Postcards From the Edge!

Want to do something about "unfair" media coverage of your community and the issues you care about? Right now is the moment to actively participate!

Historically, both, public television and radio have been controlled by Congress through the power of federal budget allocations. This Congressional oversight has had serious implications on the breadth and scope of diverse programming and perspectives that our public broadcasters are willing and able to air. According to Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy, "[Public TV and radio have] always been kept on a very short funding leash, which has helped keep both PBS and NPR from engaging in the kind of programming that would significantly challenge the status quo…"

In summer 2005, Congress will consider Telecommunications Reauthorization legislation that may provide the opportunity to secure long-term funding for public broadcasting, thereby securing greater financial and political independence. Right now, we are constantly barraged with short-sighted ideas about the world we live in at every turn, from divisive coverage of communities of color and LGBT communities to the all but complete omission of the faces and voices of millions of Americans.

In particular, "Postcards From Buster" is a PBS show intended to expose children to the cultural diversity of the United States. An episode of the show that was due to air early in 2005 was not shown as scheduled because it featured Buster's visit with a lesbian couple that lives in Vermont. The content of the episode was not sexual in any way; in fact, according to many sources the "two mommies" are merely seen in the background. And yet, the Secretary of Education saw fit to become involved, prejudice and discrimination prevailed, and the show was pulled from the PBS schedule. While local affiliates may air the episode if they choose, they must make a special effort to do so.

So what can everyday citizens do to affect media justice and affirm freedom of expression in public broadcasting?

1. Contact your local PBS affiliate to voice your opinion about airing the program locally.

a. Ask for the station and/or program manager to find out if the show will be aired and when.

b. Explicitly inform the station's member/donor office of your displeasure if the show has not been aired and ask if your contribution will be used to censor "unpopular" ideas.

PBS Local Affiliate Station Finder

2. Contact your local US Congressional Member and US Senator to voice your outrage at the lack of independent funding for public broadcasting.

a. Ask if your representative will support the upcoming funding for public broadcasting and radio as a part the Telecommunications Reauthorization Act.

3. Contact one of the existing media advocacy groups to organize and get involved in media justice in your community. Here is a partial listing of the Media Justice Fund's grantees and others that you can contact to learn more about the various avenues .

Funding Exchange Media Justice Fund Grantees
- Media Alliance San Francisco, CA
- Media College of the University of the Poor Atlantic City, NJ
- Media Tank Philadelphia, PA
- Prometheus Radio Project! USA
- Youth Media Council Oakland, CA
- 911 Media Arts Center Seattle, WA
- Center for Public Interest Research Group Los Angeles, CA
- Common Assets San Francisco, CA
- Esperanza Peace & Justice Center San Antonio, TX
- Grand Rapids Community Media Center Grand Rapids, MI
- THIRD WORLD MAJORITY Oakland, CA
- The United Church of Christ Washington, DC, San Antonio, TX, Tillery, NC, Dearborn, MI
- NYC Grassroots Media Coalition New York, NY
- Paper Tiger Television New York, NY
- Seventh Generation Fund Upper Plain States and Pacific West
- Native Networking Policy Center Washington, DC and Tempe, AZ
- Native Media Resource Center Upper Plain States and Pacific West

Other Media advocacy groups:
- HearUsNow.Org
- Consumers Union
- New America Foundation
- Free Press
- MediaWorks