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citizens for tax justice
The Realized Temptations of NPR and PBS
Over the years, without regular critiques by liberal and progressive groups, both NPR and PBS have bent to the continual right-wing antagonism in Congress that decreased public budgets
Feb 14, 2019
Recently an elderly gentleman asked me about my opinion on NPR and PBS, knowing of my vigorous support in the nineteen sixties for these alternatives to commercial radio and television stations.
Here is my response:
Congress created NPR and PBS to provide serious programming, without any advertisements, for the American people. Former media executive Fred Friendly and others worried that the commercial stations were not meeting the 1934 Communications Act requirement that they operate for the "public interest, convenience and necessity."
In 1961, before a shocked convention of broadcasters, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Newton Minow called commercial television "a vast wasteland."
Over the decades, NPR and PBS have produced some good programming - original features (among the best coming from Boston affiliate WGBH) and interviews. NPR has the largest radio audience in the country. David Brancaccio, the bright host of Marketplace Morning Report, has a daily listening audience of 11 million.
However, over the years, without regular critiques by liberal and progressive groups, both NPR and PBS have bent to the continual right-wing antagonism in Congress that decreased public budgets. PBS started to allow advertisements (called "support for x station or x PBS network program comes from y corporation.") These ads have become more frequent and can be as long as 15 seconds.
During the 8am to 9am hour WAMC, Albany recently aired 28 such "support from..." commercials. That is almost one "ad" every two minutes!
The omnipresence of the ads hour after hour has irritated many NPR listeners around the country. By way of comparison, a major commercial station in Hartford - WTIC - clocked 18 advertisements in that 8am hourly slot - albeit they were longer than the NPR ones.
They invite guests on air who ideologically oppose public broadcasting--that's fine, but then they minimize the appearances by leading progressives.
It seems that NPR and PBS, often by their omissions and slants, bend over backward in order not to offend right-wing lobbies and corporations. They invite guests on air who ideologically oppose public broadcasting - that's fine, but then they minimize the appearances by leading progressives.
Occasionally, I speak with the NPR and PBS Ombudsmen. The purpose of the ombudsman is to maintain proper standards and ethics as well as to consider audience complaints. A while back, an NPR Ombudsman volunteered to me that NPR was giving far more time to representatives of conservative evangelical groups than to representatives of liberal religious organizations.
Charlie Rose on PBS had many more CEOs on his program than civic leaders. During a rare appearance by me on his show with Jim Hightower and William Greider in 1998, the audience reaction was robust. The response from around the country was so pronounced that in an internal e-mail, that was inadvertently sent to my office, a Rose staffer complained that we might have been encouraging the positive response. Absurd and false, but revealing nonetheless.
Rose, by the way, set the stage for PBS and NPR by interviewing his two favorite reporters again and again instead of active specialists or scholars in various fields. For example, Judy Woodruff, the ultra-cautious, exclusionary anchor of the "News Hour," interviewed reporters on complex tax legislation instead of authentic experts such as the long-time director of the well-regarded Citizens for Tax Justice, Robert McIntyre, often invited by her predecessors.
In 2016 we convened for eight days in the largest gathering of civic leaders, doers, and thinkers of more reforms and redirections ever brought together. They made over 160 presentations in Constitution Hall (see breakingthroughpower.org). Although we advanced this remarkable Superbowl of Civic Action directly to NPR and PBS producers, their reporters never showed up. Certainly, they have not treated right-wing conventions in Washington, D.C. in that manner.
There are other practices of public broadcasting and its syndicated talk shows, that its audiences should know about to understand how much broader coverage they have been denied. One is that the amount of time devoted to music and entertainment pieces goes well beyond the intent of the legislators who created NPR and PBS (both created by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967). Members of Congress knew that entertainment was adequately taken care of by the thousands of commercial stations.
Moreover, even commercial network radio would not use its weekday 6pm hour for music, as one NPR station does in Washington, D.C. Nor does commercial network TV news in the evening start their programs with several advertisements, as does PBS's The NewsHour and Kai Ryssdal's jazzy, drumbeat, breathless NPR evening show - Marketplace.
