Breaking the Box

Timothy Karr Campaign Director Free Press www.freepress.net Breaking the Box: Putting the Public Back in Public Media

Why public media matters “ Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.” President James Madison, August 1822 "There is a great chasm between those of us in the business and those who depend on TV and radio as their window to the world. We treat them too much like audiences and not enough like citizens. They are invited to look through the window, but too infrequently to participate and make public broadcasting public." Bill Moyers, May 2005

A quick review ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],The law that governs modern public media was passed in 1967. It now falls under the Communications Act, which includes a “Declaration of Policy” stating that it is in the public interest that Congress:

40 years later … ,[object Object],And gained a massive audience: ,[object Object],[object Object],Since 1967, public broadcasting has succeeded meeting many, but not all, of these public interest goals. It has certainly won the favor of its viewers:

Money well spent … ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],The annual tax burden for public media is $1.70 per person, among the lowest per capita funding in the industrialized world A 2005 Roper Poll found that Americans overwhelmingly support the concept of funding public media with tax dollars:

… and worth fighting for In 2005, when a Republican-controlled House threatened to slash funding for all public media, We organized more than a million Americans to email and call Congress to demand full funding Funding was restored within weeks We marched on Capitol Hill, and at a public rally starring Sen. Hilary Clinton, Rep. Ed Markey, Maya, Miguel and Clifford the Big Red Dog, we delivered a million petitions to our elected representatives

… and worth fighting for When the conservative chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting attempted to subject all programming to a political litmus test, We demanded that the agency’s Inspector General conduct a full investigation, which revealed that he had abused his position to serve a partisan agenda. We delivered to his office more than 100,000 letters calling for his ouster. He was forced out by the end of the year

… and worth fighting for, but In 2006 and 2007 the White House proposed drastic cuts to public broadcasting. And we organized millions more to pressure Congress to restore funding. Rushing to defend against threats to public media has become a kind of annual routine for the public interest community … … but we’re getting tired of short term fixes.

So, what’s the problem? ,[object Object],[object Object],Clearly there is a groundswell of public support for the traditional notion of public broadcasting. But as this public broadcasting enters its fifth decade, cracks in the system are beginning to show. $350 million = White House CPB recommendation $668 million = White House earmark for propaganda CPB =“heat shield” between programming and politicians CPB Management = Seasoned Partisans = Agenda?

So, what’s the problem? The existing funding system can't face up to the challenges or meet the opportunities presented by the digital transition. ,[object Object],[object Object],So here we are at the dawn of new digital media -- media that can achieve the democratic potential envisioned by the founders of our public broadcasting eco-system -- and yet public media lack the support that will allow us to take full advantage of this massive opportunity

So, what’s next? The big challenge ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Who are we? ,[object Object],The movement to re-invent public media has three legs: The public broadcasting community ,[object Object],The public interest community Congress

The Public Interest Community Strengths: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Weaknesses: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The Public Broadcasting Community Strengths: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Weaknesses: ,[object Object],[object Object]

Congress Strengths: ,[object Object],[object Object],Weaknesses: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

How we can win ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

How we can win The moral of the story: Policies shape the system, and as citizens, broadcasters, media makers and advocates, we must work together to shape these policies. Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media and involve the public in media policymaking. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal, affordable access to communications.

Breaking the Box

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