Since
April 2002, FOPB has been trying to organize chapters or affiliate
groups around the state, to advocate state/region interests,
perhaps as CIPB does nationally. The handbooks and videos would
be for those local groups to use and circulate. If they are
in short supply, we can do without or copy the ones we have.
We are
bringing David Barsamian around as the keynote speaker and wrapping
a local presentation around it in Bend, Corvallis (OSU), Portland
and Eugene. As I said, the motive is to raise interest and connect
with groups in each locale. We will do a similar visit to other
population centers of state with Barsamian later.
Generally,
we are emphasizing that if any change is going to happen for
public broadcasting democracy, its going to come from the bottom
and that the CAB process, coupled with the leverage of public
"membership," is the way to do it. The laws are in
place that gives the community input to policy and programming
and the approval of the community should be in the support they
return. The spirit and intent of the federal laws and CPB rules
about CAB's is clear, in place and woefully ignored. Getting
compliance and cooperation there from the broadcasters is job
one.
Next, I'm
pushing a concept we call the CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY (shades
of Newt Gingrich and Zero Out), wherein the community groups
get the broadcaster to reaffirm its public mission and to create
a five-year plan to implement and fund community relevant programming.
In return for which the community agrees to added support for
local programming, to raise the funds necessary for the five-year
plan.
If that
doesn't work then the only reliance and oversight broadcasters
have is from corporate underwriters, and public broadcasting
totally becomes special interest programming supported by
centralist and commercial interests. I don't see much hope
of federal action of any kind helping media democracy right
now. So our message to the public on this trip is "Use
it or lose it!"
As part
of a statewide consortium, CIPB—Portland / Friends of
Public Broadcasting (FOPB) has created a pilot program, the
"Oregon
Gazette," a statewide video magazine of community
contact and consciousness that aired on OPB-TV February 2001.
The chapter is also in the midst of planning the Ready
for PBS!
Documentary Tour Film Weekend in late October 2001 (one
week after the Eugene "Ready for PBS" Documentary
Tour Film Weekend. Join us!
Presented
by Friends Of Public Broadcasting (FOPB) and Citizens for Independent
Public Broadcasting (CIPB), the two day event held at the University
of Oregon-Grayson Hall, Room 125, will feature four "Ready
for PBS" films and the works of three Oregon-based producers.
There will be a brief presentation prior to each showing discussing
why we're not seeing this programming on public TV and what
we can do to remedy the problem.This is a benefit for Friends
Of Public Broadcasting and to increase awareness of public broadcasting
obligations. The film program is supplied by CIPB - a national
advocate for the public's interest in public broadcasting -
and Oregon based producers.
