The Federal Communication Commission's plan to create space for more wireless devices on the spectrum includes tactics to improve the quality of TV signals in the VHF band weakened in the digital transition. One way to do that would be to increase the effective radiated power (ERP) of VHF stations in the FCC's heavily populated Zone 1 (the Northeast and Upper Midwest). But that could complicate life for stations including WNET/Thirteen in New York City, according to TVNewsCheck.
Broadcast consulting engineer Charles Cooper said the power boost would create problems with interference, particularly in the Northeast. Cooper said the high-V stations in New York City (WABC, WNET and WPIX) are now operating with ERPs of 12 kW or less. Under the FCC proposal, they could boost power to 50 kW. "The stations would have to seek interference agreements with other stations," Cooper said, "and most likely, these agreements could involve daisy chains involving multiple stations and perhaps those other stations having an issue with even other stations.”
Dec 2, 2010
Full deficit panel to vote Friday on recommended cuts, which could include CPB
The final co-chairs' report of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform awaits a full-panel vote Friday (Dec. 3). Although CPB was recommended for elimination in the co-chairs' draft of "$200 billion in illustrative savings," the corporation was not specifically mentioned in the final report released Dec. 1. But that doesn't necessarily mean that public broadcasting is safe. The final report refers to using that "$200 billion in illustrative 2015 savings" as a starting point for cuts. Meanwhile, two more commissioners have signaled they will vote for the plan; that means nine members have announced their support and one said he is likely to back the proposal. Fourteen of the 18 commissioners must approve the plan for it to continue on to the Senate.
Hiring spree at Fox News is "a way to play the culture wars"
Former NPR reporter and analyst Juan Williams is neither the first nor last news personality to land a lucrative gig at Fox News after being dismissed for politically incorrect remarks that offended liberals, reports Paul Farhi of the Washington Post. Andrew Tyndall of the Tyndall Report covering TV news, tells Farhi that Fox News chief Roger Ailes is being "opportunistic" with a string of recent hires, including Williams, former CNN host Lou Dobbs and local TV news veteran Doug McKelway, who was fired this summer by Washington's WJLA for "gross insubordination and misconduct."
"It's a way to play the culture wars," Tyndall says of Ailes's hiring spree, and jokes that Fox may be turning into "the safety-net network. If you say something outrageous, there's still a paycheck waiting for you."
"It's a way to play the culture wars," Tyndall says of Ailes's hiring spree, and jokes that Fox may be turning into "the safety-net network. If you say something outrageous, there's still a paycheck waiting for you."
Two ITVS films make it to Sundance; Elmo, too
The Sundance Institute on Wednesday (Dec. 1) revealed the lineup of competition for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in January. Two ITVS-funded docs are on the list: "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation," profiling a radical environmental group, in the U.S. Documentary competition; and "Family Portrait in Black and White," in the World Cinema Documentary competition, an examination of interracial individuals and relationships in Eastern Europe. Other entries include "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey," which follows Kevin Clash, the man behind the iconic character. A Sesame Workshop spokesperson said it did not fund the project but provided access to Clash for the filmmaker. A full list of films in the festival is here.
UPDATE: Two additional ITVS-funded films will premiere at the festival, Jan. 20-30 in Park City, Utah: "Granito," looking at Guatemala's efforts to heal after decades of turmoil; and "The Interrupters," following several former gang members now working to protect the communities they once terrorized.
UPDATE: Two additional ITVS-funded films will premiere at the festival, Jan. 20-30 in Park City, Utah: "Granito," looking at Guatemala's efforts to heal after decades of turmoil; and "The Interrupters," following several former gang members now working to protect the communities they once terrorized.
Radiolab, poised "right at the edge of what science can tell you"
"This show is a conversation between science and mystery," says Jad Abumrad, host and producer of Radiolab, in a New York Observer feature about the WNYC series. "You're right at the edge of what the science can tell you. Which to me is as much about, like, magical thinking and weirdness and poetry as the science itself."
BONUS for Radiolab fans: Abumrad was a featured speaker at 2010 MaxFunCon, organized by Jesse Thorne of PRI's The Sound of Young America. You can watch a video stream or download audio of his presentation here.
BONUS for Radiolab fans: Abumrad was a featured speaker at 2010 MaxFunCon, organized by Jesse Thorne of PRI's The Sound of Young America. You can watch a video stream or download audio of his presentation here.
Dec 1, 2010
Hannity and guests debate NPR funding
Conservative talk show host Sean Hannity devoted six minutes of his Nov. 29 Fox News show to congressional Republicans' pledge to defund National Public Radio, inviting political commentators Sally Kohn and S.E. Cupp to debate whether the federal government should subsidize public radio.
Well, okay — it wasn't a debate, per se — they shouted at each other and misrepresented basic facts about NPR's history before Hannity wrapped up the argument. "Liberal propaganda is not the common good," he said. "You wanna know why conservative talk radio works? People want to hear it."
If you watch it and wonder what was said amidst all the shouting, this summary of the transcript might help a little.
Keep in mind, Hannity regular S.E. Cupp garbles the facts about NPR's federal funding. She implies that Congress historically intended to "wean" NPR off of its subsidies and says NPR received a $7 million "bail-out" during its 1983 financial crisis. "Why they’re still being funded at all right now is a mystery — it's 30 years after the fact," Cupp says. "It's time to end it."
The bail-out she described was a loan from CPB, which was guaranteed by NPR member stations in 1983 and repaid in full three years later, according to A History of Public Broadcasting. Although Republicans in Congress and the White House have sought to end funding to the field many times since passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, a phase-out of federal aid wasn't written into the law.
The pundits also dropped in confusing references to polling data about the extent to which Americans trust public broadcasting or Fox for news. Nobody cited specific sources, but Hannity was likely referring to research about Fox that was released early this year. In a January survey by Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based political polling firm, 49 percent of respondents indicated they trust Fox News — a higher percentage than any other TV news network, but pollsters didn't ask about PBS or NPR.
The 2010 Roper survey for PBS, commissioned annually to measure the extent to which the American public values and trusts PBS, found that news and public affairs programs on PBS are the most trusted among major national networks. Forty percent of respondents said they trust PBS a "great deal." Fox News was rated highly for trustworthiness by 29 percent of respondents; CNN, by 27 percent; NPR, 25 percent.
When respondents were asked whether the news networks were "mostly fair" or had a liberal or conservative orientation in their coverage, PBS again topped all others, being described by 40 percent of respondents as mostly fair. NPR came in fifth, below the broadcast TV networks and CNN, with 29 percent of respondents; Fox News was described as mostly fair by a quarter of those surveyed. A PDF summarizing major findings of the Roper survey, released in February, is here.
UPDATE: More recent polling data from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found only 1 percent difference in credibility ratings between NPR and Fox News: 28 percent of respondents to a July 2010 poll said they believe "all or most" of what NPR reports, 27 percent said the same for Fox News. CBS's 60 Minutes was the news organization deemed highly believable by the most respondents (33 percent), followed by CNN and local TV news (29 percent). NPR is the only news outlet included in the survey whose credibility ratings have increased since 1998, according to Pew's survey report, "Americans Spending More Time Following the News." Fox News and 60 Minutes have held relatively steady compared to other major news providers. Pew didn't poll respondents about PBS news programming.
Well, okay — it wasn't a debate, per se — they shouted at each other and misrepresented basic facts about NPR's history before Hannity wrapped up the argument. "Liberal propaganda is not the common good," he said. "You wanna know why conservative talk radio works? People want to hear it."
If you watch it and wonder what was said amidst all the shouting, this summary of the transcript might help a little.
Keep in mind, Hannity regular S.E. Cupp garbles the facts about NPR's federal funding. She implies that Congress historically intended to "wean" NPR off of its subsidies and says NPR received a $7 million "bail-out" during its 1983 financial crisis. "Why they’re still being funded at all right now is a mystery — it's 30 years after the fact," Cupp says. "It's time to end it."
The bail-out she described was a loan from CPB, which was guaranteed by NPR member stations in 1983 and repaid in full three years later, according to A History of Public Broadcasting. Although Republicans in Congress and the White House have sought to end funding to the field many times since passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, a phase-out of federal aid wasn't written into the law.
The pundits also dropped in confusing references to polling data about the extent to which Americans trust public broadcasting or Fox for news. Nobody cited specific sources, but Hannity was likely referring to research about Fox that was released early this year. In a January survey by Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based political polling firm, 49 percent of respondents indicated they trust Fox News — a higher percentage than any other TV news network, but pollsters didn't ask about PBS or NPR.
The 2010 Roper survey for PBS, commissioned annually to measure the extent to which the American public values and trusts PBS, found that news and public affairs programs on PBS are the most trusted among major national networks. Forty percent of respondents said they trust PBS a "great deal." Fox News was rated highly for trustworthiness by 29 percent of respondents; CNN, by 27 percent; NPR, 25 percent.
