Latest news with #publictelevision
Reuters
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Bill Moyers, broadcaster and LBJ's White House press secretary, dies at 91 -Washington Post
June 26 (Reuters) - Bill Moyers, a key member of Democratic President Lyndon Johnson's inner circle and later a guiding force in American journalism during more than 40 years in public television, has died at the age of 91, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. At a time when critics said broadcast news was becoming fluffier and shallower, Moyers pursued a thoughtful, in-depth approach, bringing an intellectual perspective delivered in a soothing Texas twang. He took an activist approach to the job and The Nation magazine called him a "radical presence" in broadcast news, which his critics said was proof that the Public Broadcasting Service network should not get federal funding. Starting in 1971, Moyers had regular shows on public television, including "Bill Moyers' Journal," "Now With Bill Moyers," "Moyers on America" and "Moyers and Company," as well limited-run series on the U.S. Constitution, faith and mythology. Among the other topics he explored at length on his shows were poverty, racism, money in politics, climate change, income inequality, the shortcomings of the media and what he called the "pirates and predators of Wall Street." "He used the tools of the documentarian to wield a velvet sledgehammer, bludgeoning corporate polluters and government ne'er-do-wells with precision and grace," New York Times media columnist David Carr wrote in 2004. Billy Don Moyers was born in Hugo, Oklahoma, on June 5, 1934, and grew up mostly in Marshall, Texas. A dutiful, energetic overachiever, he dedicated himself to school, church and work, including a job at the local newspaper. His early adult life would be a tug of war between the pulpit, the press and politics. He was attending North Texas State College when he first went to Washington in 1954 as a summer intern in the office of then-Senate Minority Leader Lyndon Johnson. When he returned to school, transferring to the University of Texas, he worked on the student newspaper and Johnson made sure he had a job at the Austin television station owned by his wife, "Lady Bird" Johnson. He also pursued the ministry, becoming ordained as a Baptist minister in 1954 and earning a master of divinity degree at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1959. Johnson's legendary powers of persuasion eventually prevailed and Moyers became an aide during Johnson's unsuccessful presidential run against John F. Kennedy in 1960. After the election, Kennedy chose Moyers to be assistant director of his newly established Peace Corps. After Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and Johnson became president, Moyers moved to the White House. He was only 30 years old but became one of the most important people in Washington - a duty-bound, deal-making extension of his boss. He served as Johnson's press secretary, adviser, speech writer and congressional go-between. In 1965, he appeared on the covers of Newsweek and Time, which called him "LBJ's Young Man in Charge of Everything." Moyers was a driving force in forging Johnson's Great Society legislation - laws and programs that included the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the "war on poverty," Medicaid and Medicare, conservation and aid to education. "He taught me so much about politics and about what's possible, about human behavior, about the consequences of decisions," Moyers said of Johnson in a 1989 Texas Monthly interview. "At the same time, he was a driven man, a man who could consume you." Critics said Moyers sometimes got his hands dirty on Johnson's behalf. He was known to leak stories and plant questions with the press corps in advance of news conferences. The Washington Post reported that he ordered the FBI to search for gay people in the administration, and CBS correspondent Morley Safer said in his autobiography that Moyers also had a role in the FBI's bugging of civil rights leader Martin Luther King. Moyers left Johnson's service in 1967 - partly because he no longer believed in his boss's war in Vietnam - to become publisher of Newsday, a Long Island, New York daily. The newspaper won two Pulitzer Prizes under his leadership, but he left in 1970 after the publisher deemed him too liberal. Moyers then went on a bus ride around the country that he chronicled in the book "Listening to America: A Traveler Rediscovers His Country." He made his move to PBS in 1971 with "Bill Moyers Journal" and in 1986 he and his wife, Judith, started their own production company to make shows for public television stations. Moyers had stints with the major networks - as a correspondent and commentator with CBS in the 1970s, and NBC and MSNBC in the 1990s - but greatly preferred the freedom and depth that public television offered. Moyers and his wife had three children, William Cope, Alice Suzanne, and John Davidson.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill Moyers, broadcaster and LBJ's White House press secretary, dies at 91 -Washington Post
