Accurate, experienced journalism is important for keeping people informed and to keep the principles of democracy flourishing. When new organizations make cuts, that places all of that in peril. We depend on a free press to keep power in check.
Doris Kearns Goodwin said “Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals”. We need to remember these high ideals as times get tough and things change.
A certain ideology has taken root, and it isn’t good in many news operations around the country.
With all this said, I will miss the CBS Saturday Morning show with Dana Jacobson and Michelle Miller, the show was cancelled, and they lost their jobs. CBS just laid off a lot of people today. They are not changing for the better.
I have to say, there is so much going on in the world that it feels like we are drinking from a fully open fire hydrant. The world has gone crazy, and it’s one thing after another. I am overwhelmed by it all, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. That fire hydrant is coming at us quick, and it feels like we are drowning.
Every day the news of the country and the world seems to be getting worse. Joy seems to be in short supply.
I don’t want to be tested in life like this. I feel bad for the people who are worse off than me, and it’s like two fire hydrants for them. Every day feels like a week, and every week feels like a month. Something has to change, and I don’t know when it will. Grace and peace to us all.
Throughout my life, I have been a huge consumer of public media. I grew up watching my local Public Broadcasting channel, WTCI in Chattanooga, TN. My favorite programs were Sesame Street, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, The Electric Company, Zoom, 3.2.1. Contact, The Frugal Gourmet, This Old House, Hometime, old British comedies and more. I learned so much about being a better human being and learning new things through PBS
My wife and I give what we can to WTCI and have the benefit of watching old and new episodes of our favorite shows such as Call The Midwife and others through PBS streaming service. We enjoy watching cooking shows like America’s Test Kitchen, Milk Street, Lidia’s Kitchen, Pati’s Mexican Table and lots of others.
In the past, I have listened to NPR on the way to and from work. Our local station WUTC does a great job of keeping people up to date and enlightened with the music they play. NPR has a lot of great informational programming that is easy to listen to anywhere and everywhere.
This past week, there was an executive order stopping federal funding of PBS and NPR. The reasons given are hokum if you ask me. Public Media has such a small part of the total federal budget. It has enormous benefits to everyone. It’s independent and very helpful to kids learning from a small age.
I hear that some legislators feel there is an anti-American bias, but in all my years of watching, I haven’t seen it. Sure there are programs where the history of America is told which is problematic and those are facts that no one can deny. Ken Burns has done many documentary movies highlighting the best of America. PBS and NPR are about information, illumination and inspiration and promoting knowledge and even empathy.
My friends, support your local Public Media stations. They need our help now more than ever.
Here’s to the journalists, news crews, and others on the scene in Florida providing vital information regarding the hurricane. Keep them safe as they do their work.
The Tony Burgess Blog 