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08/30/2004 Archived Entry: "Reaching out or caving in?"

Posted by steve @ 11:28 AM EST [Link]

JUST GET OF BILL MOYERS AND YOU'LL BE A LOT MORE CONSERVATIVE: Is PBS caving in to conservatives or is it trying to be more inclusive? That's the debate going on today because a handful of conservatives now have television shows on America's public broadcaster.

The evidence, they say, is in a series of ominous lineup changes. In are conservatives such as Tucker and Gigot and possibly cultural commentator Michael Medved. Out is liberal icon Bill Moyers, who is retiring from "Now With Bill Moyers" after the election, although the program will continue in a shorter format.

"I definitely think that PBS is trying to appease conservative critics in Congress," says Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, who calls PBS president Pat Mitchell "the captain of the noncommercial Titanic. Instead of throwing people overboard, she's grabbing conservatives on board."

Public broadcasting executives studiously avoid using the words "liberal" or "conservative." But they acknowledge an interest in "diversity."

If it means less Peter, Paul and Mary reunion concerts I'm all for more tokenism.

Read on.