What is the Point of A Public Broadcaster?

What is the point of a public broadcaster? Some argue that they shouldn’t exist; that the government has no business owning a broadcaster. So why have a public broadcaster? A public broadcaster is that it is the only type of broadcaster that can put its audience’s interests first, ahead of its revenue source. A public broadcaster can make programs that aren’t widely popular but that benefit the community. Private broadcasters can indeed handle a lot of the entertainment and informing of the public, but there are some things they will never be able to do. For the media landscape to be truly diverse, robust and inclusive we need the public broadcasters.

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Sources:
(Link to the ABC charter referring to independence as well as its role generally)

(US PBS info)

(BBC Charter)

Credits:
Written by PEGS Institute

Spoken by Andrew Johnson
Edited by Jackson Winter

Finger, Detective and Refuse by Adrien Coquet and Radio by Astatine Lab from the Noun Project
All other graphics created by Jackson Winter

Music
Great Whyte 18 by Noir Et Blanc Vie
1940's Slow Dance (Sting) by Doug Maxwell, Media Right Productions

[PEGSInstitute]

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[elonmusksellssnakeoil]

As someone who has worked for public broadcasting for 16 years, thank you for this video!

[Flattithefish]

Man I hate ads on private TV. So happy that I live in Germany where public Tv is massive

[rustynails]

Public broadcasting is a very important tool for fighting disinformation. Unfortunately, our policy makers feel that they need to be loyal to the disinformation in order to be elected. That prevents us from addressing important problems like universal healthcare, campaign finance reform and global warming.

The credible information from public broadcasting doesn’t reach the public equitably. Most of the consumers of public content are liberal progressives. Conservatives have been excused from participation. That is unfortunate. We can not have a meaningful conversation if everyone invited sees the world through the same lens. Archie needs to be considered part of the family.

If public broadcasting would cultivate a diverse audience of moderates who want a more complete understanding, people will learn and grow and be less vulnerable to disinformation. They will get the opportunity to listen to a different perspective, which is almost non-existent in for profit media. And if the politicians don’t feel the need to respect disinformation, they might be able to address global warming. So, what I am asking for is public broadcasting to save the world.

[spm]

I wonder, though, how would hiring work for public broadcasting?

I assume the state would still have some role in there. So as they cannot influence what is made/shown through payment, they can still influence it by only hiring like-minded people. I know advertisers in private broadcasting has this influence too, though.

[JSK]

"A public broadcaster is that it is the only type of broadcaster that can put its audience’s interests first, "

In my country the public broadcaster(s) tend to put the interests of their employees first and of friendly (leftwing) politicians second. The commercial broadcasters on the other hand are forced to be responsive to changing consumer needs and preferences.

[anavitoriadeoliveiramarque]

Hi guys! I really liked the video and the way you explained the concept of public broadcasting. I study journalism in Brazil and would like to translate this content into Portuguese. Could you leave the video open for the community?

Thank you in advance!

[DoubleGlock]

The point of pbs is to be bias, bigoted and racist at public expense.