Battle Over CPB Chief, Round Two

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) board will name a successor to the controversial head of the organization -- with another candidate who could also draw fire. Outgoing board Chairman Ken Tomlinson, who drew strong criticism from the public-broadcasting community and some key legislators for what they see as pushing a Republican agenda, saw his role as balancing a liberal-programming bias. Despite indications that veteran broadcaster Claudia Puig (Univision Radio) might be picked by midweek, most expected CPB board member Cheryl Halpern, who some say would continue the Tomlinson policy, to take over the post. In her confirmation hearing in 2003, Halpern said CPB should have more muscle to counter bias. “There has to be recognition that an objective, balanced code of journalistic ethics has got to prevail across the board, and there needs to be accountability,” she said, according to CPB mag Current at the time. “When that fails, guilty parties need to be penalized.” There are currently five Republicans and three Democrats on the CPB board, with the public-radio seat (Democratic) vacant. Word is, moderate former Sen. David Pryor (D-Ark.) is the choice for the seat and the nomination has been at the White House since July.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
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