When respondents were asked whether the news networks were "mostly fair" or had a liberal or conservative orientation in their coverage, PBS again topped all others, being described by 40 percent of respondents as mostly fair. NPR came in fifth, below the broadcast TV networks and CNN, with 29 percent of respondents; Fox News was described as mostly fair by a quarter of those surveyed. A PDF summarizing major findings of the Roper survey, released in February, is here.
UPDATE: More recent polling data from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found only 1 percent difference in credibility ratings between NPR and Fox News: 28 percent of respondents to a July 2010 poll said they believe "all or most" of what NPR reports, 27 percent said the same for Fox News. CBS's 60 Minutes was the news organization deemed highly believable by the most respondents (33 percent), followed by CNN and local TV news (29 percent). NPR is the only news outlet included in the survey whose credibility ratings have increased since 1998, according to Pew's survey report, "Americans Spending More Time Following the News." Fox News and 60 Minutes have held relatively steady compared to other major news providers. Pew didn't poll respondents about PBS news programming.
Diversity and Innovation Fund announces first 16 program finalists
PBS has revealed the finalists of this year's CPB/PBS Diversity and Innovation Fund (Current, April 19) request for proposals. More than 200 submissions were received in response to the RFP, PBS said. Sixteen now advance to panel review.
They include State of the Re:Union TV from WGBH, a television version of the radio show that wrapped production on its second season this fall (Current, Aug. 9). Host Al Letson travels the country in search of "real America," finding along the way compelling characters and "unveiling what makes our diverse country one nation."
Another finalist is It's All Relative with Farai Chideya, former host of NPR's News & Notes, a casualty of NPR budget cuts in March 2009. The program finds Americans who have a connection to another country, and joins them on a "dream trip" to reconnect with their homeland.
The Diversity and Innovation Fund aims to provide the National Program Service with resources to support content to expand viewership in diverse audiences both online and on TV.
The entire list of the 16 shows is available online.
They include State of the Re:Union TV from WGBH, a television version of the radio show that wrapped production on its second season this fall (Current, Aug. 9). Host Al Letson travels the country in search of "real America," finding along the way compelling characters and "unveiling what makes our diverse country one nation."
Another finalist is It's All Relative with Farai Chideya, former host of NPR's News & Notes, a casualty of NPR budget cuts in March 2009. The program finds Americans who have a connection to another country, and joins them on a "dream trip" to reconnect with their homeland.
The Diversity and Innovation Fund aims to provide the National Program Service with resources to support content to expand viewership in diverse audiences both online and on TV.
The entire list of the 16 shows is available online.
KCET among nine stations receiving membership challenge grants from Newman's Own Foundation
KCET, the Los Angeles pubTV station dropping its PBS membership as of January, is one of nine station recipients, along with the PBS Foundation, sharing $2.2 million in membership challenge grants from the Newman's Own Foundation. PBS announced the funding today (Dec. 1). "These grants will help us continue to serve those communities, foster rich civic dialogue, encourage participation in the arts and provide access to quality education,” Paula Kerger, PBS president, said in the statement. The PBS Foundation will keep $50,000, targeted to the arts.
In addition to KCET, the stations are: Connecticut Public Television; KCTS in Seattle; Twin Cities Public Television in Minnesota; WAMC Northeast Radio in Albany, N.Y.; WETA in Arlington, Va.; WNET in New York City; WSHU Public Radio in Fairfield, Conn.; and WTTW in Chicago.
CLARIFICATION: All funding for the grants is coming through Connecticut Public Television, Paul Newman's local station. CPTV President Jerry Franklin said Newman was a longtime supporter of public broadcasting in general, and that station in particular.
Franklin told Current of their first telephone conversation several years ago. He told Franklin, "There's no Mr. Newman here. It's Paul." Then Newman told Franklin that he was embarrassed to find out from staff that the Newman Foundation was giving WNET/Thirteen in New York $100,000 annually, and CPTV got $5,000 a year. "I'm a Connecticut resident, and I want to change that," Newman said.
"Three days later," Franklin said, "I got a check for $300,000 written on Paul's personal account with a note, 'I hope this will cover my past sins,' signed by him." When Newman called to see that Franklin received the donation, Franklin told him, "That is an excellent way to cover your past sins. We're good to go."
More on the personal interest Newman took in CPTV in the next issue of Current, Dec. 13.
In addition to KCET, the stations are: Connecticut Public Television; KCTS in Seattle; Twin Cities Public Television in Minnesota; WAMC Northeast Radio in Albany, N.Y.; WETA in Arlington, Va.; WNET in New York City; WSHU Public Radio in Fairfield, Conn.; and WTTW in Chicago.
