2009 - the great convergence between what America has to cope with and Public Media
Here is a forgotten part of the Public Broadcasting Act:
Section A.8 of the public broadcasting act:
"(8)
public television and radio stations and public telecommunications
services constitute valuable local community resources for utilizing
electronic media to address national concerns and solve local problems
through community programs and outreach programs; "
This small section is I think the way to a healthy future for Public Media.
It is clear to anyone who is paying attention that we are entering a time of great instability. Much of what were the norms of how we lived will be tested.
Many still hope that they will be saved. Saved by the new president. Saved by their boss. Saved by the Mayor.
But some of us know that the challenges we face are too profound to give the traditional leaders much of a chance to save us.
For at the heart of our problem is this: that we have become dependent on vast institutions for the most important parts of our lives. We depend on them for our finance and our savings. We depend on them for energy, for our food, for our health, for the education of our children, for our security.
What we are discovering is that these institutions do not serve us but only a few at their top.
Only a few got rich as the middle class and working class got squeezed and high jacked. All the key outcomes in these areas of our lives have degraded.
We are learning that the very leaders we placed our trust in are not worthy of this trust.
So who can we trust? What would be a better way of living that would give us back more control?
We can trust Public Radio and TV. We can trust ourselves. If we had more control over our money, our food, our energy, the education of our kids, our health - we would be more secure and better off.
In some cities in the US, stations are starting to play this role
utilizing electronic media to address national concerns and solve local problems through community programs and outreach programs;
I know a lot about KETC - but you know more about others. This is the new/old mission.
A new vision of Public Media based on helping Americans take back control in their local community would be the mission for the newly designed network. Pub Media would be the convener for the restoration of hope and life itself.
For it is this mission that will be the energy for the new - not new programming per se - though that is vital - not lower costs - though this will happen - not more reach and engagement - though that will happen.
But a better America!
Such a mission crosses all party and ideology. It brings all together. It stops us all being helpless. It brings real hope through action.
This is the great opportunity. The choice is in the hands of a few of the leaders of the system as it is now. In this Christmas season - the season of hope and good will - I urge those who have the power of their position in the system to reach out to the rest and call for the Convention to start this work.
This small section is I think the way to a healthy future for Public Media.
It is clear to anyone who is paying attention that we are entering a time of great instability. Much of what were the norms of how we lived will be tested.
Many still hope that they will be saved. Saved by the new president. Saved by their boss. Saved by the Mayor.
But some of us know that the challenges we face are too profound to give the traditional leaders much of a chance to save us.
For at the heart of our problem is this: that we have become dependent on vast institutions for the most important parts of our lives. We depend on them for our finance and our savings. We depend on them for energy, for our food, for our health, for the education of our children, for our security.
What we are discovering is that these institutions do not serve us but only a few at their top.
Only a few got rich as the middle class and working class got squeezed and high jacked. All the key outcomes in these areas of our lives have degraded.
We are learning that the very leaders we placed our trust in are not worthy of this trust.
So who can we trust? What would be a better way of living that would give us back more control?
We can trust Public Radio and TV. We can trust ourselves. If we had more control over our money, our food, our energy, the education of our kids, our health - we would be more secure and better off.
In some cities in the US, stations are starting to play this role
utilizing electronic media to address national concerns and solve local problems through community programs and outreach programs;
I know a lot about KETC - but you know more about others. This is the new/old mission.
A new vision of Public Media based on helping Americans take back control in their local community would be the mission for the newly designed network. Pub Media would be the convener for the restoration of hope and life itself.
For it is this mission that will be the energy for the new - not new programming per se - though that is vital - not lower costs - though this will happen - not more reach and engagement - though that will happen.
But a better America!
Such a mission crosses all party and ideology. It brings all together. It stops us all being helpless. It brings real hope through action.
This is the great opportunity. The choice is in the hands of a few of the leaders of the system as it is now. In this Christmas season - the season of hope and good will - I urge those who have the power of their position in the system to reach out to the rest and call for the Convention to start this work.
