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It is not surprising that President Donald Trump has called for de-funding the public broadcasting system, describing it as taxpayer supported liberal propaganda. NPR and PBS have been critically examining every aspect of his administrative agenda, debunking his claims of vast savings and warning about the erosion of the constitutional rule of law.
Let’s be clear. The problem is not Sesame Street, Ken Burn’s history of the Vietnam War, “Antique Roadshow,” high school basketball, or the emergency broadcast system. It’s the news. These programs go to great lengths to discuss important issues from all sides. They provide historical context and back up their findings with facts. They allow experts long, uninterrupted opportunities to explain complex subjects and their impacts.
Perhaps it is not the liberal bias that has the president so exercised, but rather the thoughtfulness and dedication to objective truth.
The vast majority of online news shows lean to the right. Whenever I tune in, I am struck by how much of what passes for news is, in fact, a bunch of guys sitting around saying how awful the Democrats are, with frequent breaks for commercials. That’s it.
PBS, in contrast, has to send news crews around the world to gather accurate information. Like the post office and quality medical care, informative news reporting will never turn a profit without government subsidies. Every democracy in the world has a public supported broadcasting system.
Tens of millions of Americans tune into PBS and NPR every day to follow and understand the day’s events. It costs each taxpayer pennies per year. Citizens would be wiser and better informed if they listened to these factual news reports. Just try it before you pull the plug.
Peter Pfeiffer
Solon
