Experts of questionable pedigree on PBS

dailyheights · March 2006

Has anyone else been disappointed and confused lately with PBS, and more specifically 13 and 21? We gave "Thirteen" money a few years ago, and as a result, we'll never get off their e-mail/junk mail/phone lists, no matter how much we protest.

But that's not the issue now. During their latest fund drive, they trotted out a series of infomercial-esque presentations by a series of "experts" with increasingly questionable credentials.

The first one I saw was Robert Kiyosaki, author of the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" motivational self-help books/tapes. I would have tuned the guy out immediately, but hey, he was on PBS, so somebody must be minding the store, right? Wrong. I found this on Wikipedia:

Kiyosaki's books have been criticized for having lots of anecdotal lessons but almost no concrete advice. ... It is also difficult to discern fact from fiction and anecdote in many of his works.

Some advice he gives is thought to be poor or even dangerous by other investors. For example, he advocates focusing on a few "good investments" rather than diversifying as well as "going for broke". He also downplays the importance of (traditional/tertiary) education, and claims that there is no correlation between increased education and increased income. This assertion is contradicted by various academic studies. Nonetheless, he absolutely stresses the need for financial education.

Some have questioned Kiyosaki's status as a successful investor and businessman prior to the formation of his present venture...

It goes on. They actually address the PBS issue:

Even though his appearances seem to be little more than expanded infommercials, PBS still airs them since Kiyosaki's claims to provide viewers "financial education", as opposed to academic or professional education. This choice of programming has been generally controversial among PBS viewers, and is discussed on John T. Reed's criticism of Kiyosaki.

The most infuriating moment came when WLIW 21 pre-empted a promised rebroadcast of Monty Python's Personal Best (Michael Palin) for a 2 1/2 hour infomercial on anti-aging cosmetics.

I know. This is probably more appropriate for the "Greater New York" forum. So ban me...

armchair_warrior · March 2006

"I know. This is probably more appropriate for the "Greater New York" forum. So ban me..." lol who can banned you

you own the site

. lol its like taking a shot at god and well losing.

pitu · March 2006

Subject: Re: "Experts" of questionable pedigree on PBS

dailyheights wrote:

The most infuriating moment came when WLIW 21 pre-empted a promised rebroadcast of Monty Python's Personal Best (Michael Palin) for a 2 1/2 hour infomercial on anti-aging cosmetics.

:shock:
for real?
PBS has been in financial trouble for years -- all the local stations have had to fire fire fire everybody, it's pathetic.
For fund drives they do well with Suzie Orman shows and Peter Paul and Mary - hate to see it all go that way, but there you are.

Me, I finally got cable two years ago.

pete_c · March 2006

Don't forget the political pressure from our glorious leaders in Washington.

Grrr.

busterbunny · March 2006

i don't have exact figures etc. but i seem to recall the past 5 years the Bush administration drastically cutting government funding for PBS.
there has been backlash since their programming is considered too Liberal etc. the "buster bunny" ordeal almost a year ago didn't help.
their monies come from government funding and us!
no commericial income.
this has forced them into decreasing their level of quality programming and middle out their ideology. or face extinction.
i think they have a conservative talk show now...can't remember his name. bill moyers stepped down last year...rumored to have been forced out. and kenneth tomlinson was named head of CPB, (though has since stepped down b/c he was using PBS funds to hire lobbyists etc.)
i'm guessing they arranged to get a percentage from the infomercial crap they plug and sell. don't give up on them yet. it is still overwhelming the best programming we got...especially for kids.
just $.02 from a PBS fan.

here's a couple of links...there's plenty more where they came from. there was even a grassroots campaign last year called "save sesame street" http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting//

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060902283.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/19/AR2005051901975.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110302235.html

Experts of questionable pedigree on PBS

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