Communist and Islamist Propaganda on Public Media

U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, wants to know if it is true that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is funding the distribution of Al-Jazeera, which he calls the voice of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Moscow-funded Russia Today (RT) and CCTV, which he calls the official propaganda arm of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party.

"Does the CPB use federal funds to broadcast foreign propaganda in the U.S., such as CCTV and RT?" Rep. Rohrabacher asks in a letter to CPB President Patricia Harrison. "Why do scarce public funds support the broadcasting efforts of dictatorships? China censors the Internet and jams the radio signals from the Voice of American (sic) and Radio Free Asia. No content provided by the Chinese Communist Party should be spread or supported by U.S. taxpayer funds. If this is true it is a shocking practice and must end."

The California Republican cites a report on the Accuracy in Media (AIM) website that claims while "we are borrowing from China to pay for public broadcasting in America, the complete truth is actually more shocking—we are borrowing from China to help public broadcasting air Chinese propaganda in the U.S."

That report, written by Cliff Kincaid, who is director of AIM's Center for Investigative Reporting, says the programming is distributed to various public media outlets through a public television programming service called MHz Worldwide, which is a project of MHz Networks. Mr. Kincaid says CPB funneled more than $27.5 million into MHz Networks and its affiliates. MHz is a division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting based in Richmond, Virginia.

AIM, a conservative media watchdog group, was founded in 1969 by Reed Irvine with the aim of uncovering liberal bias in the media. However, over the years it has been cited for a number of inaccuracies of its own, including its contention that Vince Foster, a former aide to President Clinton, was murdered.

In response to Rep. Rohrabacher's letter, Ms. Harrison responded to the allegations:

"First and foremost, it is important to know that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) does not broadcast programming, " she writes. " CPB, in fact, is required under the Public Broadcasting Act to 'assure the maximum freedom of the public telecommunications entities and systems from interference with, or control of, program content or other activities.' See 47 U.S.C. §396(g)(1)(D). Second, CPB does not use federal funds to broadcast foreign propaganda in the United States. Third, scarce public funds are not being directed to support the broadcasting efforts of dictatorships."

The letter goes on to say that over the past three years, CPB gave Commonwealth Public Broadcasting a total of $4.7 million in grants, with $3.8 million going to it in the form of Community Service Grants and $900,000 going for digital equipment.

"None of the federal funds provided to Commonwealth Public Broadcasting by CPB through the Community Service Grant (CSG) program are or have been used by MHz Networks to acquire or disseminate their programming," Ms. Harrison says "Moreover, CPB does not provide MHz Networks with federal funding for any of its operating costs."

"It has been CPB's long-standing policy to support a wide variety of programming sources and distribution channels, so that local programmers — and viewers and listeners — have a wide number of program choices. Programming content for stations comes from PBS, American Public Television (APT), the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), other independent sources, and from local sources, including the station themselves.

"Ultimately, each local station decides which programs to carry and when to carry them - with decisions about controversial content vested, by law, in individual stations. While the Corporation for Public Broadcasting does not support MHz's programming content, much less broadcasting efforts of dictators, we are constrained by our federal statute and directed not to interfere with local station programming decisions."

Scott Cullinane, a staff associate on the congressman's subcommittee, says the letter is still being reviewed and so his office has no response.

While it appears that Rep. Rohrabacher's concerns are misplaced, it should be noted that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with broadcasting reports from overseas broadcasters.

While no foreign public broadcasting entities have the freedoms and resources that the U.S. has except for, perhaps, the BBC, it is always worth listening to other points of views. And while Rep. Rohrabacher calls much of what is broadcast on some of these entities as propaganda, one man's propaganda is another man's truth.

It is useful to be able to watch Al-Jazeera to see what is going on in the Middle East. And it is useful to be able to view CCTV, RT, Ethiopian TV, France 24 and the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Out of all these diverse broadcasters it is hoped that we can become a more informed people and that the truth will emerge.

The response is absurd...money is fungible. The dollars CPB gives to the station may not DIRECTLY go to support the broadcasting efforts of dictatorships, it does pay for the stations facilities, equipment and staff.

In an accounting gimmick move that would make ENRON proud, Commonwealth Public Broadcasting takes tax dollars, then washes the funds by giving it to a subsidiary that actually does the propaganda broadcasting.

Clearly someone has too much money on their hands.

And while Rep. Rohrabacher calls much of what is broadcast on some of these entities as propaganda, one man's propaganda is another man's truth.

It is useful to be able to watch Al-Jazeera to see what is going on in the Middle East... diverse broadcasters it is hoped that we can become a more informed people and that the truth will emerge.

I honestly don't know what to say; pound sand comes to mind.

Note to self: Remember what Eric Nordstrom said in a Congressional hearing Oct 10, 2012 ….”The Taliban is on the inside of the building”

I’ve seen LIEbertarians using Russian TV and Press TV. One from KGB and the other from Iran’s government. That anti-Americans echo chamber constitutes two “mainstream” sources for the Left.

Most of our mainstream press can be equated to the CHI-Com’s news. They have been owned and beaten into submission . The CEO of General Motors says the Chinese government model is superior to American freedom. More efficient.

I do not get PBS here, but I do get Al Jazera.
My G-Sat satellite is having major problems this week, and FOX News and other channels have been out for several days now.
All morning I have been watching the CT school tragedy on Al Jazera.
It is a very professional network, and I have not seen Muslim bias from them.
I would say they are probably far more fair and balanced then PBS or CNN.
Doha, the home of Al Jazera, happens to be my one stop between Europe and the Philippines on Qatar Airlines, one of only six 5 star airlines in the world.

Prayers for the families of the horrible tragedy in CT.
With America falling apart, we may see more of this.

Hey Alex,

How’s your weather today? Were you able to witness the meteor shower last night? It should be visible again tonight. Take care Amigo

“How’s your weather today? “
________________________________________

Cloudy now, with possible shower moving in from over the sea.
Otherwise, weather is fine.
No, I forgot about the meteor shower, but I do not know if it was prominent in this area.
I will check on it tonight, but throughout my life I have spent many nights watching for “spectacular” showers which were duds....ciao

9 posted on 12/14/2012 8:33:40 PM PST by Graewoulf ((Traitor John Roberts' Obama"care" violates Sherman Anti-Trust Law, AND the U.S. Constitution.))

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