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The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

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Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#141

Post by hcarvalhoalves »

jonas21 wrote: post #88

If you look at the history of the Public Broadcasting Act [1] that established the CPB and eventually PBS, it seems clear that it was passed in response to poorly-funded educational programming not being able to compete with high-budget commercial network TV. Its authors wanted to make it easier for smaller, non-commercial entities to produce and distribute high-quality educational content. In that regard, the Intern…

Large content platforms don't curate content, and so incentives are misaligned. I believe "curated content without click-baity incentives" is the kind of thing a "PBS" tries to solve.

E.g.: an educational video will be followed by flat-earth conspiracy video if the YouTube algorithm choses so. This sabotages content producers with – in this case – educational intentions, as the platform will make producers compete for attention.

Also, I believe what's been missing in the discussion is how "empowering anyone to push content" is not in itself a value, and that it's in fact possible to add negative value, at a global scale, at very little cost. This discussion won't happen as it's in platforms best interest to promote engagement, and engagement comes from pure controversy.

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#142

Post by JaggerFoo »

So boring content that everyone says they like, but never consume, with constant requests for donations.

So what would be the purpose? Current trusted platforms are ignored and news outlets that report on ignorant humans with wacko theories defying reality are thriving. One or more additional trusted platform will not make a difference.

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#143

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

hcurtiss wrote: post #121
tootie wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's debatable. As much as journalism has been democratized it's also nose-dived in quality. And I don't mean the MSM. The overwhelming majority of "citizen journalists" are producing very low quality or even downright detrimental work. At the same time, a lot of professional journalism has sacrificed quality for revenue. Public media like PBS and NPR affiliates are intended to promote professional journali…

A profit motive is not necessarily bad. Likewise, there are other ulterior motives that may inform "public broadcasting." There's a fine line between publicly-funded journalism and state-sponsored propaganda.

do you believe that PBS or NPR have crossed that line in ways that for-profit, privately-owned media has not?

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#144

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

JaggerFoo wrote: post #142

So boring content that everyone says they like, but never consume, with constant requests for donations. So what would be the purpose? Current trusted platforms are ignored and news outlets that report on ignorant humans with wacko theories defying reality are thriving. One or more additional trusted platform will not make a difference.

> So boring content that everyone says they like, but never consume, with constant requests for donations.

#notallnprlisteners #notallnprstations

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#145

Post by adamc »

sidlls wrote: post #128
tootie wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's debatable. As much as journalism has been democratized it's also nose-dived in quality. And I don't mean the MSM. The overwhelming majority of "citizen journalists" are producing very low quality or even downright detrimental work. At the same time, a lot of professional journalism has sacrificed quality for revenue. Public media like PBS and NPR affiliates are intended to promote professional journali…

That may be the intent, but the result is that PBS and NPR still tailor their news content to their supporters' desires (or what, perhaps, editors at these organizations believe are the desires). NPR especially is terrible at presenting real journalism. When it's not "both sides get equal time, even if there's only one fact-based side", it's vanity puff piece interviews and similar content, just like for-profit netwo…

Evidence rather than opinion would be helpful. This is all opinion.

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#146

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

lsiebert wrote: post #122
nwatson wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We watch the full PBS NewsHour most nights, simulcast/streamed live on YouTube (also available on all/most PBS affiliates) ... and it's available for later viewing as well. Some would say it leans a bit left but I think it's the best unbiased presentation of (U.S.) national concerns. They get wide access for interview to the most relevant American and non-American persons across a wide range of topics and are not afr…

It's centrist, it's just that looking at facts instead of simply accepting what politicians say at face value often tends to lead to support for political talking points from the left. This isn't intrinsic to left or right wing ideologies, there are plenty of areas where nobody has a monopoly on good policy, but when it comes to Democratic and Republican political leaders, The Dems look to scientific consensus (clima…

It's not centrist. It's pro status quo. "Things are mostly OK, and in the few cases where they're a little bit bad, we're here to tell you about them."

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#147

Post by WalterBright »

tootie wrote: post #98
jonas21 wrote: post #88

If you look at the history of the Public Broadcasting Act [1] that established the CPB and eventually PBS, it seems clear that it was passed in response to poorly-funded educational programming not being able to compete with high-budget commercial network TV. Its authors wanted to make it easier for smaller, non-commercial entities to produce and distribute high-quality educational content. In that regard, the Intern…

I think that's debatable. As much as journalism has been democratized it's also nose-dived in quality. And I don't mean the MSM. The overwhelming majority of "citizen journalists" are producing very low quality or even downright detrimental work. At the same time, a lot of professional journalism has sacrificed quality for revenue. Public media like PBS and NPR affiliates are intended to promote professional journali…

> without the corruption of a profit motive

That's a fantasy. The people who provide the money always call the tune, even if it's the government, even if it's donations.

A more effective system is one that does not attempt to deny human nature, but takes advantage of it.

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#148

Post by WA9ACE »

jbluepolarbear wrote: post #55
duxup wrote: post #7

Well there is: https://www.pbs.org/video/ Also PBS has a great kids games app(s) that are free with games that are fun / no ads. And PBS kids video app is again free, great content, no ads. If you're in the US and care about that content, I suggest contributing to your local station. The quality of the content from kids to adult is outstanding. It's not usual for me to browse a few streaming services and just end up…

The pbs apps are made by OPB (Oregon public broadcasting) they’ve been a big partner of pbs for a long time. The apps are really good and they try to keep relevant content and popular shows on the apps.

I work at PBS on one of the teams building these apps, and this has not been the case since I joined. PBS apps are maintained in house out of our Arlington headquarters, with most team members working fully remote during covid, but I fully appreciate you calling our apps good!

Re: The Push for a “PBS for the Internet”

#150

Post by lsiebert »

lazyeye wrote: post #129
lsiebert wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Examples of Misinformation: scientifically debunked ideas like the idea vaccines cause autism Ideas with zero basis in reality like the idea that most or all mass shootings are actually faked using "crisis actors" Political conspiracy theories like the idea that Bernie Sanders would have been the democratic candidate for president, but was cheated by Hillary Clinton. Misrepresented ideas, like how certain people on t…

The idea that misinformation occurs along party lines is, in itself, misinformation.

Please cite your source for that? My understanding, based on studies like the one discussed here, is that misinformation does tend to be concentrated along partisan extremes. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/06/974394783/far-right-misinform...

That said, it's absolutely true that it wasn't just democrats pushing the idea that bernie sander's was cheated. It was also russian disinformation campaign. https://www.wired.com/story/bernie-sanders-russia-chaos-2020...

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