Weigh in with Your Vote on PBS Funding
Parade Magazine's poll of the week asks whether federal funding should continue to go to the non-commercial Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). If you have an opinion, follow this link to Parade.com and speak your mind with your keyboard!
If Hawaii had to start from scratch, without federal funding, to build a public television station, costs might be prohibitive. But here we are, up and running with a full line-up of fine local and national adult and children's programs and educational outreach services. PBS Hawaii was launched by community-minded citizens supporting the vision of broadcasting for the public good. Hawaii citizens continue to support us heavily with contributions. In a world of media conglomeration, we're a locally owned and operated non-profit with an authentic voice.
Federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is also very important to us, making possible our ongoing transition to the digital age. One out of every six dollars in our budget comes from federal funding.
We're convinced PBS gives an excellent return on public investment. For less than $1.35 per person a year, public broadcasting (including radio) provides everyone in this country with top-quality programming and educational services for children and adults.
Trust is not easily earned, and the American public has placed trust in the PBS. This year, for the fifth year in a row, Americans declared PBS to be the most trustworthy institution in the country. The international research company Roper Public Affairs & Media found that Americans rank public television well ahead of the courts of law, commercial broadcast television networks, newspaper publishers, the federal government, cable television networks and Congress.
OK, no secret how I'm casting my vote. I agree with Eric Boehlert, senior fellow at Media Matters, a non-profit media watchdog group: "PBS is a success story for the government, ranking up there with the national parks." We're also a success story for others who believe in us and extend support: viewer donors, producers, private foundations, corporations.
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