Recently, I discovered another woeful transformation. Wondering why I could not get calls back from the state-wide NPR stations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, I sent them written complaints. These stations had venerable programs that used to interview me and other civic leaders on consumer, environment, and corporate crime topics.
Minnesota Public Radio politely wrote back, regretting that they had not called me back and explained that they now adjust their programming to react or expand on "what is in the national conversation." Since Trump et al. command the heights (or the depths) of the news agenda, very important subjects, conditions and activities not part of this frenzied news feed are relegated to far less frequent attention.
These are just a few of the issues that should be analyzed by print journalists who cover the media full time, such as the estimable Margaret Sullivan of the Washington Post, formerly the "public editor" of The New York Times. But then, she also doesn't return my calls.
The slide toward commercialism and amiable stupefaction will continue on PBS and NPR until enough people review public broadcast's history, raise their expectation levels consistent with why PBS and NPR were created, and insist on adequate public funding (a truly modest amount compared to giant corporate subsidies by taxpayers). These redirections would enable public broadcasting to fulfill better its serious statutory public interest missions.
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Experts for the People--Shut Out by the Mass Media
Whether it is NPR, PBS, the network news programs, the Sunday news interview shows and too often the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal their interviewees are the defenders of the status quo or those with corporatists’ viewpoints.
Feb 27, 2018
Ever wonder how the television, radio and newspaper people select whom they are going to interview or get quotes from when they are reporting the news or producing a feature? I do. What I've learned is that they go to guests that are connected with the established powers--such as think tanks in Washington, D.C. that work on "the military industrial complex" policy (to borrow President Eisenhower's words) and somehow lean toward more war mongering (e.g. NPR and the U.S.-Iran relationship) or backing more weapon systems (such as a new nuclear bomb arsenal and more F-35s and air craft carriers).
You won't be hearing from MIT Professor Emeritus Ted Postal on the chronic failures of the anti-ballistic missile program (spending $13 billion this coming year).
Whether it is NPR, PBS, the network news programs, the Sunday news interview shows and too often the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal their interviewees are the defenders of the status quo or those with corporatists' viewpoints.
These news outlets seem oblivious to the blatant economic conflicts of interest inherent in groups such as the Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute and professors who moonlight with corporations. These interviewees have economic and ideological axes to grind that are not disclosed to the general viewers, listeners and readers, when they are merely described as "experts."
There are real experts and specialists, with no axe to grind, who are so ignored by the media that they have almost become nonpersons, despite their past proven records of achievements for the public interest, and for the people's well-being.
Here are some examples of experienced people whose veracity and honesty you can take to the press and media outlets:
- David Freeman, probably the most knowledgeable, experienced authority on energy in the United States. A lawyer and engineer, he was an advisor to Presidents, Governors, ran four major utilities, including the giant Tennessee Valley Authority. He was also the author of key studies on energy policies starting in the nineteen seventies and presently is negotiating the shutdown of California's last atomic energy plant with its owner, Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation.
- Nicholas Johnson, former FCC Commissioner, author of many books and timely commentaries on communications subjects (e.g. "How to Talk Back to Your TV Set") and has been teaching at the University of Iowa Law School.
- Karen Ferguson, head of Pension Rights Center since the mid-seventies, has been involved in Congressional policies, judicial decisions, organizing retirees to assert their rights and generally watchdogging the increasing pension crisis in our country.
- Jamie Love, the expert on drug patent abuses, drug industry pricing power, international efforts to counteract these "pay or die" policies. He has been a major figure in bringing down the price of AIDS drugs for developing countries.
- Rena Steinzor, law professor, author of books such as Why Not Jail?, organizer of the Center for Progressive Reform and corporate crime specialist.
- Janine Jackson, long-time media critic documenting weekly noteworthy bias, censorship and commercial distortion of the news.
- Danielle Brian, director of the Project on Government Oversight has had much to say accurately about the massive military budget, redundant weapon systems and their waste, fraud and abuse over three decades.
- Jesselyn Radack, former Justice Department lawyer, represents whistleblowers on national security wrongdoing and is an acknowledged legal expert on free speech in these sensitive areas.
