Public Broadcasting has been left-leaning in its news and analysis for quite some time- especially in radio (NPR is notoriously liberal)...why PBS is worried over the CPB's proposed rules is confusing.
In this article from the Washington Post, the most troubling part comes from the PBS General Counsel:
In negotiations with PBS earlier this year, the corporation also insisted, for the first time, on tying new funding to an agreement that would commit the network to strict "objectivity and balance" in each of its programs -- an idea that PBS's general counsel described in an internal memo as amounting to "government encroachment on and supervision of program content, potentially in violation of the First Amendment."
So, if I understand correctly PBS is worried that a rule that demands "objectivity and balance" is a violation of the First Amendment? Isn't "objectivity and balance" merely a good idea and good journalistic practice? I'm not sure why the general counsel would say this...it makes the organization look as tho they don't WANT objectivity and would like to promote a bias one way or another.
As a taxpayer funded venture (yes, PBS gets funds from private trusts, charities, and viewers, but the fact remains- PBS could not survive in commercial televison, the quality just isn't there), objectivity overall is a fair demand. The CPB, as a government entity also would be right in suggesting, and even demanding such a standard...I see nothing wrong with any of this.