Journal Cy Guy's Journal: Save NPR and PBS (again) 11
The following was sent out by MoveOn.org:
Hi,
Everyone expected House Republicans to give up efforts to kill NPR and PBS after a massive public outcry stopped them last year. But they've just voted to eliminate funding for NPR and PBS--unbelievably, starting with programs like "Sesame Street."
Public broadcasting would lose nearly a quarter of its federal funding this year. Even worse, all funding would be eliminated in two years--threatening one of the last remaining sources of watchdog journalism.
Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS again this year:
http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Last year, millions of us took action to save NPR and PBS, and Congress listened. We can do it again if enough of us sign the petition in time.
This would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting. The Boston Globe reports the cuts "could force the elimination of some popular PBS and NPR programs." NPR's president expects rural public radio stations may be forced to shut down.
The House and Senate are deciding if public broadcasting will survive, and they need to hear from viewers like you. Sign the petition at:
http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Thanks!
P.S. Read the Boston Globe story on the threat to NPR and PBS at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1864
Let them die (Score:2)
Is this the gov't's business? (Score:2)
As far as Sesame Street goes -- CTW has generated spinoffs and whored out their characters to so many crappy products (particularly the junk food, which I resent the hell out of), that I *know* they're not hurting for money.
Ray Kroc's widow left a huge endowment for NPR. They haven't been hurting for money since then.
So if it's not mone
Re:Is this the gov't's business? (Score:1)
Of course, you know the DNC and MoveOn trade donor lists, so if you give to NPR are you going to get spam/mailings from MoveOn?
Like you say, Sesame Street (and its creators) ain't hurting for cash. Far from a ping pong ball and sock (the original Kermit puppet) to Frank Oz as the freaking voice for Yoda, they have cash, just not YOUR cash. Between the above mentioned scandal and Bill Moyers op-ed pieces posing as 'investigative journalism', I say l
Re:Is this the gov't's business? (Score:1)
Re:Is this the gov't's business? (Score:2)
Good (Score:2)
Seriously though. PBS/NPR can either sink or swim on its own just like any other network. I certainly don't need to pay for it. I buy my Sesame Street crap at 20USD a pop. Don't tell me they need money Elmo On Ice!
If the FCC forces cable to go al a carte how many people do you think will bother signing up for PBS? 4. I think it will be 4.
Re:Good (Score:2)
Um, guys ... CTW != NPR. We've been here before - 20 years ago, it was the exact same debate.
Sure, the producers of Sesame Street have the bucks, but that money doesn't go to NPR, it goes to the not-for-profit Children's Television Workshop
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/childre n ste/childrenste.htm [museum.tv]
Re:Good (Score:2)
Satellite will make AM/FM the rabbit ears of media soon anyway.
Re:Good (Score:2)
Rabbit-ears still work for a lot of people :-)
Satellite can't compete on price. It also can't compete on convenience, in comparison to an mp3 player.
cash money (Score:2)
How are they hurting for money? (Score:2)