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Edited on Thu Mar-27-08 03:30 AM by cynatnite
For most of my life PBS has been one of the few constant networks that's I've watched without fail. As an adult I've contributed and supported PBS over the years which I will continue to do.
When Kenneth Tomlinson, former chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, was trying to change the very nature of the network I wrote letters and made phone calls outraged at the interference. He had a vendetta against Bill Moyers...one of the finest reporters today. It didn't take long for that asshole to resign...Tomlinson that is.
PBS only gets 15-20% of it's funding from federal and state government. The majority of it comes from the public. PBS raises money like crazy and I'm proud to be a contributer.
Here are some of the shows:
Fine arts (Great Performances, Live from the Met, Live from Lincoln Center, and Evening at Pops) Drama (Mystery!, American Playhouse, and Masterpiece Theatre) Science (Nova and Scientific American Frontiers) History (American Experience) Public affairs (Frontline, NOW, The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Nightly Business Report) Independent films (P.O.V., and Independent Lens)
Now, this isn't even a full listing nor does it include the fantastic children's programming.
On any show, fiction or nonfiction, a person cannot nor should they expect it to be exactly to their specifications. There is no way a two hour show, even a two-parter, can include everything. There was a lot Frontline didn't cover, but I don't expect it to. There is only so much time they have to tell the story. We can however express our concerns, anger or whatever to the producers.
The point I'm making with all this is that PBS and Frontline is not Faux News. They're not shills for the bush administration...most especially after that fantastic Frontline ep about Cheney. Now, that was impressive. It may be helpful to look through Frontline's programming over the last few years.
PBS provides a valuable public service and shows like Frontline hold to high journalistic standards that is rare in today's world. We may not always agree or we may feel more should be done, but that does not diminish the fact that PBS has continued to educate, inform, entertain and enlighten as it always has done throughout the years.
All I ask is that progressives keep all this in mind before trashing PBS or Frontline for not including a small slice of bush's war. Thanks:)
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