- Greg LeRoy, directs Good Jobs First and knows a great deal about corporate welfare, giveaways to sports stadiums, Amazon and the whole 'business development' subsidies at the local and state level in the U.S. He is the author, among other publications, of The Great American Jobs Scam: Corporate Tax Dodging and the Myth of Job Creation.
- Mark Green, one of the nation's experts on campaign finance rackets and reform, author of over twenty books, including Losing Our Democracy, and experienced as a candidate in New York State elections.
- Ralf Hotchkiss, former MacArthur Genius awardee, inventor and founder of Whirlwind Wheelchair and a successful advocate for people with disabilities having mobility without having to pay monopoly prices for shoddy wheelchairs in the U.S. and developing countries.
- Lois Gibbs, coming out of the Love Canal tragedies in Niagara Falls, NY, she organized arguably the leading grass roots movements against poisoning of neighborhoods around the country. She is an accomplished author, a speaker and is the director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, which works with hundreds of local citizen fighters for health and safety.
Some of the above were featured in the mass media years ago; others have been relegated to the shadows of our public news and features for almost their entire careers. The slanted selections by media gatekeepers are getting worse. Increasingly, TV and radio anchors interview their own reporters, not experts like Robert McIntyre, lawyer and founder of the highly regarded Citizens for Tax Justice. Too often the Sunday network TV political shows tap into the same stable of Washington pundits and commentators.
Readers and viewers can make their own lists of media-excluded, knowledgeable persons, be they at the local, state or national levels. On our public airwaves, after the FCC repealed the "Fairness Doctrine" in 1987, bloviators such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, completely dominate our airtime with their corporatist and hate-filled soliloquies. These "champions" of the free market have no problem using the public airwaves free of charge. As owners of the public airwaves and buyers of print journalism, let's demand higher standards for experts in journalism. Let's demand that the media seek out people who know their facts and work in the people's interest and give them airtime.
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While Republicans Try to Ram Their Unpopular Tax Plan Through Congress, Americans Continue to Voice Their Objection...
Over 930,000 calls have been made to house and senate members in opposition to the #goptaxscam.
Dec 19, 2017
Concerned constituents opposed to the Republican tax plan have now placed more than 930,000 phone calls to Congress using tools and 1-800 numbers set up by a wide coalition of groups opposed to the plan. Of course, many more voters have called their members of Congress directly, and the 930,000 calls represent only those that we can track. Activists and media outlets from across the country continue to report full voicemail boxes and busy signals at Congressional offices.
Poll after poll shows how unpopular this GOP tax scam is, and it's no wonder that so many voters are urging them to reject giant tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations at the expense of middle-class taxpayers and cuts to Medicare.
The groups whose tools generated the above combined count include:
Alliance for Retired Americans
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Federation of Teachers
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
Citizens for Tax Justice
Communication Workers of America
CREDO Action
Climate Hawks Vote
Daily Kos
Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
Healthcare for America Now
Healthcare for American Now Education Fund
Indivisible
League of Conservation Voters
Main Street Alliance
MomsRising
MoveOn.org
National Education Association
New Jersey Citizen Action
Not One Penny
Organizing for Action
Our Revolution
Oxfam America
Patriotic Millionaires
People's Action
Progressive Change Campaign Committee
Save My Care
Stand Up America
Service Employees International Union
Tax Action Center
Tax March
32BJ SEIU
5 Calls Civic Action
Below are statements from some of the groups involved in this grassroots effort:
"The wealthiest 1% and big corporations spent millions lobbying for this bill so that they can get billions of dollars in tax cuts. But millions of everyday Americans know what's at stake for them and their family, and they are speaking loudly and purposefully." --Frank Clemente, Executive Director of Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
"Thousands of Americans have screamed at the top of their lungs that they don't want a tax bill that raises their taxes to pay for tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and wealthy corporations. This bill is an affront to our working families--and we will not stop until every single member hears our voices." --Nicole Gill, Executive Director, Tax March
"This bill rewards the Exxon and Koch brothers with trillions of our dollars for destroying our climate. We'll hold accountable Republicans, especially those in the Climate Solutions Caucus who voted for the bill." --RL Miller, President, Climate Hawks Vote
