New York Times blogger Brian Stelter (7/20/10) reports on the controversy over the PBS documentary on George Shultz that was funded by Shultz’s friends and associates. Stelter quotes the producer of the show’s response to the criticism, along with FAIR’s rejoinder:
The series’ producer, David deVries, said in a statement to Mr. Getler that “throughout the almost three years it took me to create the series, I was completely unaware of who the funders were.” (In response, FAIR said Tuesday that the producer needn’t be aware of the funders’ identities because the company behind the series, Free to Choose Media, “consistently” produces conservative projects.)
In other words, it’s not necessary for the producer to know who the funders are to be affected by the funding; the funders determined that the product would be a conservative-friendly portrayal of their conservative friend when they gave their money to Free to Choose Media, because that’s the kind of programming that Free to Choose makes. As for deVries’ insistence that he was totally independent, and that’s it’s merely a coincidence that his documentary came up with the same kind of message that all other Free to Choose documentaries have, George Seldes said it best:
The most stupid boast in the history of present-day journalism is that of the writer who says, “I have never been given orders; I am free to do as I like.”
One might also go back to the comment (I think it was from Orwell) about how you can train a dog to do tricks, but it’s the best-trained dog that does its tricks without prompting.
My husband started watching it. He is usually very pickie about what he watches, so I did to until the smarmy music started. I couldn’t watch after a very short time. One can stomach very little poison treacle.
Pere Ubu, the comment was apt no matter who said it, but i believe your attribution is correct.
They knew what they were buying and were given exactly what they paid for.
In my opinion the public affairs programing on PBS and NPR is propaganda dictated by their biggest funders and that sure isn’t the public. The stories don’t dig deep enough and the Geroge Shultz piece was garbage. I’m old enough to remember just exactly what the Shultz agenda was. He was a lying corporate weasel. I’m betting PBS would give Henry Kissenger with a hallo too. Bill Moyers journal was the best, POV and Frontline next. I’m not sure just what the public dollars that both are perpetually asking for actually pay for. I’m guessing their utility bills, based on what I have seen of their public affairs programs. I stoppped wasting my money on both and instead have found LinkTV. Terrifc programing there.
I intend to make it clear to PBS just what a piece of cr_p this broadcast was. I hope others will also write them and express their dismay at their new direction of corporate myth-making at the expense of authentic service to their country… I also remember Shultz beating the war drums far too loudly to be anything other than a shill.