CLARIFICATION: All funding for the grants is coming through Connecticut Public Television, Paul Newman's local station. CPTV President Jerry Franklin said Newman was a longtime supporter of public broadcasting in general, and that station in particular.
Franklin told Current of their first telephone conversation several years ago. He told Franklin, "There's no Mr. Newman here. It's Paul." Then Newman told Franklin that he was embarrassed to find out from staff that the Newman Foundation was giving WNET/Thirteen in New York $100,000 annually, and CPTV got $5,000 a year. "I'm a Connecticut resident, and I want to change that," Newman said.
"Three days later," Franklin said, "I got a check for $300,000 written on Paul's personal account with a note, 'I hope this will cover my past sins,' signed by him." When Newman called to see that Franklin received the donation, Franklin told him, "That is an excellent way to cover your past sins. We're good to go."
More on the personal interest Newman took in CPTV in the next issue of Current, Dec. 13.
Top GOP House Appropriations member hopes to gain helm, cites CPB for elimination
A Republican Congressman hoping to keep his key committee chairmanship is citing CPB as an example of what funding he would cut, according to a story in today's (Dec. 1) Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif. Rep. Jerry Lewis (Calif.) yesterday made a presentation to the Republican Steering Committee, which will decide who will head the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal spending. Lewis, the top Republican on the committee for six years, declined to reveal the specifics of his presentation, but cited to the reporter three examples of funding cuts he supports: $12 billion in unobligated stimulus funding, $40 million in the elimination of grants for green jobs and $440 million in savings by ending federal support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Nov 30, 2010
Op-ed writers see "fake populism" in campaign to defund NPR
In a Nov. 23 online op-ed and analysis for the Guardian, media blogger and j-school professor Dan Kennedy describes the political campaign to defund NPR as part of a "culture war being waged by the right."
Kennedy examines the arguments of Republican lawmakers who are calling for an end to federal funding, including the assertion that NPR programming is "liberal," and finds that they don't hold water. Much of NPR's programming, he writes, " exudes a liberal sensibility reflected in cultural references and, to an extent, story selection. But the reporting itself is balanced and, if anything, errs on the side of caution." He finds some exceptions to this in shows that air outside of drive time, such as the "frankly liberal orientation" of On the Media, but adds: "in the main . . . , it's hard to think of a broadcast news operation that plays it straighter than NPR."
"Thus, the right's real goal is to delegitimize NPR, as it has already done with other news organizations," Kennedy writes. "In this mirror image of reality, the New York Times, the nightly network newscasts and NPR are no different from Fox News except that they are liberal. Never mind that Fox barely functions as a journalistic enterprise at all, offering entirely opinion-driven content whose voluminous falsehoods hardly need to be documented here." Kennedy discloses that he is a paid contributor to Boston's WGBH.
Editorials published by two daily newspapers this week come down against House Republicans' recent attempt to cut off NPR's federal funding:
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "The move to defund public radio is the kind of fake populism that is most threatened by the existence of NPR in the first place."
The Buffalo News: "The folks who want to cut it would do so not to . . . narrow the federal budget deficit but because they don’t like what NPR does."
Kennedy examines the arguments of Republican lawmakers who are calling for an end to federal funding, including the assertion that NPR programming is "liberal," and finds that they don't hold water. Much of NPR's programming, he writes, " exudes a liberal sensibility reflected in cultural references and, to an extent, story selection. But the reporting itself is balanced and, if anything, errs on the side of caution." He finds some exceptions to this in shows that air outside of drive time, such as the "frankly liberal orientation" of On the Media, but adds: "in the main . . . , it's hard to think of a broadcast news operation that plays it straighter than NPR."
"Thus, the right's real goal is to delegitimize NPR, as it has already done with other news organizations," Kennedy writes. "In this mirror image of reality, the New York Times, the nightly network newscasts and NPR are no different from Fox News except that they are liberal. Never mind that Fox barely functions as a journalistic enterprise at all, offering entirely opinion-driven content whose voluminous falsehoods hardly need to be documented here." Kennedy discloses that he is a paid contributor to Boston's WGBH.
Editorials published by two daily newspapers this week come down against House Republicans' recent attempt to cut off NPR's federal funding:
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "The move to defund public radio is the kind of fake populism that is most threatened by the existence of NPR in the first place."
The Buffalo News: "The folks who want to cut it would do so not to . . . narrow the federal budget deficit but because they don’t like what NPR does."
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