The Univ. of Minnesota, faced with the elimination of men's golf, men's gymnastics and women's golf teams, produced a three-hour telethon last Sunday that raised mre than $670,000.
The event included the school's marching band and pleas from Arnold Palmer, Paul Molitor and Gov. Jesse Ventura.
"I don't want to be the athletic director remembered for whacking three sports," said Joel Maturi of Save Gopher Sports Committee.
"Look, we know each of our major newspapers comes with an established
point of view. . . And USA Today's is that of Sean Penn's character in 'I Am
Sam' after inhaling paint fumes."
PITTSBURGH EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
A NEW VISION FOR PITTSBURGH
Merger and acquisition fever in the commercial media has shrunk the number of independent voices in this country to a dangerous low. Public television must not follow the same courseÛit must foster MORE, not fewer outlets. A multiplicity of voices is the life blood of a self-governing society.
James Day, President Publivision, Inc. and Former President, Channel 13/WNET New York
Our democracy requires some space in our vast system of communication that serves people as citizens not consumers. We cannot expect such service from the profit-driven commercial media, increasingly concentrated into fewer and larger corporate giants.
In 1967, The Carnegie Commission on Educational Television recognized the limitations of advertiser driven media and proposed a system free of commercial constraints. The Commission called for a public television service that would Ïserve as a forum for debate and controversy,Ó providing a Ïvoice for groups in the community that may otherwise go unheard,Ó so we could Ïsee America whole, in all its diversity.Ó In the federal statute launching public television, Congress called for an ÏalternativeÓ that would express Ïdiversity and excellence,Ó involve Ïcreative risks,Ó and address Ïthe needs of the unserved and underserved audiences,Ó including minorities, children, seniors, workers and active citizens.
Tragically, financial insecurity, political intimidation and corporate seduction have caused PBS stations to retreat from their founding mission. Despite occasional programs of excellence, PBS has become increasingly commercial (including pitches on childrenÌs shows for theme parks and fast food), program underwriting guidelines discriminate against labor and public interest groups, independent producers are rarely admitted, and too many PBS stations are unresponsive to local communities.
Since member stations are required to carry only about ten hours a week of the PBS National Program Service, there is considerable local discretion in programming. Moreover, almost
three-fifths of Americans have access to two or more PBS channels. The smaller PBS secondary stations, like WQEX, typically provide programming that is more alternative and locally responsive. Unfortunately, WQEX (Channel 16) has been merely a simulcast of the same programming on WQED (Channel 13) for more than four years. To make matters worse, WQED petitioned the FCC more than a year ago for permission to commercialize and sell Channel 16, leaving Pittsburgh permanently a one-station town.
Experts project that digital transmission (which will enable more channels) is many years away from full implementation. Moreover, PBS stations already have FCC permission to use some of the new channels for revenue generating activity, from commercial programming to corporate services. The new technology offers no solution to the need for greater media democracy to serve the full diversity of our community. One station is not enough.
Introducing Pittsburgh Educational Television
Pittsburgh Educational Television (PET) was incorporated by attorney Frederick Polner of the firm of Rothman Gordon in 1996 to serve as a viable alternative to WQED in operating Channel 16. At its founding, its members consisted of representatives from education, government, labor and religion: City Councilman Jim Ferlo, State Senator Allen Kukovich, Monsignor Charles Owen Rice, Professor Jerold Starr and labor leader Rosemary Trump.
PET is now in a new phase of its evolution. Other organizations---Alliance for Progressive Action, Pittsburgh Citizens for Independent Public Broadcasting and Save16---have assumed responsibility for challenging the sale of Channel 16 with the FCC. PET is concentrating exclusively on its new role as a catalyst and facilitator for alternative program production and distribution in the community.
The existing board is willing to give way to a new and more inclusive board of community leaders and institutional representatives. Each member would bring with him or her new constituencies eager to participate in and support this enterprise. Some also might bring with them connections to funding or resources in kind, like space, equipment and supplies, part time staff and volunteers.
Pittsburgh Educational Television is putting together all of the necessary elements for new public service programming: acquired programming, equipment, technical support, station outlets, and funding. We are inviting interested talent---producers, performers, technicians---to respond to this opportunity. We also are looking for local organizations to sponsor and/or participate in programming---whether theatre, arts, music, dance or public affairs.
Station Outlets
Two stations in the greater Pittsburgh community are available to cablecast new programming. WBGN-TV, Channel 59, currently is provided to all 1.4 million households served by AT&T and Adelphia Cable in the area. This is a commercial station, but its rates are very low by industry standards. It is seeking new programming and would assume responsibility for selling the time to interested advertisers. Like PBS, WBGN-TV has agreed to not interrupt the programs with advertising. We also have the option of raising the money from foundation and government sources to buy the commercial time and offer the programming commercial free.
PCTV is PittsburghÌs cable access channel. Its new director, Thomas Poole, comes to us from New York City where he worked for Deep Dish, a satellite provider of alternative programming. While responsible for working within the reasonable constraints of his charter, Poole indicates that there is much discretion regarding new programming and block scheduling in desirable times. PCTV just received a grant to acquire $200,000 of new equipment. It offers training for those wishing to learn the craft of video production.
