Report Raises Questions About Public Broadcast Chief

A report critical of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's recent activities under former CPB Chairman Ken Tomlinson said Tomlinson improperly dealt with news programming in an effort to judge TV shows' objectivity and balance.

According to the report by CPB Inspector General Kenneth Konz, former CPB Chairman Ken Tomlinson "violated statutory provisions" and the board's code of ethics by dealing directly with programmers during negotiations over the creation of a new public affairs program.

Tomlinson felt that certain shows crossed the line as too liberal--especially "NOW with Bill Moyers." He believed PBS programming wasn't balanced--especially with specific news-oriented programming. CPB was to create one such program of its own, "The Journal Editorial Report."

The report also said that Tomlinson improperly reviewed shows: "Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered," "The Tavis Smiley Show," and "The Diane Rehm Show"--in an attempt to analyze objectivity and balance.

A New York Times story in 2004 reported that Tomlinson said PBS programming should reflect a "Republican mandate." But the Inspector General's report couldn't find specific evidence to support this exact statement.

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Inspector General Konz was also critical of Tomlinson's provision for recruiting a president and CEO of the CPB by using "political tests." Tomlinson chose Patricia Harrison, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, earlier this year.

Despite all of Tomlinson's improper efforts to offer "balanced" programming, the report was critical of the CPB itself--that it "never established a procedure for conducting reviews of national programming for objectivity and balance." If that had been established, the controversy over "NOW with Bill Moyers" would never have occurred, according to the Inspector General report.

Tomlinson also hired two ombudsmen for the CPB. But the report was disapproving that he didn't review these hirings with the "key stakeholders of the public broadcasting community."

Although the Inspector General was critical of Tomlinson, the report said there were serious "weaknesses in the corporate governance system." Konz cited potential problems in "procurement"--buying TV shows. The report said that CPB management--run by Tomlinson--was allowed to have consultants working on shows even before contracts were signed.

Tomlinson, a Republican, ended his controversial tenure when he resigned from the CPB board on Nov. 3. The inspector general's report included a response from Tomlinson, who said he was "disappointed, but not surprised," by the findings.

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