[Dialogue] Broadcast chief quits after 'conservative' probe

Fri Nov 4 19:45:58 EST 2005

Colleagues, sometimes there is a little good news about CPB. Peace, Harry 
  _____  

Broadcast chief quits after 'conservative' probe

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Under fire for promoting conservative programming, the
former Corporation for Public Broadcasting chairman has resigned from the
corporation's board after the panel reviewed an investigative report on his
tenure.

Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, whose term as board chairman ended in September, left
the board after the third day of closed-door meetings by the board of
directors to review the findings of the agency's inspector general about his
work.

"Both the board and Mr. Tomlinson believe it is in the best interests of the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting that he no longer remain on the board,"
the board said in a statement e-mailed Thursday evening to reporters and
interest groups.

Critics of Tomlinson's nearly two-year tenure were not completely satisfied
by his departure. They called for prompt public release of the investigative
findings and for the board to repudiate his policies.

"Tomlinson strongly disputes the findings" of the inspector general, the
board said without detailing them. The report is expected to be released in
mid-November.

Tomlinson did not respond to a voice mail message left on his home telephone
Thursday night seeking his comments.

The investigation was begun after Reps. David Obey, D-Wisconsin, and John
Dingell, D-Michigan, in May called for CPB Inspector General Kenneth A. Konz
to look into reports that Tomlinson used questionable tactics and
corporation funds to exert political influence over public broadcasting.

The board said it "does not believe that Mr. Tomlinson acted maliciously or
with any intent to harm CPB or public broadcasting" but it "expresses its
disappointment in the performance of former key staff whose responsibility
it was to advise the board and its members."

Corporation spokesman Michael Levy could not be reached Thursday night for
elaboration on which former staff members were being criticized and for
what.

Finally, the board commended Tomlinson "for his legitimate efforts to
achieve balance and objectivity in public broadcasting."

Contract questions

Obey and Dingell asked the inspector general to investigate a consulting
contract that, according to The New York Times, was initiated by Tomlinson
to review the "Now With Bill Moyers" public television show for political
content. They also asked for an inquiry into CPB's decision to hire two
ombudsmen to review public programming.

The Times reported that the consultant kept track of "anti-Bush,"
"anti-business" and "anti-Tom DeLay" guests on Moyers' show. Moyers, who
served in the Johnson administration, has left the show.

Tomlinson, a Republican who formerly edited Reader's Digest, has said public
broadcasting shows were too liberal and didn't give equal treatment to
conservative views.

"Tomlinson's resignation should be used to bring people together, not divide
them as he and the administration have done," Obey said.

Dingell called the resignation "long overdue."

"We will need to determine how to stop this kind of misbehavior in the
future," Dingell added. "We hope today's action is the first step by the
board to operate in a more professional, nonpartisan manner."

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-North Dakota, said he expected to see the inspector
general report shortly. He said a conservative political consultant
Tomlinson hired to analyze political bias in programming had no professional
standing as a media analyst. He said there were complaints Tomlinson had
acted without board approval and outside CPB bylaws.

"Tomlinson's legacy at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a negative
one," Dorgan said. "He has done far more harm to the CPB than good."

On its Web site, Common Cause, a private watchdog group, called it
"distressing" that "the board's statement ... fails to reflect any regret
that Tomlinson's methods were unacceptable and unethical."

"CPB needs a thorough house-cleaning," said Jeff Chester, executive director
of the Center for Digital Democracy, which advocates more public interest
programming on digital media. Tomlinson "has engaged in unethical, if not
illegal, behavior," Chester said, but his departure "is unlikely to stop the
behind-the-scenes programming pressure" by other conservatives on the board
and in CPB executive jobs.

Set up by Congress in 1967 to shield public broadcasting from political
influence, the corporation funnels federal dollars to the Public
Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio and hundreds of public radio and
television stations.

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