Senate Appropriations Committee approves pubcasting funding bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday okayed the fiscal 2010 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, recommending a $450 million two-year advance appropriation for CPB, up from $430 million for FY 2011; $36 million for public television and radio digital conversion, content and services; $10.7 million for Ready To Teach; $28.5 million for Ready To Learn; and $10 million for financial assistance to pubTV and radio stations impacted by ongoing economic problems. The House had already approved $440 million for CPB, $40 million for station financial aid, $36 million to continue the digital transition and $25.4 million for Ready To Learn. A statement from PBS noted that the fed appropriation makes up about 18 percent of system revenue, "essential seed money that makes public service media possible in this nation."

Report follows up on CPB, library efforts

The current issue of Library Journal highlights a June report, Partnership for a Nation of Learners: Joining Forces, Creating Value (PDF), that details work between the Institute of Museum Library Services and CPB promoting community collaborations. Among the projects cited is an effort in Iowa to improve reading skills among Hispanic parents. Partners were Iowa Public Television, the State Library of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Education.

Mister Rogers freshens up web-hood

Call it Fred 2.0 or Mister Rogers' cyber-neighborhood: The much loved pubcasting kids show has a new web site, reports The Boston Globe. "Although some of the content is decades old, the look of the site is radiant and fresh with bright primary colors, " the paper notes. Cathy Droz of Rogers' Family Communications production company says, "It's reintroducing Fred." One video clip: Rogers testifying before the Senate in 1968 to try for more funding for his show and other PBS programs.

KPBS adding a position, changing two others

Dual-licensee KPBS in San Diego is looking for its first director of news. Also, Keith York, head programmer for 12 years, is moving to oversee corporate fundraising. And John Decker, director of radio programming, will add television to his duties. That's all part of a wide-ranging reorganization as the station also increases its focus on news and works to spend less on top-level executive salaries, according to the Voice of San Diego website. Spending on new media also will grow by 15 percent to $1.05 million. Two years ago that figure was $539,000.