its sustained emphasis on improvement, we would be forced to fight in wars instigated by the partisan hotbeds of Talk Radio, CNN, FOX news and MSNBC. This month, congress passed a stop-gap measure that froze all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; And they now are in the process of limiting federal funding for National Public Radio. Now is the time to understand and support the important services of public broadcasting.
The public broadcasting system in America consists of local, non-commercial radio and television stations. These stations meet the requirements for and are partially supported by the government funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting. These requirements are stringent – for example – television stations must provide at least 7 hours of non-commercial children’s programs DAILY. Compare that to an average of 4 hours a week for commercial stations, and it’s easy to see why most of our childhood memories are populated by Public Broadcasting Service (or PBS’s) shows. Just to name a few, Barney, the famously amorous dinosaur, whose theme song will be forever stuck in my head as a reminder that team work will reward me with pink dinosaur hugs. Sesame Street, which I have to admit, creeped me out as a child; but never the less taught me things, like C is for cookie, and stay the heck away from that fuzzy blue thing when its hungry. And finally, my personal favorite– The Magic School Bus – with the amazing shrinking bus and group of young inquisitive passengers - that I blame my career choice as a medical scientist on. In addition to educational children’s shows on television, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds stations to build relationships with schools to establish educational websites as resources for teachers and students, reading and writing outreaches, and other programs to meet the needs of the community – fitting for a missions statement that commits to “provid(ing) programs and services that inform, enlighten, and enrich the public.” Generations have benefited from the services of Public broadcasting; children now and of future generations should have the same fond memories that we share.
For those of us who have outgrown children’s programming, CPB member stations subscribe to programs from PBS- News and Frontline, the British Broadcasting Corporation (the BBC) and National Public Radio (NPR), just to name a few. I’m the first to admit, without BBC and NPR news updates, I would not know today’s date. And no matter what political spectrum you might be on, you can’t help but love Nature and Nova programs that are able to show us the beauty outside of our cities, and the plethora of human cultures.
Speaking of political spectrums, I know, PBS and NPR have been blamed for siding with one side or the other. I’ve heard liberals complain about their conservatism, and conservatives rallying against their liberal media. Heck, CEOs and leaders of these stations have been accused of siding too strongly with one side or the other. NPR recently fired its CEO for being responsible for instances of liberal bias - on the wake of news of Juan Williams and the case against publicist Ron Schiller. Despite being under attack by the Right, in 2005 NPR was publically accused of be being funded heavily by conservative think-tanks. For PBS – former chairman Kenneth Tomlinson resigned in 2005 under criticism for “going after” perceived liberal programs and directing funding to conservative programming. But in 2007, Fox network published a film “Banned by PBS: Muslims against Jihad”, heavily charging PBS for liberal bias. For these accusations of bias, NPR and PBS have quickly reacted not by self defense but by self examination. PBS’s chairman stepped down, and NPR quickly condemned the actions of its leadership. Listening to NPR’s discussion roundtables after the Ron Schiller fiasco, I have never heard a company board so contrite and so ready to change on what they felt has been an ideological mistake. Radio and television stations depend on NPR and PBS to be informative, unbiased, and honest; in turn NPR and PBS constantly supervise against their own biases and react responsibility towards what they feel must be changed. These are noble traits that one cannot find in corporate sponsored news networks.
For those who haven’t enjoyed the local public boardcasting stations – I encourage you to visit our local (Nashville) radio stations – 90.3 Nashville Public Radio, and Channel 8 PBS. Give it a day and I promise you that you’ll find a program that you’ll love. We’ve been so inundated by network shows that exploit the dramatic and train our minds for low attention – wouldn’t it be a nice change to find a program that engages your interests while informing you on subjects you care about? For those who, like me, are convinced of the merits of public broadcasting, please support member stations in this fiscally difficult time in our nation. 170millionamericans.org is a great place to start – it can help direct you - whether you have the means to donate money to local stations, or are more comfortable contacting senators to show your support or want to sign up for public events supporting local and national stations. Citizens in a modern society have the right to freely access news, information and education no. Let us continue to fight for this right, and to ensure the same for the generations to come.
