[the desmondo]

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/fully_fund_npr_and_pbs

The federal government spends only $1.43 per person each year on public media, compared to more than 70 times that amount in the United Kingdom or over 80 times that amount in Denmark.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS, and NPR were launched 40 years ago. But today only 20 percent of public media's cost is actually underwritten by the federal government through the CPB, forcing public media outlets to increasingly rely on corporate underwriters for support.

To make matters worse, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that controls that 20 percent funding is run by political appointees who have abused their position to inject partisan politics into grant-making. Famously, during the Bush administration Karl Rove's friend Kenneth Tomlinson chaired the CPB. Tomlinson was fired from his position, but not before filling the organization's ranks with rightwing operatives and hiring a former RNC head as CEO.

In other words, "corporate funding [except for the Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation and Macarthur Foundation] is bad, so let's eliminate all corporate funding of NPR and PBS [except for the Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation and Macarthur Foundation] and adopt the UK model and force everybody to pay an annual tax to fund NPR and PBS".

 

[X3pilot]

Where does it say there would be a tax to support PBS or NPR? I'm pretty sure that they do those pledge drives to get money.

What's your position on this? Do you like having PBS and NPR? Do you utilize them? What's the issue here?

~~Disclaimer~~I have donated money during the local NPR pledge drives.

 

[Westy]

Big Bird is a ****ing communist.

 

[Pesqueeb]

THE ALL SEEING EYE!!!!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!!

I also donate to NPR

 

[Inclag]

Delusional?

 

[MMike]

How many PSI does NPR use?

 

[Westy]

How many PSI does NPR use?

FIY IMO NPR uses MPA instead of PSI FWIW.

 

[MMike]

FIY IMO NPR uses MPA instead of PSI FWIW.

o rly?

 

[BurlyShirley]

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/fully_fund_npr_and_pbs



In other words, "corporate funding [except for the Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation and Macarthur Foundation] is bad, so let's eliminate all corporate funding of NPR and PBS [except for the Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation and Macarthur Foundation] and adopt the UK model and force everybody to pay an annual tax to fund NPR and PBS".

Actually, I would probably support this. Nothing worse than having to listen to those Monsanto commercials on NPR after just listening to a story about how Monsanto is destroying the planet.

I suppose that sort of proves they can still create legitimate news despite their sponsors, but it sort of sends a mixed message. I would prefer no attempted brainwashings between the actual news stories and other programming.

 

[MMike]

Actually, I would probably support this. Nothing worse than having to listen to those Monsanto commercials on NPR after just listening to a story about how Monsanto is destroying the planet.

I suppose that sort of proves they can still create legitimate news despite their sponsors, but it sort of sends a mixed message. I would prefer no attempted brainwashings between the actual news stories and other programming.

But the pledge drives are pretty annoying.....the banter! Oh the BANTER!!

 

[Serial Midget]

More Red Green Show reruns? Not on my public dime.

 

[BurlyShirley]

More Red Green Show reruns? Not on my public dime.

But what about Frontline, Nova, etc.

That kind of reporting is invaluable.

 

[Serial Midget]

I used to watch a lot of PBS in the 80s and 90s, also listened to All things Considered but not so much in the last 10 years. I don't think PBS is any more or less credible than other media outlets.

But what about Frontline, Nova, etc.

That kind of reporting is invaluable.

 

[splat]

I don't think PBS is any more or less credible than other media outlets.

They have there own agenda just like all the others. it may not be as Blatantly obvious as Fox or MSNBC , but its there .

 

[sanjuro]

About British TV: wasn't there just 4 channels before the advent of cable? And 3 of them were BBC?

 

[jonKranked]

wait, isn't desmo from Canada? does he even get PBS or NPR?

 

[MMike]

Actually we do......I listen to NPR every day. I know more about US news than I do about local news. Vermont Public Radio. 107.9 FM

 

[kidwoo]

They have there own agenda just like all the others.

What's their agenda?

 

[Pesqueeb]

What's their agenda?

Enslaving the masses with a web of lies and deceit. Duh.

 

[Heidi]

Actually we do......I listen to NPR every day. I know more about US news than I do about local news. Vermont Public Radio. 107.9 FM

I listen to Oregon Public Radio all day at work. It would be nice to see a more stable source of funding, though the petition doesn't say anything about where exactly the money would come from.