(Reuters) -Bill Moyers, a key member of Democratic President Lyndon Johnson's inner circle and later a guiding force in American journalism during more than 40 years in public television, has died at the age of 91, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. At a time when critics said broadcast news was becoming fluffier and shallower, Moyers pursued a thoughtful, in-depth approach, bringing an intellectual perspective delivered in a soothing Texas twang. He took an activist approach to the job and The Nation magazine called him a "radical presence" in broadcast news, which his critics said was proof that the Public Broadcasting Service network should not get federal funding. Starting in 1971, Moyers had regular shows on public television, including "Bill Moyers' Journal," "Now With Bill Moyers," "Moyers on America" and "Moyers and Company," as well limited-run series on the U.S. Constitution, faith and mythology. Among the other topics he explored at length on his shows were poverty, racism, money in politics, climate change, income inequality, the shortcomings of the media and what he called the "pirates and predators of Wall Street." "He used the tools of the documentarian to wield a velvet sledgehammer, bludgeoning corporate polluters and government ne'er-do-wells with precision and grace," New York Times media columnist David Carr wrote in 2004. Billy Don Moyers was born in Hugo, Oklahoma, on June 5, 1934, and grew up mostly in Marshall, Texas. A dutiful, energetic overachiever, he dedicated himself to school, church and work, including a job at the local newspaper. His early adult life would be a tug of war between the pulpit, the press and politics. He was attending North Texas State College when he first went to Washington in 1954 as a summer intern in the office of then-Senate Minority Leader Lyndon Johnson. When he returned to school, transferring to the University of Texas, he worked on the student newspaper and Johnson made sure he had a job at the Austin television station owned by his wife, "Lady Bird" Johnson. He also pursued the ministry, becoming ordained as a Baptist minister in 1954 and earning a master of divinity degree at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1959. Johnson's legendary powers of persuasion eventually prevailed and Moyers became an aide during Johnson's unsuccessful presidential run against John F. Kennedy in 1960. After the election, Kennedy chose Moyers to be assistant director of his newly established Peace Corps. After Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and Johnson became president, Moyers moved to the White House. He was only 30 years old but became one of the most important people in Washington - a duty-bound, deal-making extension of his boss. He served as Johnson's press secretary, adviser, speech writer and congressional go-between. In 1965, he appeared on the covers of Newsweek and Time, which called him "LBJ's Young Man in Charge of Everything." Moyers was a driving force in forging Johnson's Great Society legislation - laws and programs that included the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the "war on poverty," Medicaid and Medicare, conservation and aid to education. "He taught me so much about politics and about what's possible, about human behavior, about the consequences of decisions," Moyers said of Johnson in a 1989 Texas Monthly interview. "At the same time, he was a driven man, a man who could consume you." Critics said Moyers sometimes got his hands dirty on Johnson's behalf. He was known to leak stories and plant questions with the press corps in advance of news conferences. The Washington Post reported that he ordered the FBI to search for gay people in the administration, and CBS correspondent Morley Safer said in his autobiography that Moyers also had a role in the FBI's bugging of civil rights leader Martin Luther King. Moyers left Johnson's service in 1967 - partly because he no longer believed in his boss's war in Vietnam - to become publisher of Newsday, a Long Island, New York daily. The newspaper won two Pulitzer Prizes under his leadership, but he left in 1970 after the publisher deemed him too liberal. Moyers then went on a bus ride around the country that he chronicled in the book "Listening to America: A Traveler Rediscovers His Country." He made his move to PBS in 1971 with "Bill Moyers Journal" and in 1986 he and his wife, Judith, started their own production company to make shows for public television stations. Moyers had stints with the major networks - as a correspondent and commentator with CBS in the 1970s, and NBC and MSNBC in the 1990s - but greatly preferred the freedom and depth that public television offered. Moyers and his wife had three children, William Cope, Alice Suzanne, and John Davidson. (Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Rosalba O'Brien)
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case
PBS filed suit Friday against President Donald Trump and other administration officials to block his order stripping federal funding from the 330-station public television system, three days after NPR did the same for its radio network. In its lawsuit, PBS relies on similar arguments, saying Trump was overstepping his authority and engaging in 'viewpoint discrimination' because of his claim that PBS' news coverage is biased against conservatives. 'PBS disputes those charged assertions in the strongest possible terms,' lawyer Z.W. Julius Chen wrote in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington. 