To: Paula Kerger, President and CEO, Public Broadcasting Service
PBS should tell us the truth.
Stop hiding from the public. Explain the decision to cancel the scheduled showing of “One Day in Gaza” and tell us when the documentary will be shown.
Why is this important?
On May 7, 2019, after that week’s broadcast of “Frontline” on PBS, the Frontline announcer said that next week’s broadcast would be “One Day in Gaza,” a documentary about a peaceful protest that turned deadly on May 14, 2018. A week later, exactly one year from the date of the protest, Frontline instead rebroadcast a slightly updated version of a documentary about the Mueller investigation. Repeated requests to PBS, Frontline, and a member station to ask why the showing of “One Day in Gaza” was canceled and when it would be broadcast have gone unanswered.
Whatever one’s position on Israel and the Palestinians, it is generally understood that organizations that accept taxpayer dollars have a responsibility to be transparent with taxpayers about how their money is being spent. PBS receives taxpayer funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, concerning the decision to cancel the scheduled broadcast of “One Day in Gaza,” PBS has remained silent, choosing to hide from the public rather than be forthcoming.
Which raises the question: PBS, what are you hiding? And why? PBS viewers, members, and the general public deserve an answer.
Whatever one’s position on Israel and the Palestinians, it is generally understood that organizations that accept taxpayer dollars have a responsibility to be transparent with taxpayers about how their money is being spent. PBS receives taxpayer funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, concerning the decision to cancel the scheduled broadcast of “One Day in Gaza,” PBS has remained silent, choosing to hide from the public rather than be forthcoming.
Which raises the question: PBS, what are you hiding? And why? PBS viewers, members, and the general public deserve an answer.