Public Broadcasting Meets the New Boss

[Judi Lynn]

From the Los Angeles Times
THE NATION
Public Broadcasting Meets the New Boss
Another GOP appointee takes over from the outspoken Tomlinson, but hints at a new tone.

By Matea Gold and Johanna Neuman
Times Staff Writers

September 27, 2005

WASHINGTON — Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, who had led a charge against what he called the liberal slant in public broadcasting, ended his tumultuous two-year term as chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on Monday, yielding the gavel to another Republican appointee with similar views if not a similar style.

"I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand," Tomlinson said dryly as he convened the last meeting of his tenure as chairman, one of the most divisive chapters in the corporation's 38-year history. He will remain on the board at least a year.
(snip)

Tomlinson's chairmanship was a time of unusual contentiousness at the private nonprofit, which distributes federal funding to local stations. His efforts to stamp out what he termed a liberal bias in public broadcasting prompted some broadcasting officials and Democratic lawmakers to accuse him of undermining the corporation's role as a political firewall. Tomlinson maintained that he was trying to strengthen the system by expanding its appeal.

Halpern, a New Jersey civic activist, was appointed by President Bush to the CPB board three years ago. She and her family have given more than $400,000 to Republican candidates and party committees since 1989, according to Common Cause and the Center for Responsive Politics. Gaines, another Bush appointee, and her family have given about $500,000 to GOP causes in the same period.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cpb27sep27,0,1570860.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines

Adding photos:

Republican
Cheryl F. Halpern

Republican
Kenneth Y. Tomlinson
Gone, but not forgotten, yet

[goddess40]

1. yet another crony appointment

Anything to destroy a news arena that tells the unbiased truth.

[saigon68]

2. Another LAP DOG rustic

With lots of money to give to the BUSH CRIMINALS

[AzDar]

3. The BFEE seems to feel it necessary to get their filthy little

paws on EVERYTHING these days. Ugh.

[slay]

4. Just a new face to continue the Republican attack on public tv

We all saw how the Republicans tried to slash the budget for public tv earlier this year. They don't just want to rule - they want to dominate by destroying any views that differ from their own. Truly sickening.

[pushycat]

5. pure Karl Rove, eh?

[donkeyotay]

6. Cronyism doesn't come cheap! You have to buy your way into the GOP

Halpern, a New Jersey civic activist, was appointed by President Bush to the CPB board three years ago. She and her family have given more than $400,000 to Republican candidates and party committees since 1989...

The Supreme Court is going to rule on whether or not you should have to purchase representation. I imagine they'll stick with the "money equals speech" fallacy, and our government will continue to be privatized by self-interested, greedy partisan hacks who worship Social Darwinism. You notice that they don't actually want to make government smaller, they just want to change the money flow.

When are they going to address the bias in corporate television? How is it sensible to claim liberal bias in public broadcasting when it was supposed to be the lone, small voice providing balance to the GOP-corporate bias in commercial media? It's no coincidence that there's so much corruption now when so many players have no concerns over press exposure of their wrong-doing.

[txaslftist]

7. Well, that saves me a few hundred bucks a year.

I used to be a PBS donator, but when Tomlinson came in I quit, even though it meant no more cool sweatshirts and coffee mugs. With another Shrub idealogue in charge, it saves me from having to start donating again. Besides, PBS is going pretty much all ads now anyway.

It's just a federally subsidized for pay station now anyway.

National RePublican Radio.

[spindrifter]

8. In the good ole days

I thought you could get your political patronage job by working your butt off answering phones, handing out literature, stuffing envelopes. I guess the only stuffing you have to do is cash into the right hands.

[Corgigal]

9. Will Frontline ever come back?

One of my favorite shows and I can't find it.

Maybe this idiot will leave in two years also so the good programing, the true programing can come back.

[aaronbees]

10. Public broadcasting...

has been on a downward slide for many years now. It's a true shame; I grew up on its news reporting and think it's responsible for a lot of who I am and how I view the world now. Learning about the world outside of my own little suburban milieu while growing up meant learning about the real world ... and NPR and Frontline provided that.

[seattlemetal]

11. yikes, someone should teach her about makeup!