Media exec found to have been biased in political coverage.

FranchiseBlade · Nov 16, 2005

It looks like once again the whitehouse had its hooks in trying to influence the media.

The guy made a score sheet of whether guests on one show were pro or anti Bush. He also contacted the whitehouse, and then used his influence to push the hiring of a whitehouse friend. How disgusting.

U.S. Public TV's Ex-Chief Faulted by Internal Probe (Update2)

Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's former chairman, Kenneth Tomlinson, improperly helped create a conservative news show for public television and pushed for Republican hires after discussions with the White House, an internal probe found.

The disclosures today by the corporation's inspector general sparked calls by public-interest groups for the dismissal of its new president, Patricia Harrison. Citing ``cryptic'' e-mails between Tomlinson and the White House, the report said it found evidence that he used ``political tests'' as a key criteria in recruiting Harrison.

Tomlinson, who resigned as critics including Democrats in Congress faulted his actions, broke numerous corporation rules while trying to push a conservative political agenda, the probe found. Critics have accused Tomlinson of misusing his authority at the corporation, which oversees U.S. government funding for non-commercial broadcasters and some of their shows.

Tomlinson ``violated statutory provisions and the director's code of ethics,'' the 42-page report said, citing evidence it found. The report also said the corporation's ``organizational environment'' lacked ``appropriate checks and balances'' to guide management.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established by Congress as a non-partisan organization to shield Public Broadcasting Service shows from political influence. The taxpayer funding distributed by the corporation helps to finance PBS, National Public Radio and production of shows such as ``Sesame Street'' and ``Nova.''

Tomlinson's Intervention

Tomlinson personally intervened to help create ``The Journal Editorial Report'' as a counterbalance to ``NOW with Bill Moyers,'' the report said. In pushing to add the Journal show, which was unusually expensive at $4 million for its first season, Tomlinson told corporation staff ``not to interfere with his deal to bring a balancing program'' to PBS's Friday night programming, the report said.

Tomlinson told investigators that ``PBS needed political balance to represent the contemporary conservative perspectives,'' said the report by Kenneth Konz, the corporation's inspector general.

Failure to Consult

Tomlinson also improperly hired a consultant with conservative ties to assess the political leanings of some guests on the Moyers show, the report said. It faulted Tomlinson for failing to consult with the corporation's board before signing the consultant's contract.

Tomlinson resigned Nov. 3 from the board of the private non-profit corporation, which distributes about $400 million a year for public TV and radio. He resigned as the board was considering the findings of Konz's six-month probe, which was requested by Democratic lawmakers.

Tomlinson defended his actions as ``open'' and ``lawful'' and said they were taken after consulting with the corporation's top lawyer, president, or board. Tomlinson stepped down as chairman at the end of September as Konz's initial findings became known.

`Any suggestion by Mr. Konz that I violated my fiduciary duties, the director's code of ethics or relevant statutory provisions is malicious and irresponsible,'' Tomlinson wrote in a response to the report. Konz's report reflects an ``audacious and grasping approach,'' Tomlinson said.

`Political Credentials'

Konz's report said e-mails between Tomlinson and White House staff ``give the appearance that the former chairman was strongly motivated by political considerations in'' hiring Harrison. The report also found that Tomlinson was ``instrumental'' in hiring two corporation staff members ``who had political credentials along with their other qualifications.''

Common Cause and other public-interest groups called today for Harrison's dismissal.

``The CPB must acknowledge its mistakes and act to restore public confidence,'' said Chellie Pingree, president of Common Cause.

Konz also faulted the corporation for lacking policies regarding the hiring of executive staff and for having ineffective internal controls for contracting outside services. The report said because of the lax controls, objections were not raised against some of Tomlinson's actions.

Tomlinson remains chairman of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees government broadcasts to other countries, including the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

In this capacity, he is the subject of a federal probe, by the State Department's inspector general. That investigation is examining the possible misuse of federal money and use of phantom or unqualified employees, the New York Times said earlier this month.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aFw4MlYqhunc&refer=us
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eric.81 · Nov 16, 2005

FranchiseBlade said:

It looks like once again the whitehouse had its hooks in trying to influence the media.

The guy made a score sheet of whether guests on one show were pro or anti Bush. He also contacted the whitehouse, and then used his influence to push the hiring of a whitehouse friend. How disgusting.
Click to expand...

In other news: The sky is blue, the Pope is catholic, and bears really do sh*t in the woods.

bigtexxx · Nov 16, 2005

Lefties complaining about right-leaning influence in the media? I've truly seen it all. You people are truly blind.

BBC, CBS news ring a bell? Yeah that was 100x more important that this silly allegation.

FranchiseBlade · Nov 16, 2005

bigtexxx said:

Lefties complaining about right-leaning influence in the media? I've truly seen it all. You people are truly blind.

BBC, CBS news ring a bell? Yeah that was 100x more important that this silly allegation.
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Tomlinson violated the law. Do you not hold the laws of this nation with value and respect?

mc mark · Nov 16, 2005

bigtexxx said:

Lefties complaining about right-leaning influence in the media? I've truly seen it all. You people are truly blind.

BBC, CBS news ring a bell? Yeah that was 100x more important that this silly allegation.
Click to expand...

Your reading comprehension is astounding.

I believe the point was that the WH is once again trying to influence an organization that by all rights should be independent from government influence.

At least that’s what I get out of the article.

Dreamshake · Nov 16, 2005

bigtexxx said:

Lefties complaining about right-leaning influence in the media? I've truly seen it all. You people are truly blind.

BBC, CBS news ring a bell? Yeah that was 100x more important that this silly allegation.
Click to expand...

Breaking laws and having the WH using dirty cheap tactics = A news organizations political leanings?????

Pure Stupidity.

Ubiquitin · Nov 16, 2005

bigtexxx said:

Lefties complaining about right-leaning influence in the media? I've truly seen it all. You people are truly blind.

BBC, CBS news ring a bell? Yeah that was 100x more important that this silly allegation.
Click to expand...

Since when was BBC American or CBS mattered, liberal or not?

Chance · Nov 16, 2005

mc mark said:

Your reading comprehension is astounding.

I believe the point was that the WH is once again trying to influence an organization that by all rights should be independent from government influence.

At least that’s what I get out of the article.
Click to expand...

or funding.

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