KPBS is affiliated with NPR and the CPB. Both NPR and CPB are offspring of the U.S Government; given birth by an act of the Congress and signed into law by Pres. Johnson in 1967. That put the PUBLIC into public broadfcasting. This means that US taxpayers are benefactors of the CPB; and its trickle-dowwn effect to local stations. Federal LAW prescribes what is and isn't cool (lawful, ethical) in the realm of government sponsored public broadcasting. Does KPBS have an exemption from the laws and codes governing public broadcasting that all other PBS outlets are bound by?

Posted by Greg Duch | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 8:11 am

The GM at KPBS needs to quit blogging. I see him blogging on a variety of forums. After a while blogging makes us all show our moments of insanity. But, he is really off base to say that the donors shouldn't have a say. It's got to be a two way street, or some of us may quit blowing our money down the one way street.

Posted by MtGoat | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 10:11 am

Scott, Here I go not being nice again. Well, how nice that Doug apologized! The man has no concept of the role and mandate public broadcasting consists of--per his childish comments. He has a responsibility to the TAXPAYING PUBLIC to exercise good judgment, community concern and common sense. His work is funded by US government. He has an ETHICAL AND A LEGAL OBLIGATION to be as responsive as possible to members, viewers----and the PUBLIC IN GENERAL, in administration of PUBLIC FUNDS.

Posted by Gregory John Duch | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 11:24 am

As a loyal Way with Words fan and KPBS supporter I was disappointed with the reasoning for canceling the program. I did not see an analysis by Myrland of the demographic make-up of the audience he stated he was happy with. It is one of the few radio programs that appealed to my teenage daughters and would bring them into the world of public radio. The long term future audience of KPBS might have been worth the expense of keeping it on the air until further funding could have been found.

Posted by Carrie Downey | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 12:13 pm

How much money does the staton receive from the California State University/SDSU budget each year and for what???

Posted by Unhappy Viewer | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 12:49 pm

Myrland is quite incredible. Maybe he should be running a MacDonalds not a public TV station. If KPBS has plenty of money, forget my annual donation in the future until new management is in place.

Posted by Ian Trowbridge | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 8:02 pm

It's funny how Myrland tells us that KPBS isn't a democracy when he's on the hot seat, but he's more than happy to have everyone at KPBS/NPR ask us for money throughout the year as a way of "voting" for the station over its competitors. Asking the "voters" to donate in order to keep the programming they like is precisely what infuses public radio with its democratic essence. If Myland doesn't want to hear from me, then he probably doesn't want my check this year. I'll be voting by not donating. How's that for democracy, Myrland?

Posted by Cory Briggs | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 8:55 pm

I tuned out Full Focus long ago because of Gloria Penner who seems more interested in social acceptance than anything else. The segments became ridiculously short vs the complicated topics that needed real coverage. Here's hoping they come up with a replacement that actually covers local issues with more depth.

Posted by GetAClue | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 9:03 pm

Geez, it was a crappy show. An entire 13000 viewers watched it daily. The shame is that they didn't let Penner go with the rest of the crew. That would have signalled they were intent on change.

Posted by Ray | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 9:08 pm

Why is 'competency' never mentioned when we discuss the job performance of someone? Especially in a position that has public responsibility and consequences. Let's not talk about Mr Myrland's personality (who knows and doesn't really matter), his worth as a person (I'm sure he's a good person) or the merits of donating to public television (worthwhile of course); let's just say he is not doing a competent job. And, evaluate him on that. Maybe KPBS needs a new general manager and should keep the programs.

Posted by Susan | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 9:19 pm

As I have observed before, the media, especially including non-news folks, can dish it out but they can't take it.... With the internet, it's a new information world, and this type of "unnecessary" "transparency" discussion will continue. The responsive media outlets (put VOSD in the top group)understand it and take it for what it is, feedback from their customers and after considering it, make a business decision to do or not do something. To brush such feedback off is silly...in the long run, it's KPBS' "customers" that will make or break the station.... The GM's apology sounds like something from the PR department....

Posted by South of 8 | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 10:22 pm

I felt robbed when the GM of KPBS removed Full Focus and A Way with Words from the program line up. I looked forward to Full Focus and found it to be so useful in my work in local decison making. I rarely missed its Friday edition. My donations to KPBS were made because these very programs offered a solid varied viewpoint lacking in the pablum served up as "news" by the commercial media in this town. Shame on you Mr Myrland.

Posted by mccoy4ib@aol.com | reply to this comment
August 6, 2007 10:37 pm

As a KPBS supporter, this GM has made a decision and now I will make one. Next time KPBS asks for money I will just say it is a service cut. Programs like Full Focus filled a need that the local media would not address. It was a good program watched by many. Maybe a good recommendation would be for a service cut in the payroll department (His Pay), then there would be funds to continue Full Focus.

