Monday  |
13 September |
[updated July 23, 2004]
|
| 8-8:30 a.m. |
Breakfast
|
| 8:30–9 a.m. |
Welcome and Overview
Public broadcasting exists in a challenging environment, politically, culturally and financially. The purpose of this workshop is to continue identifying some of the key questions, methods and principles that stations can use to contend with complex issues and conflicting interests. Each session will explore topics that will eventually be incorporated into a model station guideline publication.
|
| 9-10:30 a.m. |
Undue Influence?
When Underwriters and License Holders Come Calling
Who funds a program, and who holds the station license, can affect how a program is perceived - and sometimes how it?s produced. What sort of firewalls need to be in place? Does being too pure mean nothing gets produced?
How do you cope with underwriters who want to influence content?
When do you seek foundation support for coverage of one content area, perhaps at the expense of another?
How should you respond if you?re a state licensee and the governor?s office calls to strongly recommend that you cover a particular event?
|
| 10:30-10:45 a.m. |
Break
|
| 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. |
We Report, We Decide ? But How?
An examination of principles and practices in today?s producing and reporting. Producers will screen clips and talk about the editorial decisions that go into making news and documentary programs.
How do we best ensure fairness?
Can you ever really screen out bias?
Do all points of view have to be included in each program?
What’s the role of commentary or point-of-view segments?
|
| 12-1:30 p.m. |
Lunch
Speaker: Lawrence K. Grossman, former president of PBS and former president of NBC News
|
| 1:45-3:15 p.m. |
Platforms and Partnerships: Do standards change depending on the platform or activity?
In the digital age, with multiple channels and services, can we have a smorgasbord of editorial standards depending on the medium or station project? Can outreach efforts adhere to different editorial standards than broadcast?
The Minnesota Story: Community partnerships and content control on secondary channels
Standards for Web-only distribution or downloads
Non-broadcast outreach activity
Educational broadcast content that is controlled by a state department of education.
|
| 3:15-3:30 p.m. |
Break
|
| 3:45-5 p.m. |
Radio-TV: Can we all get along?
The idea that you can ?create once and play everywhere? is an over-simplification. But there are undoubtedly efficiencies to be found in working across media, as well as obstacles to overcome. We?ll explore case studies from radio-TV ventures.
Can public radio and television work together to develop shared editorial strength and local service?
By working together will we strengthen or weaken our editorial standards?
Can radio and television stations maintain the same editorial standards? Or, do the funding challenges inherent in television production mean that compromises in underwriter and partnership arrangements must be made?
Are the missions of radio and TV fundamentally the same or do they diverge?
|
| 5-5:30 p.m. |
Wrap-up Discussion
A summary of the day's key discussion points and how those might inform future station guidelines. |
| 5:30 p.m. |
Social hour
|
| Tuesday |
14 September |
| 8 a.m. |
Breakfast
|
| 8:45-10 a.m. |
Station Policies and Staff Issues
What sort of station guidelines are necessary for personnel and staff issues? Should guidelines be fixed or situational?
Can a gay program host who chooses to get married cover the issue of gay marriage?
Can a reporter be an active member of her local PTA and still cover education?
Can a general manager be on the board of a civics group that’s advocating electoral reform?
Can a general manager be a board member of the League of Women Voters but not the Sierra Club?
|
| 10-10:15 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:15-11:30 a.m. |
Pressure and Politics: How Will Public Broadcasting Maintain its Independence?
Given all the issues discussed during this workshop and given the intense public and political scrutiny directed towards public broadcasting, how do we best solidify our local foundation, core values and independence?
|
| 11:30–12 p.m. |
Summary and Wrap up Discussion
Summary of key discussion points and identification of future workshop discussion subjects. |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Adjourn
|
