[Swprograms] Re: What does it mean to be a public service international broadcaster?

[John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the fault found--at least from this writer--was with the 
evident confusion of the two concepts.  Or maybe the more correct 
description would be a sloppy merger of the two that fails to 
understand the subtle, but real differences between the two 
orientations.

As I alluded to in an earlier communication, it has become almost a 
lazy indulgence today to call every human endeavor a "business" and 
then to somehow cobble all of the rationale and terminology associated 
with that characterization on things that don't lend themselves to that 
kind of discipline.

People are always looking for their own form of "unified field theory", 
but doing so belies the world's complexities and the requirement for 
rigorous and diligent stewardship that changes with the underlying 
circumstances.

In the case of what we have known as "public broadcasting", whatever 
consensus once existed to support, nurture and justify such an 
enterprise doesn't seem to be there any longer---at least not in 
sufficient quantity or quality to protect it and allow it to develop 
further along those "traditiional" lines.

John Figliozzi
Halfmoon, NY

PS: If this makes no sense to you, blame it on the hour and my recent 
considerable travel.  :-))

On Mar 30, 2005, at 8:15 AM, Richard Cuff wrote:

> Some have reported here that in "Write On" last week, the head of
> distribution for the BBCWS used the term "business" to characterize
> the BBCWS.  Many found fault with the use of that term, given that the
> BBCWS has a "public service" charter.
>
> The argument is that different methods of decision making and resource
> prioritization should apply to "public" or "public service"
> broadcasters than apply to commercial or religious broadcasters.
>
> Some points of differentiation are obvious -- a commercial broadcaster
> has ownership interests motivated--at least in part--by profit or cash
> generation.  Public broadcasters don't have that requirement, though
> they do have accountability to their boards and,  by inference, to
> those who contribute to fund-raising efforts, particularly here in the
> USA.
>
> How should broadcasters like the BBCWS, RNW and DW make decisions?
> Should their charters be modified to reflect media choices and options
> available in 2005?
>
> My own take is that the decision-making time horizon needs to be
> longer for public broadcasters -- they should be making programming
> and delivery decisions considering a longer time frame, not the most
> recent fiscal quarter -- and that public broadcasters should bias
> their priorities towards listener groups that are under-served by
> commercial radio.  However, public broadcasters still need to be good
> stewards of the resources they've been given, and -- unfortunately --
> have to be sensitive to political whims when it comes to budgets.
>
> Do you agree?  Disagree?
>
> Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA
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