NewsMine — propoganda — state-control — Viewing Item

Republican used political tests for pbs hires Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-11-15-tomlinsonpbs_x.htm http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-11-15-tomlinsonpbs_x.htm Posted 11/15/2005 1:37 PM Updated 11/15/2005 8:29 PM Report: Tomlinson violated ethics By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — An internal report by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting found evidence that former chairman Kenneth Tomlinson "violated statutory provisions and the Director's Code of Ethics" as he tried to address what he saw as a lack of objectivity and balance in public broadcasting programs. Inspector General Kenneth Konz, acting on a request from Democratic congressmen, also found evidence to suggest that "political tests" were a major criteria used by Tomlinson, a Republican, to recruit CPB president Patricia Harrison, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Tomlinson became a lightning rod for criticism when he told Congress in July he felt that some shows on PBS were too liberal. He resigned Nov. 3, when the report was presented to the CPB board. The report, made public Tuesday, also said: •Tomlinson's hiring of a consultant to review program content was done without informing the board or getting its authorization. •There are serious weaknesses in the CPB's corporate governance system that allowed the former chairman to operate without appropriate checks and balances. •Tomlinson did no wrong in hiring two ombudsmen, who considered themselves to be non-partisan. The report also cleared Tomlinson of his use of a White House employee to help prepare a press release about the ombudsmen, citing no evidence that she directed the actions of the ombudsmen. In a response issued with the report, Tomlinson said any suggestion of ethics or provision violations "is malicious and irresponsible. All of my actions were open, lawful, and were taken after consulting and receiving advice from CPB's General Counsel, its President, or the CPB Board of Directors." CPB Chairman Cheryl Halpern said the past "few weeks have been especially challenging" and that the board, responsible for distributing about $400 million each year from the federal government to public television and radio, had already made "a number of decisions" about correcting internal problems that allowed the violations. Harrison added, "Through these resolutions, you and the board have reaffirmed the course we are on to strengthen the role and the service of public broadcasting." Watchdog groups, including the Center for Digital Democracy, Free Press and Common Cause, immediately called for Harrison's resignation because of the finding that political tests were used to hire her, but the CPB board unanimously expressed its confidence in Harrison. "I'm satisfied with our response, but this is just the beginning," said board member Beth Courtney.

Administration paid commentator to promote nclb { January 8 2005 } All the presidents newsmen { January 16 2005 } Arnold press videos aired as news { March 14 2005 } Baltimore sun lawsuit against gov ehrlich { February 14 2005 } Blair attacks bbc for not supporting bush { September 18 2005 } Bush audiences screened hand picked { March 31 2005 } Bush conversation with troops staged Bush orders end to hiring columnists Bush paid columnist gets radio show { March 3 2005 } Bushs loyal reporters team { February 18 2005 } Colbert said press tool of whitehouse Ehrlich allowed to deny press access { February 14 2005 } Fed education violated propaganda ban { September 30 2005 } House passes steeper indecency fines { February 16 2005 } Judith was government stooge journalist { October 17 2005 } More quran abuse despite newsweek retraction { May 26 2005 } New cbs boss is bush supporter { October 27 2005 } No media coverage for return coffins { October 21 2003 } Packaged bush videos used as news { March 13 2005 } Pbs takes bush officials for pro republican change { May 2 2005 } Republican chairman of pbs pushes conservative programs { May 12 2005 } Republican used political tests for pbs hires Senate may ban releases that imitate news Stop government propoganda act { January 27 2005 } US agency gives fake news conference Washington post withholds news at request of pentagon { November 2 2005 } White house criticizes newsweek report causing afghan incident { May 16 2005 } White house told journalists how to response to 911 { October 9 2006 } Writer backing bush plan had federal contract { January 26 2005 } Files Listed: 29

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.