'But regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our Constitution and laws forbid the President from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS's programming, including by attempting to defund PBS.' It was the latest of many legal actions taken against the administration for its moves, including several by media organizations impacted by Trump's orders. Northern Minnesota PBS station joins in the lawsuit PBS was joined as a plaintiff by one of its stations, Lakeland PBS, which serves rural areas in northern and central Minnesota. Trump's order is an 'existential threat' to the station, the lawsuit said. A PBS spokesman said that 'after careful deliberation, PBS reached the conclusion that it was necessary to take legal action to safeguard public television's editorial independence, and to protect the autonomy of PBS member stations.' Through an executive order earlier this month, Trump told the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies to stop funding the two systems. Through the corporation alone, PBS is receiving $325 million this year, most of which goes directly to individual stations. PBS, which makes much of the programming used by the stations, said it gets 22% of its revenue directly from the feds. Sixty-one percent of PBS' budget is funded through individual station dues, and the stations raise the bulk of that money through the government. Interrupting 'a rich tapestry of programming' Trump's order 'would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS member stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans,' Chen wrote. PBS said the U.S. Department of Education has canceled a $78 million grant to the system for educational programming, used to make children's shows like 'Sesame Street,' 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' and 'Reading Rainbow.' For Minnesota residents, the order threatens the 'Lakeland Learns' education program and 'Lakeland News,' described in the lawsuit as the only television program in the region providing local news, weather and sports. Besides Trump, the lawsuit names other administration officials as defendants, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. PBS says its technology is used as a backup for the nationwide wireless emergency alert system. The administration has fought with several media organizations. Government-run news services like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are struggling for their lives, The Associated Press has battled with the White House over press access and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating television news divisions. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Criticism of Trump Was Removed From Documentary on Public Television
The executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning 'American Masters' series insisted on removing a scene critical of President Trump from a documentary about the comic artist Art Spiegelman two weeks before it was set to air nationwide on public television stations. The filmmakers say it is another example of public media organizations bowing to pressure as the Trump administration tries to defund the sector, while the programmers say their decision was a matter of taste. Alicia Sams, a producer of 'Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse,' said in an interview that approximately two weeks before the movie's April 15 airdate, she received a call from Michael Kantor, the executive producer of 'American Masters,' informing her that roughly 90 seconds featuring a cartoon critical of Trump would need to be excised from the film. The series is produced by the WNET Group, the parent company of several New York public television channels. Stephen Segaller, the vice president of programming for WNET, confirmed in an interview that the station had informed the filmmakers that it needed to make the change. Segaller said WNET felt the scatological imagery in the comic, which Spiegelman drew shortly after the 2016 election — it portrays what appears to be fly-infested feces on Trump's head — was a 'breach of taste' that might prove unpalatable to some of the hundreds of stations that air the series. But the filmmakers have questioned whether political considerations played a role. They have noted that earlier this year, according to Documentary Magazine, which first reported the 'American Masters' decision, PBS postponed indefinitely a documentary set to air about a transgender video-gamer for fear of political backlash. Sams pointed out that their film had already been approved for broadcast — the filmmakers agreed it would be shown at 10 p.m. rather than 8 p.m., so that certain obscenities would not need to be blurred or bleeped — and that the call came a week after a Capitol Hill hearing in which Congressional Republicans accused public television and radio executives of biased coverage (the executives denied that accusation in sworn testimony). 'If PBS cannot protect the free speech of its content creators and subject matters without fear of retribution from members of the government who may find their views displeasing, then how can it strengthen the 'social, democratic and cultural health' of the American people?' Sams and four other producers and directors wrote to PBS and WNET executives last month, quoting from PBS's mission statement. 'Rather, your actions will have a chilling effect on the free speech of artists, filmmakers and journalists who have long looked to public media as a platform for all Americans,' they added. A statement from Spiegelman was appended. 