PBS President Paula Kerger ... recorded a personal television appeal that told viewers exactly how to contact members of Congress in order to "let your representative know how you feel about the elimination of funding for public broadcasting." But if PBS can pay Ms. Kerger $632,233 in annual compensation—as reported on the 990 tax forms all nonprofits are required to file—surely it can operate without tax dollars....[Corporation for Public Broadcasting] President and CEO Patricia de Stacy Harrison received $298,884 in reportable compensation and another $70,630[, but that's] practically a pittance compared to Kevin Klose, president emeritus of NPR, who received more than $1.2 million in compensation, according to the tax forms the nonprofit filed in 2009.
Today's media landscape is a thriving one with few barriers to entry and many competitors, unlike when CPB was created in 1967. In 2011, Americans have thousands of news, entertainment and educational programs to choose from that are available on countless television, radio and Web outlets.
Despite how accessible media has become to Americans over the years, funding for CPB has grown considerably. In 2001, the federal government appropriated $340 million for CPB. Last year it got $420 million. As Congress considers ways to close the $14 trillion deficit, cutting funding for the CPB has even been proposed by President Obama's bipartisan deficit reduction commission. Instead, Mr. Obama wants to increase CPB's funding to $451 million in his latest budget.
Meanwhile, highly successful, brand-name public programs like Sesame Street make millions on their own. "Sesame Street," for example, made more than $211 million from toy and consumer product sales from 2003-2006. Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell received $956,513 in compensation in 2008. With earnings like that, Big Bird doesn't need the taxpayers to help him compete...
Here's a more fundamental question: does the concept of a state-funded media make any sense whatsoever in the United States of America?
I would assert that it does not.
Kill all funding for state-run media. All of it. Now.
Hat tip: @SissyWillis.
Nice picture! One who worked hard to command the respect that comes with high office, and the other one, who isn't a Muppet.
ReplyDeleteOfcourse it figures! Public radio and NPR (National Propaganda Radio) are just more forms of the same controlled and contrived co-opted and compromised corporate brainwashing and social engineering platforms designed to keep the mass public in the dark! Alternative news sources are far more enlightening, accurate, and honest about the world, health, and our so-called leaders! There's a whole new world of information out there waiting for you to find it!
ReplyDeleteSince the average listener to NPR or viewer of PBS is significantly better off than the average american, public funding of these enterprises amounts to a subsidy for the wealthy, and should be cut-off immediately. But the bigger issue is pay in non-profits (which are effectively tax-payer subsidized) - I see no reason why the government shouldn't limit compensation and benefits for employees of these organizations if they want to organize as not-for-profit rather than regular corporations.
ReplyDeleteStep 1 is defunding all Public Broadcasting, period! Step 2 is disallow all (including Religious) non-profits and non-partisan orgs until they go through a full audit and justification.
ReplyDeleteRight! Let's get rid of thoughtful journalism that covers the world with insight and analysis and all listen to news/talk radio with no news and nothing but syndicated "talk" from Rush and the folks from Fox -- home of those who can't think. Why is the NPR audience made up of professionals and managers and all of them highly educated -- because nothing else on the radio and little else on television provides thoughtful coverage of what is going on in their country and the world. They know what is important and they seek it ought and many of them pay hundreds if not thousands of their own dollars to keep it on the air for all of us. Oh, your portion -- from your taxes -- can be measured in pocket change.
ReplyDelete