Media Matters for America Applauds Resignation of Corporation for Public Broadcasting board member, former chairman Kenneth Tomlinson
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
Media Matters' “Hands Off Public Broadcasting” campaign brought national attention to Tomlinson's crusade to make apolitical CPB reflect own conservative political beliefs
November 4, 2005 (Washington, DC) - Media Matters for America applauds Republican activist Kenneth Y. Tomlinson's decision to resign as board member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in the wake of his controversial attempts as chairman to force the apolitical, taxpayer-funded broadcasting network to reflect his own conservative political beliefs. Tomlinson, who served as CPB chairman from September 2003 to September 2005, stepped down from the board on Thursday just one day after CPB inspector, Kenneth Konz, released a report following his investigations into whether Tomlinson violated agency procedures.
Media Matters launched a national “Hands Off Public Broadcasting” campaign in May of 2005 calling for an investigation into Tomlinson's political pressure on the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio, including his decision to hire two ombudsmen, Ken Bode and William Schulz, both of whom have ties to conservative institutions and politicians; to spend $10,000 in taxpayer money to investigate alleged bias on the PBS program NOW; and help raise $5 million to produce The Journal Editorial Report, a PBS program featuring the right-wing editorial board of The Wall Street Journal.
“Kenneth Tomlinson's resignation as CPB board member is a significant victory for the millions of people who turn to public broadcasting every day expecting news programming that is free from political interference,” said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. “Hopefully, Tomlinson's successor as chairman will be able to restore an apolitical climate to the CPB so that these taxpayer-funded broadcasting outlets can provide quality programs and independent journalism free from political or commercial pressure.”
More information on Media Matters' “Hands Off Public Broadcasting” campaign and Kenneth Tomlinson's efforts to inject his conservative slant into the CPB can be found here: