PUBLIC BROADCASTING In Serious Trouble:
Conservative Coup at CPB Brings Anti-Public-Interest-Oriented Ken Ferree to Agency’s Head
Statement of Jeff Chester, executive director, Center for Digital Democracy
commondreams.org
APRIL 09, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The ideologically driven majority on the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) now has the perfect apparatchik to run its zealous campaign to promote conservative/GOP-approved public broadcasting programming. Ken Ferree is now its “acting president.” That spells trouble for those who care about the fate of PBS and NPR--with a capital F.
Ferree was the key aide to FCC Chairman Michael Powell on media policy. As head of the FCC’s Media Bureau until March of this year, Ferree delivered to Powell--as he will deliver to his new boss, CPB Chair Kenneth Tomlinson--whatever was required to advance ideological interests. Ferree helped engineer the Commission’s 2003 rules on media ownership that swept away what little was left of restraints on the conglomerates. More importantly, he supported policies that undermined the rights of viewers and listeners--and citizens--to a media system that fosters discourse, creative expression and democracy. It was Ferree’s plan for Powell that ignited unprecedented opposition to the FCC, with millions writing to Congress and the commissioners. Ultimately, the Powell/Ferree plan was undone--for now--by the courts (and in part by Congress).
Moreover, Ferree was unwilling to engage in the kind of public dialogue that is essential when dealing with critical issues, such as the future of the First Amendment. As the new “go-to man” for the cabal on the CPB board, he will undoubtedly be the eager soldier in their pressure campaign on public broadcasting. The board’s majority is convinced that PBS and NPR are mired in “objectivity and balance” problems. Yet, study after study done by the board, we are told, shows there isn’t a problem. In this case, CPB isn’t really working for the American people. It’s a co-conspirator with the GOP leadership and establishment who think that Big Bird is a “card carrying Communist” and that too many “American Masters” failed to "name names."
The hasty departure yesterday of CPB President Kathleen Cox (done in a Nixonian “Saturday Night Massacre” style) is just the latest case of key employees disappearing. Unless one passes the right-wing litmus test there is no security of employment at CPB. It’s also no coincidence that in the same week CPB’s board created a new “thought police” division, naming two “ombudpersons” to review all programming on public radio and TV stations--even those not funded by CPB or the federal government.
Those who care about the future of PBS, NPR and noncommercial programming will need to watch Ferree, Tomlinson, and Co. closely. Under a spotlight, they are likely to reveal themselves as working to undermine the mandate of public broadcasting established almost 40 years ago.
Links:
CPB President Kathleen Cox Names Ken Ferree Chief Operating Officer, 14 Mar. 2005
CPB Establishes Ombudsmen Office, 5 April 2005
Joint Statement of Kathleen Cox, CPB president and CEO, and Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chair, CPB board of directors, 8 April 2005
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