Save PBS. It makes us safer

js2 wrote: post #5

Fred Rogers testifying before congress in 1969 about why PBS should be funded: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fredrogerssenatetes...

The world has changed a lot since 1969. Many homes don't even have network television anymore.

Re: Save PBS. It makes us safer

#8

Post by vinay427 » Wed, Apr 05, 2017, 9:30 PM UTC

randyrand wrote: post #6

How come PBS cannot fund itself? And make profit and revenue? Just curious.

In my opinion, this will ruin the editorial standards of the PBS by eventually favoring monetary interests to keep itself alive. One of the benefits of an organization with guaranteed funding is that it doesn't need to change its activities to pander for money, and can focus on its actual published mission.

Re: Save PBS. It makes us safer

#9

Post by knz » Wed, Apr 05, 2017, 9:34 PM UTC

randyrand wrote: post #6

How come PBS cannot fund itself? And make profit and revenue? Just curious.

It probably could fund itself and make a profit. But the whole point is that the country is choosing to invest in providing quality media content in the form of high quality detailed reporting and educational content because it's critical for the success of our nation.

I think even the most partisan American would have a hard time looking at commercial media and declaring it a resounding success - educational channels like Discovery/History Channel are more of a meme than source of quality media these days and "news" is now a mix of entertainment and partisan opinion pieces between a deluge of advertising.

Re: Save PBS. It makes us safer

#10

Post by bluedino » Wed, Apr 05, 2017, 9:36 PM UTC

helthanatos wrote: post #4

PBS doesn't have commercials? Because I'm pretty sure it does.

It doesn't have commercials, but some shows are 'brought to you by...'