Despite an old reputation for amateurism, many cable access stations nationwide have been turning out well-produced and interesting shows that have attracted their own audiences. We aim to bring a new level of professionalism to this stationÌs program offerings. While striving for professional standards, PET would not sacrifice content for commercial production values. Like C-Span, PET would bring cameras into campus debates, town meetings, university lecture rooms, and plays, and poetry readings. We want to be socially engaged.
Acquired Programming
Acquired programming is available from many sources. At present, PET is negotiating cablecast rights with the following distributors: Free Speech TV (for Democracy Now with Amy Goodman and for World in Crisis), Center for Defense Information (for their entire inventory of AmericaÌs Defense Monitor), and World Link (for thousands of hours of independent documentaries and music videos from around the world).
There are many other potential program suppliers within the public television family including The Minority Program Consortia, making programs available about African-Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders, the Independent Television Service (ITVS), the Annenberg Project, which has large libraries of series and specials, GlobalVision (human rights), the AFL-CIO (labor issues), and others.
These provocative programs, all new to Pittsburgh TV viewers, could be sponsored by local community groups who also could use the time to promote their activities and events.
For example, PET produced programs could provide service to working men and women in the greater Pittsburgh area. At present, there are more than 40 professionally produced program series devoted to issues in the workplace airing on cable and public stations around the country. Unfortunately, none of these are available in Pittsburgh.
The issues examined in these programs---child labor, economic conversion, the impact of free trade agreements, privatization and replacement workers, the status of undocumented workers, sexual harassment, drug testing, forced overtime, affirmative action, etc.---would provide a welcome supplement to the management and investor concerns that dominate PBS business and Wall Street shows. Job retraining and employment bulletin boards are another useful way to serve a neglected segment of our community.
The same could be said for all public interest groups in the area. They struggle daily on the front lines to educate the public about social problems in the community and how to make Pittsburgh a better place to live for all of its people. Programs that provided public education and information about their issues and struggles could help generate resources for this important work. Whether the issue is hunger or homelessness, unemployment or hate crimes, civilian review of police or domestic abuse, transportation or urban renewal, gang violence or school reform, Pittsburghers need a forum to explore and examine the public interest.
For those with higher ambitions, the national programs could serve as the core of several public affairs programs hosted by local community groups who would provide context and additional commentary for Pittsburgh audiences. Such commentary would bring the international and national issues home to examine what all this means for this community and who is working on the problem. In the process, a much wider audience would be exposed to the good work local groups are doing.
Former ITVS Chair Larry Daressa has called for a truly social public television that stages Ïcommunity events in which people could congregate via television to explore shared concerns.Ó The Twentieth-Century Fund Task Force has suggested that public broadcasting adopt the model of an Ïelectronic town squareÓ in which stations Ïtake the lead in attempting to solve community problems by putting their resources at the disposal of community groups and agencies that are addressing these problems.Ó
New Productions
PET could be an active force in the cultural community. Pittsburgh is blessed with many wonderful arts organizations that would benefit from a public made more educated and aware through new local programming. Museums and groups concerned with arts and crafts, music, dance, film and theatre all would benefit from programming that educated viewers about the creative process, provided behind the scenes views of coming exhibits or productions, showcased new openings, interviewed local and visiting artists, and, in other ways provided a platform for the creative community. Beyond that, many who have distinguished themselves in community theatre might well wish to explore producing, writing, directing or acting for television. The opportunity waits.
Pittsburgh is home to the Pittsburgh Filmmakers, an active association of producers, teachers, students and supporters of independent films. PET could help produce programs featuring such work, from short experimental projects to finished documentaries and feature films. Such showings could be supplemented by presentations and interviews with filmmakers, subjects and others.
Pittsburgh also is home to several institutions of higher learning that offer broadcast training programs. Students learn the professional skills required for success in the industry whether behind or in front of the camera. PET assisted program production could offer a terrific supplement to the academic programs at these institutions.
Pittsburgh is a major center for medicine and academics. These institutions have faculties of international and national reputation. In the early days of public broadcasting, the hosts and guests frequently were people of accomplishment discussing great ideas. These days, stations too often settle for the latest paperback author of the month presenting their typical seminar on investing money or managing emotions. PET programs could challenge the community intellectually while showcasing some of the brightest stars of local universities and hospitals.
Once one begins to think outside the box of what passes for public television in Pittsburgh these days, there is no shortage of ideas or resources. PET stands ready to facilitate that process. No, we do not yet have our own channel. However, we do have access to two channels that could serve us well. WBGN-TV and PCTV stand ready to entertain new ideas and to collaborate on new productions. All we need is the imagination and the will.
Are you interested? PET is sponsoring a series of general meetings of creative people who wish to pursue this vision. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st at the studio of PCTV, address. You must notify PET Executive Director Jerry Starr of your coming in advance.
Call (412) 341-1967; Fax (412) 341-6533; email HYPERLINK "mailto:jmstarr@aol.com" jmstarr@aol.com. PET's web site---pittedtv--- currently is under construction.