"This bill is so much more than just tax cuts. It's a radically dangerous exercise in social engineering. It's widely recognized by everyone but congressional Republicans and President Trump as a deeply irresponsible plan that will do everything from preventing states and local government from levying taxes to try to make up for what they're losing from the federal government, to cutting health care and education and public transportation and the safety net. Every Republican who votes for this is hitching their wagon to Trump." --Joan McCarter, Senior Political Writer, Daily Kos
"Senate Republicans just voted to hand tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires and corporations on the backs of working families. They claim that their tax plan will boost wages for American workers. But real-world evidence suggests otherwise. Cutting corporations' taxes is not a recipe for increasing workers' wages. It's a recipe for exacerbating income and wealth inequality." --Josh Bivens, Director of Policy, Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
"People all across this country are outraged by this Tax Scam that delivers huge tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations and would turn the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into an industrial oil field. Congress should reject this awful legislation." --Alex Taurel, Deputy Legislative Director, League of Conservation Voters
"The claim that this tax bill helps small business is an act in the GOP's smoke and mirror show to pass an extremely bad bill. Phones on Capitol Hill have been ringing off the hook with thousands of small business owners calling to say they are seriously concerned about this tax bill. " --Amanda Ballantyne, National Director, Main Street Alliance
"The GOP tax plan would punish the middle class, devastate essential programs that boost our health care, nutrition and education, and undermine our economy. The moms of America see right through this trickery and are calling in by the thousands to tell their members of Congress to vote no!" --Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising
"Republicans in Congress are railroading a tax bill that would raise taxes on half of all taxpayers, just to give huge tax breaks to giant corporations and the wealthiest Americans. The public is strongly opposed to this outrageous attempt to rob poor and middle-class families to line the pockets of big corporations and billionaires. MoveOn members have been on fire organizing against this bill--and our members are absolutely clear that we will hold Republicans in Congress accountable if they jam this disaster through." --Anna Galland, Executive Director, MoveOn.org Civic Action
"We saw the power of flooding lawmakers' phone lines during the health care fight - when thousands upon thousands of your constituents are pleading with you not to pass legislation that will harm their families, it makes a difference. Let's hope Congress listens once again." --Jesse Lehrich, Communications Director, Organizing for Action
"Tens of thousands of Oxfam supporters have sent letters and made calls to Congress demanding that they reject this terrible tax bill. This vote is a real test of who our elected officials side with." --Ben Grossman-Cohen, Global Campaign Manager, Oxfam America
"The GOP tax bill is morally bankrupt, intellectually corrupt, and morally indefensible. It will be a disaster for millions of hardworking American families, devastating both their bank accounts and their health, all in the name of tax cuts for the wealthy. The American people have seen this bill for the catastrophe that it is, and are letting their elected officials know that it is unacceptable." --Morris Pearl, Chair of the Board, Patriotic Millionaires
"The public justifications for this horrible bill are transparently false. It will not improve the economy, it will not create jobs, it will not help the middle class. What the bill will do is benefit the donor class, which is the one and only reason Republicans are trying to ram it through. But, the power of We the People can still keep this unconscionable bill from being passed." --Susan Harley, Deputy Director, Public Citizen's Congress Watch division
"The President of the United States is under federal investigation for conspiring with the Russian government. This is not a moment to let him rewrite our tax code. Congress should be laser-focused on protecting our democracy and our national security." --Sean Eldridge, Founder and President, Stand Up America
"This tax plan is a robbery of America's working families in broad daylight. Far from creating jobs, the bill threatens to destabilize the economy, hurt small businesses and reward corporations for outsourcing and automating American jobs. Our members are mobilizing against this disaster of a tax scam and will continue to hold Congress accountable for this assault on working families everywhere." --Hector Figueroa, President, 32BJ SEIU
"It's clear to Americans that this tax plan is a hand out to the donor class and doesn't serve the interest of most of its citizens in the long term. Regardless of the outcome, lawmakers should know that we're watching how they vote and we have one message: See you in 2018." --Nick O'Neill, Co-Founder, 5 Calls Civic Action
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