Balance has long been an issue in public broadcasting, but the debate flares when some see a conservative push as a shove.: “Perennially cash-strapped public television producers and filmmakers would ordinarily be thrilled that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting recently unveiled a long-awaited initiative to fund $20 million worth of documentaries on post-Sept. 11 terrorist attack themes. Instead, a recent forum in New York where the organization’s executives explained more precisely what kinds of programs they are seeking for ‘America at a Crossroads’ turned into a shouting and name-calling session.

One producer drew sustained applause from many of the 275 or so attendees for complaining that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was ‘asking me to do the bidding of the Pentagon.’ An employee of the National Black Programming Consortium noted ‘this whole thing stinks,’ as he criticized a focus on the ‘Anglo-American world order’ by an expert panel of white men who were brought in to suggest documentary topics.” — LA Times. Wasn’t the enormous Kroc bequest supposed to insulate CPB against pandering to the powers that be out of fears for their fiscal solvency?

Related? NPR News Is Replacing Morning Host: “Morning radio will soon lose one of its most familiar news anchors. Bob Edwards, who for nearly 25 years has greeted millions of weekday listeners with the distinctive and richly toned opener “This is `Morning Edition’ from NPR News,” is being replaced as host of that flagship morning program. The decision was made by NPR management as part of an effort to update its programming.” — New York Times. And ‘updating its programming’ is a euphemism for what precisely??