• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Reporter's Dismissal Exposes Political Pressures on West Virginia Public Broadcasting


It's crazy but not shocking that Governor Justice and his allies calls for the West Virginia Public Broadcasting to be defunded because one of their fired reporters exposed abuse allegations at a state agency. We have this same issue on the national level where the Freedom Caucus wing of the Republican party calls for CPB to be defunded or have NPR and PBS defunded all because this group are offended at allegations that are likely to be released on PBS News hour, PBS Frontline and the local editions affecting their division.


These incidents always start out with political rants about Sesame Street for some reason. But the conspiracy theories about public broadcasting are always about segments on PBS News hour, Frontline and their local editions by the Affiliates of PBS and NPR.
 
TheBigA said:
Just five years ago, this same governor proposed cutting state funding to public broadcasting:

Facing loss of state funding, West Virginia Public Broadcasting plans for layoffs

WVPB estimates it will need to lay off 15 full-time staffers by the end of the month.
current.org current.org

Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Independent journalism can only happen if the journalists are truly independent.
Click to expand...
I am a West Virginian. Do not be fooled by Justice’s country-bumpkin persona. He made promises to those of us who were or are in public education concerning our health-care insurance, PEIA. If he paid what he owes, we would have no problems whatsoever.
 
Greg Goodfellow said:
I am a West Virginian. Do not be fooled by Justice’s country-bumpkin persona. He made promises to those of us who were or are in public education concerning our health-care insurance, PEIA. If he paid what he owes, we would have no problems whatsoever.
Click to expand...
One of my favorite Gov. Justice moments was back toward the beginnings of Covid. Not only were there White House briefings on a regular basis, but most every governor was holding press briefings and giving updates and guidance, usually daily, as some states were hit earlier and more severely than others, some states decided to mask up and social distance right away while others did not, some states like Florida distributed vaccines through their largest grocery store chain while others used their county health departments, etc. WV's governor made a public comment akin to "It seems that you're all turning to me for information and advice here" - as if he was somewhat dumbfounded by it. It was almost as if he didn't understand that was one of his responsibilities as an elected "leader"... To be the voice of reason, instill confidence and hopefully calm in situations like that.
 
Mikey Radio, I will give credit where due…Justice did a credible job leading us through the pandemic. However, he definitely is no stranger to controversy. Due to his party switch, very few in either party trust him. He wants to eliminate state income tax, but his own party leaders quickly came up with alternate plans.
 
Greg Goodfellow said:
Mikey Radio, I will give credit where due…Justice did a credible job leading us through the pandemic. However, he definitely is no stranger to controversy. Due to his party switch, very few in either party trust him. He wants to eliminate state income tax, but his own party leaders quickly came up with alternate plans.
Click to expand...
Fair enough @Greg Goodfellow I don't live in WV as you do...I just recall his comments about "You all seem to be turning to me for answers" at the beginning of the pandemic, and most everyone was like.."Yes..Because you're the governor of the state". Maybe it was made into a bigger deal than it was, or maybe he and his administration got their collective "stuff" together after that.
 
Here is more from the NPR article. At one time some of the West Virginia Public Media reporters had to call on national journalists from NPR News to join in and investigate Governor Justice when he was then a candidate. Governor Justice is playing the same tactics we seen on the national level "Conservative are for Free Speech" when they are ranting their party propaganda but once whistleblowers come forward then they call for censorship as seen here and as seen in the Florida example when supporters of Black Lives Matter are in the process to file a lawsuit against the Desantis Administration for interfering first amendment in classrooms when it comes to Black History being taught in Florida schools.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting is part of the national system of public broadcasting stations and pays fees to NPR to broadcast its flagship programs. More than a third of West Virginia Public Broadcasting revenue comes directly from the state. Outside West Virginia, there are currently eight NPR member stations licensed to state entities, according to NPR. Many others are licensed to state universities. Allegations of serious political pressure on state-funded stations are rare.

Like many of its peers, West Virginia Public Broadcasting says it subscribes to the guidelines in the NPR Ethics Handbook, the PBS Redbook, and the Code of Integrity for Public Media. The latter echoes the NPR and PBS codes: "Protect the editorial process from the fact and appearance of undue influence."
The arrival of Justice on the political scene has tested both elements of that pledge. Justice campaigned for governor as a Democrat in 2016, yet adopted a form of conservative populism championed by former President Donald Trump. He is one of West Virginia's wealthiest people, the owner of coal mines, resorts and other endeavors. (Justice's communications director, Jordan Damron, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)

NPR News correspondent Howard Berkes reported aggressively on Justice's mines prior to his entry into electoral politics. During Justice's candidacy, NPR News revealed that his coal mines and other companies owed $15 million in unpaid taxes and federal safety fines. Journalists from West Virginia Public Broadcasting sometimes collaborated with Berkes, who has since retired. Other major national outlets picked up the story.
Click to expand...
 
gr8oldies said:
Same thing happened in Tennessee in 2017 as a WUTC reporter was fired after angering our one-party legislature. She eventually received a $50000 settllement from the University of Tennessee--Chattanooga Fired WUTC reporter amends lawsuit, names UTC Chancellor
Click to expand...
Hope more local affiliated NPR and PBS reporters coordinate with the reporters from PBS Newshour and NPR News on the national level especially in states where the stations are owned by a State University. This stuff about going after local reporters over a story local politicians are against will not go away.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom