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New cpb ceo is gop lobbyist and pro israel { September 27 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/27/MNGSEEUEQM1.DTLhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/27/MNGSEEUEQM1.DTL
New chief of public TV, radio selected
GOP fundraiser to pursue 'balance'
- Stephen Labaton, New York Times
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Washington -- Cheryl Halpern, a major Republican fundraiser selected Monday to be the next chairwoman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, vowed to continue to encourage "objectivity and balance" in public television and radio.
Her commitment raised concerns among some broadcasting executives who said that her predecessor, Kenneth Tomlinson, used "balance" to justify providing the financing for at least one conservative program, featuring the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, and for monitoring programs that had been critical of the Bush administration.
Tomlinson is the subject of an inquiry for signing a contract with a researcher to monitor the "Now" program with Bill Moyers and for signing contracts last year with two Republican lobbyists.
"I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand," Tomlinson dryly said as he convened the last meeting of his tenure as chairman.
The corporation is a private, nonprofit entity financed by Congress to ensure the vitality of public television and radio. Tension is hardwired into its charter: Its mandate to ensure "objectivity and balance" is accompanied by an exhortation to maintain public broadcasting's independence and act as a firewall from political interference.
Halpern, on the corporation board since 2002 and previously chairwoman for the Republican Jewish Coalition, has criticized National Public Radio's Mideast coverage, calling it biased against Israel. Her family has business interests there.
At her confirmation hearing two years ago, Halpern suggested that journalists in public broadcasting be punished for editorializing.
Andi Sporkin, a spokeswoman at National Public Radio, criticized the corporation under Tomlinson.
"The events at CPB over the last six months have been disappointing for public radio," Sporkin said, "as we've watched an organization that has supported public broadcasting for four decades, and through all administrations, become an instrument of ideology and agenda."
The Republican-controlled board selected Halpern over Beth Courtney, a political independent who is president and chief executive of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The board also elected Gay Hart Gaines, another Republican fundraiser, to be vice chairwoman.
The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.
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