By Don C. Reed
Why does America need public broadcasting? I can tell you in eleven words.
America needs NPR because it tells both sides of the story.
Prove it for yourself. Turn on your local public news station and listen to a few of the stories. You will notice a pattern. Part of the segment you will agree with; part you will oppose.
There will be at least two sides: right wing versus left, Republican v. Democrat.
Compare that with other news/opinion shows, all too often one-sided.
Fox News is conservative: MSNBC is solidly liberal.
But Public Broadcasting gives both sides.
If the subject is oil-drilling, someone from the petroleum lobby will speak, and they will be vocal and articulate — speaking on behalf of the oil industry is what they do for a living. There will also be an expert on the environmental consequences of oil extraction.
Sometimes one side will refuse to participate; that’s up to them. But the opportunity is there.
Years ago, a “Fairness Doctrine”* was required by law, that both sides of a controversial issue would be told. We don’t have that any more, which is a shame. But we do have the Public Broadcasting System, and they work hard to be fair.
Unfortunately, our public broadcast news is under attack by President Trump, and the Republican Party. By cutting off its federal funding, ($1.1 billion over two years) the Republican-dominated House of Representatives is attempting to weaken or kill the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This includes both radio (National Public Radio, NPR), and television (Public Broadcasting Service, PBS).The (also Republican-controlled) Senate will try to do the same.
Is Public broadcasting worth protection?
The quality of work is uniformly excellent, as can be judged by the awards public broadcasting routinely gathers. These include (but are not limited to) such top recognition as the Peabody Awards, Emmy Awards (numerous categories) , Webby Awards, Telly Awards, and Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Whenever I drive, I listen to my local public news station; it connects me to my neighborhood — and the world.
* https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/topic-guide/fairness-doctrine