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Zoglin (WGTV Georgia ETV consolidation)

Continued From Page 1-B for example, set up a more efficient distribution system for instructional programming, create a state radio network and make it much easier for the state to take advantage of new video technology. This needed reorganization, however, has drawn cries of foul from officials at Channel 8 and others at the university. This despite the fact that the university's Board of Regents voted unanimously to support the bill. not only to criticism of what you reorganization, for example, is the reporter Jeanne Blake. The Channel 8 people are clearly upset at the prospect of losing control over their station. Station representatives have circulated a list of objections to the bill, which includes this one: "At a time when major universities all over this nation are doing all they can to secure telecommunication facilities, it is ludicrous for the University of Georgia to be stripped of a television station serving millions of people. If this happens, we will be the laughingstock of higher education in the country." Station officials have also raised the specter of government interference in prögramming if the state's public TV. stations are turned over to a state agency comprised of political appointees. "How can you avoid political influence," said Hill Bermont, Channel 8's outspoken director of programming, "when the Public Telecommunications Commission will be part of the executive department of the state? You'll be exposed, not only to criticism of what you have put on the air, but to orders to *put this on or else.' "Is the Atlanta community," he added, "going to be better served out of the governor's office than it is now?" Members of the task force that came up with the original recommendations expressed dismay that such objections were being raised at this late date by Channel 8. The group's report an exhaustively researched document that was approved unanimously by the • 15 taskforce members - dealt with most of these objections, they said. "The station would not be 'stripped' from the university," said State Sen. W. Lee Robinson, D- Macon, a task-force member. "They would continue to broadcast continuing education programs only now they would broadcast them to the whole state." Channel 8's objections, he contended, amounted to little more than "a turf thing.... It seems to be an obsession with them." Responding to the charge of possible political interference, task force chairman A.D. Frazier pointed out that both Channel 8 and the Georgia ETV network are already under the control of politically appointed boards - the Board of Regents and the Board of Education. "There is just as much danger for political interference now, and a lot less visibility," Frazier said. The question of political interference is one that shouldn't be taken lightly. One of the major models for the proposed reorganization, for example, is the much-admired statewide public TV network in South Carolina. Yet that network, apparently because of political pressure, refused last year to run the controversial and brilliant documentary "Death of a Princess." Opening the door to such political pressure on public TV would be a catastrophic mistake. On the other hand, Channel 8 has not exactly been a paragon of independence or adventurousness under its current setup. Although the station did run "Death of a Princess," it capitulated to political pressure by withdrawing its planned newspaper advertising for the show, and cancelling a scheduled rerun of it. Indeed, it's hard to have much sympathy for Channel 8's position. One might be more reluctant to tamper with an organizational system that had resulted in outstanding public TV service for Atlanta and the state. But neither Channel 8 nor money-short Channel 30 has done that. The proposed reorganization seems a logical and promising solution. Phil Donahue takes a crack at the unsolved case of Atlanta's missing and murdered children on Thursday morning's segment of "The Phil Donahue Show," which Channel 5 will telecast at 9. Donahue was in Atlanta last week to tape the show. His guests were Public Safety Commissioner Lee Brown; Camille Bell and Willie Mae Mathis, mothers of two of the children; and Channel 5
Article from 29 Jan 1981The Atlanta Constitution(Atlanta, GA)
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