Public Broadcasting Report Covers PBS
Protest Campaign
Public Broadcasting Report, a biweekly newsletter covering public
broadcasting and allied fields, covered the PBS campaign in its December 9
issue. They wrote:
"PBS said its programming dept. would reach 'independent conclusions' as early
as next week on the controversial documentary Breaking the Silence: Children's
Stories. The program got negative reviews from its in-house ombudsman and the
CPB watchdog...
"Breaking the Silence, which looked at the impact of domestic violence on
children and the failure of family courts to protect them, is a 'flawed
presentation by PBS,' Michael Getler said in his first review as PBS ombudsman.
Activist groups had attacked the program mainly for its conclusion that 75% of
fathers seeking sole child custody have abused their wives or children (PBR Oct
28 p6). They said the program makes claims about child abuse and custody that
are refuted by govt. reports. Getler said there's no recognition by the
program's producers of opposing views. 'There was a complete absence of some of
the fundamental journalistic conventions that... make a story more powerful and
convincing.'
"CPB Ombudsman Ken Bode concluded 'there is no hint of balance' in Breaking the
Silence. The father's point of view is ignored, as are new strategies for
reducing the damage to children in custody battles, he said. 'There is no
mention of the collaborative law movement in which parents and lawyers come to
terms without involving the court, nor of the new joint custody living
arrangements.' The producers, he said, don't seem to believe that 'an argument
can be made more convincing by giving the other side a fair presentation.' The
program is so slanted it raises suspicions that either the family courts of
America have gone crazy or there must be another side to the story, Bode said.
"PBS started a review of the program days after it aired and well 'before any
inkling' that the ombudsmen were going to evaluate it, said VP Lea Sloan. Until
the review is done, which is expected soon, 'we are respectfully observant' of
the ombudsmen's opinions, she said: 'PBS programming will work independently to
reach conclusions about the next step.'"
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