Saving Private Elmo

Changes at PBS:

The Public Broadcasting Service is hiring an ombudsman and revising editorial practices in the face of criticism that its programming has given short shrift to conservative views.

Changes approved by the PBS board now go to the service's funding organization, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, for its consideration, and millions of dollars in revenue for PBS could be at stake in the corporation's review.

PBS, which rejects accusations of liberal bias, said it has been reviewing its procedures since before Republicans in Congress moved to cut its financing. The Republican chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, has specifically accused the show hosted by Bill Moyers of featuring guests hostile to conservative views.

Revisions adopted by the PBS board include a requirement that commentary and opinion be labeled as such, and that program producers offer more information on how they gathered material and made their editorial decisions.

PBS also said it would hire an ombudsman to review controversial programs.

About 15 percent of PBS' budget is from the federal government, with appropriations approved by Congress and provided through the CPB.

About $55 million in funds for a variety of programs over two years is at stake in the CPB's review of the new standards.

I've got a much better reform---stop funding it.

Why should I have to pay for the TV shows you watch?

And before the cynical "Save Elmo" campaign starts up again, reread the above---15 percent of PBS' budget comes from the federal government. 15 percent. That means 85 percent comes from elsewhere, making me wonder why it's not 100 percent.

Why do liberals need me to pay for their propaganda ("Frontline", "Now", etc) when CNN will run it for free?