'It's tragic and appalling that PBS and WNET are willing to become collaborators with the sinister forces trying to muzzle free speech,' he wrote. Segaller acknowledged the pressures facing his station, but insisted politics had not played a part in its decision: 'I don't think we'd have made a different decision if it had been a year earlier,' he said. PBS referred an inquiry to WNET. This month, Trump accused NPR and PBS of producing 'left-wing propaganda' and, in an executive order, instructed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for them as allowed by law. The chief executives of all three organizations have challenged the legality of the move, which could decrease public media's revenue and alter their relationships with member stations. The filmmakers acknowledged that 'American Masters' had the right to demand the change under their licensing agreement. They acquiesced, Sams said, because the change would not affect the movie which they own, for distribution elsewhere. The documentary, in uncut form, had already played at film festivals and run theatrically at Manhattan's Film Forum and elsewhere, and is currently available on the streaming service Kanopy. The film chronicles the life and work of Spiegelman, 77, whose graphic memoir, 'Maus,' won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992. The book narrates his parents' experiences in the Holocaust and his latter-day reckoning with them — famously depicting the Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats. In their letter, the filmmakers highlighted the irony of editing a film about Spiegelman, given that — as the documentary shows — 'Maus' has been subjected to book bans in recent years. The removed scene features Spiegelman reading a short comic he drew about Trump in late 2016. It was printed in a magazine that his wife, Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker's longtime art editor, and daughter, the author Nadja Spiegelman, self-published and distributed at the 'Women's March' protest shortly after the 2017 inauguration. 'Even a TOWER full of Tic Tacs can't mask the toxic stench of Fascism!' the cartoon begins. It also features a swastika drawn into the border between panels. Defunding public television would further constrict the viability of topical documentaries, said Thom Powers, the founder of the DOC NYC festival, where 'Disaster Is My Muse' premiered last fall. 'The underlying question is, who is in the speaking-truth-to-power business today?' Powers said.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Netflix getting free TV upgrade with hit children's show packed with 90 HOURS of telly – plus brand new ‘unseen' season
Tech STREAMS CAN COME TRUE New episodes of the 50-year-old show will become available later this year NETFLIX has struck a new deal that will see a popular kids show come to the streaming giants service. The show was facing an uncertain future after losing funding but has been saved by the new Netflix deal. 4 4 Sesame Street will be hosted on the streaming service with 90 hours of previous episodes and a whole new season added to the Netflix catalogue. The move comes after HBO decided not to renew the 50-year-old show's deal. Sesame Street was threatened with cancellation in the wake of the news but has now been thrown a lifeline. The deal will see new episodes of the beloved children's show run on Netflix, PBS, and the PBS Kids app later this year. No date has been announced for the premiere as of yet. Warner Bros Discovery, who aired the show since 2016, decided not to renew its deal for new episodes to air on HBO and Max. However, episodes of the children's TV series will remain there until 2027. The new series, to be aired on Netflix, will be the shows impressive 56th season. Episodes in the new season will revolve around a single, 11 minute story. Sesame Workshop said in a statement: "This unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix's global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the US continue to have free access on public television to the Sesame Street they love." Sesame Street has been entertaining children since 1969 with beloved puppet characters. The show has won more than 200 Emmys in its long history. NETFLIX PRICES AND PERKS – HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING? Here's what you need to know... Netflix Standard with Ads Price: £4.99 UK / $7.99 US Ad-supported, all but a few movies and TV shows available, unlimited mobile games Watch on 2 supported devices at a time Watch in 1080p (Full HD) Download on 2 supported devices at a time Netflix Standard Price: £10.99 UK / $17.99 US Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 2 supported devices at a time Watch in 1080p (Full HD) Download on 2 supported devices at a time Option to add 1 extra member who doesn't live with you Netflix Premium Price: £17.99 UK / $24.99 US Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 4 supported devices at a time Watch in 4K (Ultra HD) + HDR Download on 6 supported devices at a time Option to add up to 2 extra members who don't live with you Netflix spatial audio Picture Credit: Netflix Episodes are led by Big Bird and a cast of characters that educate children about colours, shapes and numbers. Funding for the show was thrown into question earlier this year when President Trump issued an executive order to block funding for TV network PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). The move resulted in federal funding for the show, among other TV programmes for kids, being cut. Netflix' new deal will see the show saved from an otherwise uncertain future. The streaming giant called Sesame Street a "beloved cornerstone of children's educational television." Netflix promised to keep fan favourite segments like Elmo's world and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck in the show. The streaming service did hint at changes for the new season as well though, telling viewers to "expect new ways to play along." Sesame Street was co-founded by Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney.
