PBS Violates Its Legal Obligations

Submitted by J. Hoffman (United States), Dec 17, 2002 at 23:15

Daniel Pipes's critique of the forthcoming PBS program on Islam seems on the mark to me. Perhaps more serious is the fact that since its inception, PBS has violated its charter and legal obligations. More specifically, it is required by law to present all reasonable sides to public issues. Does anyone really believe that PBS's (and NPR's) staff, producers, editors, and reporters are not overwhelmingly left/liberal? That their coverage of public issues is not slanted? It is the prerogative of a private newspaper or network to adopt any stance it wishes, but PBS and NPR are publicly funded, and shouldn't act like subsidiaries of the Democratic Party. I would like to see a lawsuit brought against them that aims to force them to live up to their legal obligations. If they were forced to diversify in the intellectual and political sense, then perhaps a program such as the one Pipes criticizes would never have been made.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".