-Caveat Lector- ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. -Thomas Huxley + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ----- Original Message ----- From: FAIR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 17, 1999 12:42 PM Subject: [FAIR-L] Does PBS stand for "Promoting Biased Stories" : : FAIR-L : Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting : Media analysis, critiques and news reports : : : : : ACTION ALERT: : WHERE GENDER ISSUES ARE CONCERNED, DOES PBS STAND FOR "PROMOTING BIASED : STORIES"? : : April 16, 1999 : : It might as well. Throughout April, the PBS program "National Desk" is : presenting a three-part series on "the gender wars," in which they aim : to address "whether the advancement of women in virtually all areas of : society can be achieved without a retreat, in some way, on the part of : men." : : This manipulative framing of gender politics is clear throughout the : first installment of the series, "The War on Boys," which opens with the : following quote: "If we don't start changing how we treat our boys, we : are going to be heading toward Gender Armageddon." Hosted by omnipresent : right-wing pundit Fred Barnes and underwritten by the right-wing John M. : Olin, Lynde and Harry Bradley, and Sarah Scaife Foundations, the program : showcases undocumented conservative commentary by right-wing ideologues : and pundits. : : Worse, many of these critics are on the payroll of the same foundations : bankrolling this slanted series - for example, "The War on Boys" relies : heavily on the opinions of conservative author Christina Hoff Sommers, : who was paid six figures by the Olin and Bradley Foundations to publish : the antifeminist tract, Who Stole Feminism?: How Women Have Betrayed : Women. : : The second part of the series, on "Politics and Warriors: Women in the : Military," due to air on April 16th, will be hosted by arch-conservative : pundit Laura Ingraham, who already has her own program on cable channel : MSNBC. : : And the title of the third segment, which will air on April 23rd, : illustrates the bias inherent in the series: it's called "Title IX and : Women in Sports: What's Wrong With This Picture?" Hosted by another : conservative - talk show host and columnist Larry Elder - this episode : attacks the federal law designed to ensure equal access to education and : extracurricular activities. Among the dubious assertions of the series : (as well as in the National Desk's publicity materials) is the idea that : "despite all good intentions" by larger society to solve sexist : injustice, "some things have gone terribly wrong" - and feminism is now : leading our culture down a "dangerous path" to female dominance and male : subordination. : : National Desk's "gender wars" series is based upon a seriously deficient : definition of human rights: one in which there aren't enough human : rights to go around, and if women want their fair share, men naturally : have to buckle under. The American Association of University Women : (AAUW), much maligned in the series, dispute this zero-sum game : understanding of gender issues. According to AAUW Association Director : Amy Swauger, "We don't think pitting boys against girls to determine who : is the biggest loser is the way to help children get a good education. : This is not a war anyone wants to win." : : No one, that is, except the conservatives funding a massive campaign to : roll back gender equity laws and retract the gains that women and girls : have achieved in the last thirty years. Want to know why a group of : right-wing foundations are allowed to not only buy airtime for this : series but also supply "experts" already on their payroll? How about : why the so-called "alternative" public broadcasting network refused to : find a single host who does not already have a regular media platform? : Interested in finding out if or when PBS plans to offer a series about : gender issues hosted by feminists? : : *** : ACTION: One person who should have those answers is Ervin Duggan, : president and CEO of PBS. You can call him at 703-739-5015, and fax : letters to 703-739-0775. Let Duggan know that it is not feminism, but : PBS programming, that has "gone terribly wrong." : : You can find email contacts, phone numbers, and mailing addresses for : your local PBS station at: http://www.pbs.org/voice/ : : : Relevant links: : : FAIR Resources on PBS : http://www.fair.org/media-outlets/pbs.html : : "The "Stolen Feminism" Hoax: Anti-Feminist Attack Based on Error-Filled : Anecdotes" (from Extra!) : http://www.fair.org/extra/9409/stolen-feminism-hoax.html : : : : ---------- : : : Feel free to respond to FAIR ( [EMAIL PROTECTED] ). We can't reply to : everything, but we will look at each message. We especially appreciate : documented example of media bias or censorship. All messages to the : 'FAIR-L' list will be forwarded to the editor of the list. : : Also, please send copies of email correspondence, including any : responses, to us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] . : : Feel free to spread this message around. Put it on conferences : where it is appropriate. We depend on word of mouth to get our message : out, so please let others know about FAIR and this mailing list. : : Don't miss a single email from FAIR-L. : To subscribe to FAIR-L send a "subscribe FAIR-L enter your full name" : command to [EMAIL PROTECTED] : : The subscriber list is kept confidential, so no need to worry about : spammers. : : : You may leave the list at any time by sending a "SIGNOFF FAIR-L" : command to [EMAIL PROTECTED] : : Please support FAIR by becoming a member. : You will receive FAIR's magazine, EXTRA! and its newsletter, EXTRA! : Update. You can become a member by calling 1-800-847-3993 from 9 to : 5 Eastern Time (be sure to tell them you got the information : on-line) or by sending $19 with your name and address to: : : FAIR/EXTRA! Subscription Service : P.O. Box 170 : Congers, NY 10920-9930 : : : FAIR : (212) 633-6700 : http://www.fair.org/ : E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] : : list administrators: [EMAIL PROTECTED] : : : DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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