A Proposed Chicago Media Action response to WTTW-TV

(Larry Duncan, after the March 13, 2003 CMA-WTTW first meeting.)


Here are some points we should make in responding to WTTW:

1. The Producers at WTTW are hired by and carry out the programming
guidelines of the WTTW Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
is comprised entirely [or nearly entirely] of wealthy officers of Chicago-
area corporations, and is self-peperpetuating. Although WTTW claims
to be public television, there are no public elections of its board, the body
which determines policy. The WTTW Board represents only a few very
wealthy members of the upper class public. It is not a legitimate
entity to determine public television policy in the Chicago area. We
reject out of hand the toothless community advisory board as a sop
to disguise the fact that the community has no actual control.

2. The Board and its agents, the Producers, are prima facie inappropriate
bodies to decide the content and format of any television programs dealing
with matters of concern to Chicago-area working people, the great majority
of the area's population.

3. The CMA does not rule out discussions with WTTW producers, in
developing planning which draws upon their technical and professional
skills, necessary for producing shows.

4. In carrying out discussions with WTTW producers, and in determining
how the WTTW Board makes decisions, the CMA intends to educate
the viewing public, WTTW members, and the working people of  the
Chicago area, about these and other problems concerning programming.
We do not wish to engage in closed negotiations with any entity which
does not legitimately represent the public, but instead the CMA intends to
facilitate an open, public investigation into how 'public' television 'works'.

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