July 15-21, 2004

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Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Tune In, Tune Out

In "The Cost to Know WHYY," [Amy L. Webb, July 8, 2004] it is implied that the Pennsylvania Economy League provided financial support for WHYY's election-night coverage on which I appeared as a guest commentator and that WHYY's coverage of the election was somehow compromised. The first implication is factually inaccurate; the second implication could not be further from the truth.

The complete story is this:

PEL helped underwrite a program on WHYY about the issues in the mayoral election that ran approximately one week prior to the election as a part of our election information project, IssuesPhiladelphia. On that program, PEL's only role besides providing financial support was to introduce the program with a short pre-taped introduction by me urging voters to make an informed decision on Election Day. While it is true that PEL has been an active voice in the debate about the city's tax structure for more than 30 years, PEL had no editorial control over the program, which featured two exceptionally balanced panels, one of veteran journalists covering the campaign and another featuring the editors of four major newspapers.

Separately, I was asked to participate on a panel analyzing the election-night results. PEL provided no funding for the program, and again had no editorial involvement in the program.

Most important, it should be made clear that PEL's interest in sponsoring election information programming on public television, as it has during both the past gubernatorial race (as part of the ongoing IssuesPA effort) and during this past mayoral race, is to ensure that the issues — and the candidate's complete positions on those issues — have been debated and analyzed openly and before as large a potential audience as possible. Our partnerships with WHYY and other Pennsylvania public television stations have been in the public interest, and in keeping with our goal of improving the quality of election information available to those planning to vote. While we have been involved in the planning and promotion of these programs, we have left the editorial control to the local stations, in order to ensure fairness and objectivity.

David B. Thornburgh,

Executive Director,
Pennsylvania Economy League

Re: "The Cost to Know WHYY" [City Paper responses in italics]:

• WHYY's total operating budget in Fiscal Year 2004 was $25 million.

[When CP interviewed Bruce Flamm in June, Flamm and the reporter looked through WHYY's IRS records from FY98 through FY02. Flamm explained that the station's budget is about $16 million.]

• WHYY pays more than $1 million to broadcast shows from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media, as well as an $8,080 annual membership fee to NPR.

[The story contained information about the annual membership fee and that the station must pay a carriage fee to air certain programs without citing a figure.]

• WHYY does not receive 88 percent of its support from the public. The 88 percent is a complicated IRS test on Form 990 that seeks to determine if less than one-third of a not-for-profit company's revenues come from public support as defined by the IRS. WHYY's FM and TV on-air fundraising drives account for one-third of the station's total member revenues.

[According to a June interview with Flamm, WHYY does receive 88 percent support from the public.]

• While Clear Channel and Independence Blue Cross are local underwriters, Microsoft supports NPR, not WHYY.

• WHYY's underwriting and development departments seek funds for WHYY programs and services, not WHYY programmers and producers.

[According to a June interview with Paul Gluck,WHYY vice president and station manager, programmers and producers seek funding before launching a new program.]

• The Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) underwrote one program on WHYY, the TV show The Next Mayor: Issues Philadelphia in October 2003. PEL's support was acknowledged. The program, however, was created by WHYY and the guests — seven journalists and editors — were booked by WHYY.

[The story does not say that PEL created the program.]

• Funding for WHYY-FM's arts reporter is acknowledged each Friday during Morning Edition, following NPR's model of disclosing this kind of support on a weekly basis. When, however, the arts reporter does a story that focuses solely on an underwriter, WHYY's relationship to that funder is identified within the body of the piece. For example, WHYY's local and national report on The Pew Charitable Trusts' change in status from a private foundation to a public charity identified Pew as a funder within the body of the pieces (January 2004).

• WHYY-FM's 50th anniversary will have member-only free events, such as the kick-off open house on Aug. 8, as well as ticketed public events.

[According to a June interview with Nessa Forman, vice president for corporate communications, the picnic mentioned in the story will be a ticketed event for members only.]

• WFPL in Louisville, Ky., was used as an example of a station that cannot afford to carry the national program Here and Now. In fact, Here and Now is available at no charge and WFPL has elected not to carry it.

Bruce Flamm,

Chief Operating Officer,
WHYY

As a former contributing member, I would like to answer why I, and many others, no longer provide financial support. I mentioned "The Cost to Know WHYY" to several friends who are serious fans of classical music, and got the same response, "I'll never give to WHYY again."

Our disaffection for WHYY is founded in a single incident of roughly 10 years ago when WHYY dumped classical music from its offerings. I recall hearing the commentator announce that as a result of a format change, WHYY would no longer be playing classical music. This announcement occurred shortly after a fundraiser. Then the station made an empty gesture to the many supporters who opposed the decision: They opened up the phone lines to invite comment. I was offended. I was being patronized. This was my station — listener-supported. If the station was interested in my feeling about a format change, let them ask for my opinion before they make the change and before a fundraising period. Someone miscalculated the importance of classical music to the supporters of WHYY and made a halfhearted attempt at damage control.

Dr. Arthur Newmark
via e-mail

WHYY's past decision to drop classical music programming is not a small, minor issue. It was a major blow to the station, and, in my opinion, began their long, steady, deep decline in qualitative programming, in general. The decision created a major, community-wide revolt and a loss of listeners from whence they've never recovered.

Helen Watt
Center City

Umm, OK then. (Verbatim)

In response to sun myung moons coronation and all involved ["Moonstruck," John Gorenfeld, July 1, 2004], either through the unification false religion, senate and congress or u.n. The following information is provided.

"I'am that I'am"!!! I'am the Revelation Angel, in the body of a man whom Jesus, through Abba Father, raised from dead on Jan,07,1999,at 1:00 A.M. (he died Jan,06,1999 at 10:00 P.M. Following a fatal auto crash Dec.20,1998, it took 17 day for him to die),caused by a careless driver in Snellville, Ga. Four E.R. Doctors at Eastside Medical Center told the family of the victim to take him home refusing him I.C.U. stating, they usually don't make it this far!

I have all written proof and signs on the body to prove the body was dead for three hours and the Sapphire Blue Light of God Almighty entered the body through the palm of the right hand and the feet look as though they have been burned in a furnace fire. The beard turned white as wool. You may investigate me in person so you too may see the signs and messages on my body before printing any information, but I have a message for all involved with moon, if you would please publish it for me in the Name of Jesus, the True King of Kings. Thus saith the Lord God Almighty, the unification church staff and members and anyone following moon, the man. Shall suffer the Declaration, Judgement and Condemnation of Eternal Life in the lake of fire for 1000 years to suffer Eternal death in darkness at the end of 1000 years. This Declaration Done and Finished this 1st day of the 7th month in the year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, 2004.

Through the power vested in me, Revelation Angel 22:16 and through the Resurrection of this body by Christ; I, Jehovah's Angel, declares this a true and correct document of Judgement. May God Bless You and America as "New Jerusalem"

Heavenly Yours, Jehovah's Angel

Pastor Ray E. Cunningham
Atlanta