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Your programs have overbearing LOUD music, and drowning out the voices.

California
Feedback:

ALL of your shows (Documentaries, Nature, Frontline and Create, etc) now have music so loud it DROWNS out the dialogue and conversations. It is often musical styles which do not even relate to the style or nature of the program. This seems like someone's bad idea or way to employ relatives and friends who are musicians.

Don't blame our TV sound system. We have had the same system since 2012 and only in recent years has this happened on more and more of your programs. By the way we HAVEN'T noticed it on the limited number of COMMERCIAL TV programs we watch. We have had to stop watching MOST CreateTV shows. As far as NOVA and Frontline programs, the music has become the lame method of telling us "how to feel" during the program.

You (CPB) need to get the word out to the production teams that it is seriously out of hand. Please, no more excuses.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB does not produce or broadcast any programming, and CPB is prohibited by law from interfering with editorial concerns related to programming. Please contact your local station with your concern.

PBS NewsHour

March 13, 2020
Feedback:

The person that was at the President's conference today from PBS was very rude to the President. She may have political views and all this, but if you're going to have a fair and balanced reporter there. I think she did disrespect to the President. Somebody should look into her employment because that's not what I think is good news broadcasting or good questions. Thank you. 

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS or your local station directly.

CARES Act Funding

March 26, 2020
Feedback:

Hi this is Steve calling from Northern Wisconsin. I just wanted to let you know that I believe you as public TV should refuse the money from Congress, the $75 million. That money should all go to hospitals, doctors, research, curing people who are physically sick and in harms way. You people have got more money than you know what to do with. You pay your executives outrageous salaries. There is no reason that public dollars should be going your way during this hardship time. I believe you as honest, patriotic Americans should refuse that money and make sure that money goes to the right place. Thank you and good day.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting us with your concern about funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the public media organizations it supports. Public media is a public-private partnership relying on federal funding from Congress through CPB and on private funding from donors and corporate underwriting. Due to the unprecedented financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, public media stations across the country are facing a severe decrease in funding from individuals, charitable foundations, corporate underwriting, states and universities. We are thankful for Congress’ bipartisan action to support public media stations' financial needs with funding in the CARES Act. The CARES Act provides financial support to local stations that are delivering vital health and safety information, while at the same time working to deliver curriculum-based educational programming to homebound students, despite the challenge of declining non-federal revenue. CPB dispersed the entirety of the CARES Act funding to local public media stations. No funding from the CARES Act remains with CPB. A list of grantees and their grant amounts can be found on the CPB website.

PBS NewsHour

March 14, 2020
Feedback:

I'm definitely probably wasting my time making this comment to a left-leaning program like any of the programs basically on PBS, but I'm going to be doing it anyway. Shields and Brooks is supposed to be one side and the other side, a conservative versus a liberal. I think the liberal speaks more conservative or has more decent comments as conservative than the conservative. If you're trying to be fair and balanced like Fox News, at least put a true conservative in, not two liberals and say one is a conservative and one is a liberal. It's totally false. It's a charade. Everybody knows it. I talked to my accountant and I mentioned about watching your program and he says, "Are you kidding me? I haven't that for ten years. Anybody in their right mind doesn't watch network TV, especially PBS. I talked to my workers and they said the same thing. I feel like I'm the only crazy one that watches PBS every once in a while. At least 51 percent of America or 50 percent of  America doesn't even acknowledge your programming. The only decent show you have is Antiques Roadshow. You should probably sell it and make some money instead of begging for money all the time. 

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS or your local station directly.

audio quality

Pennsylvania
Feedback:

I am hearing impaired and wear hearing aids which normally work very well, except when I am watching PBS Nightly News on WHYY in Philadelphia. Judy Woodruff always seems loud enough but when there is a shift to a remote camera, the sound is hardly loud and clear enough. When the shift goes back to Judy Woodruff, sound becomes louder and clearer again. I've been a listener and watcher for over 50 years and do not enjoy watching PBS like I used to. I do NOT have the same problem with other networks, just PBS. I wonder why.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB does not produce or broadcast any programming. Please contact your local station with your concern.

Reporting Suggestion

March 20, 2020
Feedback:

I'm just wondering if you could ask the CDC or the government. Why have they not approached Seegene of South Korea to get a license to produce and manufacture test kits for the virus? It seems to me that would be a faster way to go. 

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your suggestion will have more weight if you contact your local station directly.

Viral:Antisemitism in four mutations

North Carolina
Feedback:

Why would You present shows like this that propagate hate and more racism,against Jews or any race.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB does not produce or broadcast any programming, and CPB is prohibited by law from interfering with editorial concerns related to programming. Please contact your local station with your concern.

sit and be fit

Washington
Feedback:

This is an amazing program for excercise for seniors. Since the progreams supports balance and flexibility, it is a great fall prevention program. Thank you for continuing to offer this program, especially during these challening COVID times. Many of my friends locally are participating with Mary Ann Wilson, Sit and Be Fit.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Although CPB does not produce or distribute programming, we welcome all comments about public media’s content and services.

NewsHour

May 22, 2020
Feedback:

Neither Shields, nor Brooks could opine on Trumps comments about Henry Ford made in Michigan on thursday. They gave him the benefit of the doubt for being ignorant of Ford's racism and xenaphobia.

 

Trump grew up in a household headed by a member of the KKK. Fred Trump was active in that organization in the 1920's, into the '30's. Did not like Africans, Asians, Latinos; eastern, southern, and south eastern Europeans as well. Had it been up to Fred Trump, neither Ivana Trump; nor the current First Lady and her family would have been allowed to immigrate to this country. And of course African Americans, and Jews are included on that list.

 

Ford was a bigot extraordinaire. Loved Hitler, hated Jews; in the grand tradition of many white businessmen had no problem regularly consulting with George Washington Carver on manufacturing process and operations research to make Ford Motor Company what it became. You would think that Carver would have been a Ford Executive and Board Member, but that genius was taken without proper compensation or acknowledgement. Not even a consideration.

 

Donald Trump knows the meaning of everything that he says, and means it. He is equally the racist and bigot that both his father and Henry Ford were, and is quite proud of it. Uses these tools as they have always been used to manage American social and economic  structure throughout the pre-history and history of this nation. He is nothing new; he is just " out there " with it. Counts on everything that he does as being seen as benign and mitigable because he is a white, wealthy male. At worst, maybe having a bad day; but not really evil. Many of our children are learning from this man. Many an adult who have always wanted to show their overt racist behavior toward other americans now do it because they feel that Trump has given them permission to do so. 

.

There is nothing benign about him. If there is any good to be derived from his presence in the White House, it has yet to manifest itself. 

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB and PBS are separate organizations and CPB is prohibited by law from producing, broadcasting, or interfering with editorial concerns related to programming. Please contact PBS or your local station with your concern.

PBS news hour 5/4/2020

Wisconsin
Feedback:

I am disappointed and dismayed that the news hour failed to acknowledge or honor the 50th anniversary of the Kent State massacre. History still matters, especially for we who lived through that time.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB and PBS are separate organizations and CPB is prohibited by law from producing, broadcasting, or interfering with editorial concerns related to programming. Please contact PBS or your local station with your concern.

judy Woodruff

Virginia
Feedback:

When Judy Woodruff talks about Trump someone should give her a clothespin to hold her nose. It's all about her dislike for him. David Brooks ducks his head apologetically to Mark shields when he says something positive about Trump. Then Mark Shield shakes his head and and tries to mimimize what David said. I have stopped watching. She should be replaced

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly.

Books on Background

Arizona
Feedback:

I have a great deal of respect for Ms Judy Woodruff and noticed many books on shelves behind her during the PBS NewsHour. Could she point out, on the air, the book she liked the best and also the one that would be good to read in the time of the pandemic and other areas of concern to US citizens. Thank you, Stephen R Hempelman, MD, MBA

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB and PBS are separate organizations and CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact your local station or PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/

George Bush

California
Feedback:

Saw the first segment of your bio of George Bush, Jr., America's 1st burned-out speed freak president. Good Freudian construct. But, it barely mentioned the "Patriot" act. That's kind of like mentioning George Wallace without talking about his racist views. I wonder what the concluding segment will be like. And I do hope this is the concluding segment on the Bushes...I here there's a Peter B. on the rise, God help us. And God save the republic.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB and PBS are separate organizations and CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact your local station or PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/

PBS News-hour Friday 29 May 2020, Host Judy Woodruff's interview with former Vice President Joe Biden on violence in Minneapolis

Feedback:

Hello, I am an avid Canadian viewer of the PBS News Hour. I am an avid viewer of the Mark Shields and David Brooks segment. On Friday of this week, I was disappointed with Joe Biden's responses to Judy Woodruff on the topic of the previous days violence by police in Minneapolis and the subsequent outrage. I also did not understand Mr. Biden's reference to Missouri in that interview. David Brooks expressed disappointment as well, though Mark Shields gave the former vice president credit for his calm and mature stance. I wished both Shields and Brooks had seen the Amna Nawaz interview with Eddie S. Glaube Jr, in another segment of the newscast. He was outraged, but calm and thoughtful. If only Joe Biden could have seen that before his own interview, perhaps he might have quoted Glaube, and pledged to build a New America.

Henry David Thoreau, the American philosopher, said in his essay Life Without Principle, "Do we call this the land of the free? What is it to be free from King George and continue the slaves of King Prejudice? What is it to be born free and not to live free? What is the value of any political freedom, but as a means to moral freedom?"

Thoreau died in 1862, "relatively unappreciated."

Thank you for the PBS News Hour.

I hope you can share my feedback with the former Vice President Biden, Eddie S. Glaube Jr., Mark Shields, David Brooks, Amna Nawaz, and Judy Woodruff,

Maudie Whelan.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly.

Your hand washing video

Florida
Feedback:
A week ago you had one of your teen "Helpers" (A redhead with braces) show the helpers how to wash your hands. She was very thorough and the video was informative however there was one issue that as a former ER nurse that I noticed: One one of her wrists your Helper worse several "friendship" style bracelets made out of string or cord. These look to be cotton and that's not good - if these get wet they can harbor mold, and if they come into contact with the current virus, she can't wash them like she washes her hands. These bracelets are actually a danger as they could be infected and re-infect the poor person after she washed her hands, not to mention of they get wet it's just not good for things like mold or just offering a damp environment for bacteria to grow in. She may want to consider ditching these bracelets.

News Hour with Judy Woodruff

Pennsylvania
Feedback:

What a negative, ungrateful, liberal, democrat. She continually attempted to downplay and attack everything President Trump has done during an interview with VP Mike Pence. As he was stating our progress during this pandemic, she inserted a story about one nurse requesting gowns in NYC...One nurse? She continued to state that the President hasn't done this or that. Wow, you and the rest of the liberal media, I.e. "Morning Shmoe on MSNBC) make America and myself sick. What would Obama do? Sit on his hands as he did for Eight years. Biden would have had a mental breakdown by now. Knock off the criticism and try to be optimistic!

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS or your local station directly.

Magical Thinking of Mike Pence

New York
Feedback:

PBS Newshour,

Last night’s 4/17/2020 interview with VP Pence was painful to watch. It was like he was a wind up mouthpiece of the outright lies of White House propaganda. He went on and on about the fairytale magical message he was asked to promote about the handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, and refused to participate in any sort of dialogue with Judy Woodruff, talking over her and basically ignoring her attempts to speak until he had finished his memorized recitation. The hospitals are not overwhelmed? Everyone can be tested right now? The government has supplied all hospitals with an abundance of PPE? Does he live under a rock? And then to top it off to include a story about Biden’s alleged misconduct must have had Trump and Fox news salivating with joy. It was painful to watch Judy in such an uncomfortable position with both segments. It was shocking to see PBS contribute to the divisive nature of politics today.

Sincerely, Robin McKay

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS or your local station directly.

CARES Act

Minnesota
Feedback:

I urge you to refuse the $75 million from the government as part of the CARES Act and request that those funds be used to provide PPE for healthcare workers. If they get sick, they won't be available when we need them the most. Your leadership has a moral obligation to do the right thing and refuse that money. The country will survive if PBS and NPR had to go off the air or couldn't produce new content. Lives could be saved with $75 million. Can I count on you to do the right thing?

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting us with your concern about funding for CPB and the public media organizations it supports. We are grateful for the strong bipartisan support that public media receives from Congress, especially during these challenging times. The $75 million in emergency funds will quickly help public media -- especially our small and rural stations -- preserve their ability to provide essential information, including public safety alerts, and educational programming and services to the American people. Without the financial support from Congress and continued financial support from the public, many public broadcasting stations and the service they provide will be significantly at risk. Small and rural public media stations often serve as a vital resource during times of emergency, often operating as one of the only, and in some cases the single, source for news and information to unversed and underserved Americans. Further, with over 90 percent of Americans being told to stay at home, public media's services are a lifeline in every state to community resources, health and safety information, and the increased education needs of our nation's children whose schools are closed. Currently, Public media stations provide local reporting on how this pandemic affects local communities, relaying and rebroadcasting information from public health and emergency management officials and delivering innovative educational services to our nation's at-home students. We look forward to working with Congress in raising awareness of how the investment in public broadcasting pays vast dividends in education, public safety and civic leadership to millions of Americans and their families.

Video explanation

California
Feedback:

I saw a video of yours in an article. The epidemiologist asks “Have you heard about the new coronavirus?” But they never said what it is or what any virus is. Then they went on to mention washing hands. If you don’t explain what a virus is, then the kids won’t understand. Kids aren’t stupid, they are ignorant. The whole idea of a video is to explain what’s going on. There is more to a kids video than cutesy backgrounds and music. Don’t be lazy, do it right.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS or your local station directly.

Y. Alcindor

California
Feedback:

She is a marvelous reporter and I have a great deal of respect for her as she stands up to attacks from the oval office. I want her to know that I support her and look forwards to her reports.