Posted by Rick | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 12:06 am

Part 1/2 : I would never want to be in DM’s position of having to make these kinds of decisions and have the city at large decide I was supposed to answer to them. That is so unrealistic. A general manager’s job is to do what is best for the station/company. It’s got to be hard to figure out what should stay and what should go. And I hardly think someone with DM’s experience would go about cutting shows without going through some kind of methodical and analytical system to figure it out. If you don’t agree with him, then that is your right. There are always going to be people that disagree. But think about it just a little bit deeper before you start calling him names or saying he’s a terrible GM.

Posted by Leah Peterson | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 1:41 am

So why does Charlie Rose air only after Midnight? What's up with THAT? lol

Posted by Unfocus | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 2:53 am

Part 2/2 : Your taxes go to support San Diego State University too - but does that mean you get to decide whether the Science Department buys glass beakers or plastic ones? Do you get to decide whether the San Diego library buys Harry Potter or Anne Rice? If not enough people are watching or listening, then they're going to change programs and find better ones. In the case of A Way With Words, DM said that they had a good audience but not enough underwriters. It cost too much for a local show, plain and simple. The producers will take it someplace where they can do it more cheaply, and everybody wins. That IS a responsible use of public dollars, good judgment and common sense -- and that IS what I expect someone to do on my behalf.

Posted by Leah Peterson | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 2:56 am

I'm trying not to take personally the fact that I appeared on Full Focus twice in the last couple of weeks before the show was cancelled.... But really, who else is going to take a half hour to address truly local issues of import to the communities of San Diego? Our local network stations have evolved into hyper-sensationalize tabloids that try to substitute newscaster personalities for meaningful content. Full Focus, notwithstanding its diminished production values and public tv kitsch, served an important role and will be missed. And I wonder, did Myrland factor in the website hits on the Full Focus video segments?

Posted by Marco Gonzalez | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 3:06 am

I agree that Mr. Myrland shouldn't be attacked for using his best judgment. However, I believe the explanations he gave are lacking and demonstrate a somewhat callous attitude towards his audience. In my mind, public broadcasting should minimally (1) provide a venue for local information that has no other outlet and (2) be responsive to the input of the participatory audience. I won't defend the dropped shows too strenuously, but Mr. Myrland's responses have not made me feel good about the above points. In the past few years I have felt that KPBS has become beholding to a smaller (and wealthier, more 'connected') audience. Perhaps I am wrong. In any case, there are plenty of worthy organizations in San Diego that could use donations.

Posted by Naomi | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 3:41 am

Full Focus was the one place I could check out consistant coverage of local issues. If I want to see helicopter coverage of a tree falling, on a car, in Mission Valley----well, News 8, et al., will do just fine. It is too bad FF is gone. That doesn't mean I'll watch the pedestrian nightly news shows. I can't handle any more nightly updates of Hilton, Lohan, and Ritchey sagas. Likewise, I'm not going to spend one second watching/listening to Kathi Diamant gush all over Andre Rieau. The seperation of public broadcasting and for profit broadcasting has become a blur. Mryland might as well start hiring a sales department and begin selling air time.

Posted by Dale Peterson | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 4:07 am

I stopped supporting that station years ago. It has proven to be unsupportable due, in part, to decision-makers like GM Myrland. The only reason I ever watched was for the local programming and maybe Bill Moyers. Now that my kids are grown, I have a hard time thinking of much reason to tune in...

Posted by David | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 5:48 am

So all these years of insufferable pledge drives which have consistently emphasized that "donations for a particular program indicated one's wish to keep it on the air" have been exposed to be a crock. Start selling soap and toothpaste like everyone else and keep Wayne Dwyer(sp?), Doo Wop, and the lady selling age creme off the air! Ironic, too, that I had received a discount membership offer on the day of the cancellations... Now that we know that membership really doesn't make a difference, guess where I filed the "offer," Mr. Myrland?

Posted by Doug | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 6:23 am

What makes you think local programming is going away? Didn't anybody read the part where he said, "We have secured some funds to form an investigative reporting team. Some of that work will end up on TV as well as radio and the web. That project is just getting started, so expect to see/hear something in late 2007. Under the Envision San Diego banner we plan a public forum/TV broadcast about water issues in October. In December a TV special about meth. And beginning in mid-September expect to hear increased local news and features in Morning Edition on radio. We’re also offering a variety of arts reviews on radio and will be rolling out more. We’re working on a lot more ideas for TV, but are open to hearing new ideas as well."

Posted by Susan | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 6:39 am

Why does KPBS need additional funds for an investigative reporting team? It has a larger team of reporters than Voice and Voice is crankin' out the investigative pieces regularly.

Posted by Lynn | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 8:10 am

Susana and KPBS, please hear us. Please bring back Full Focus. All Television ratings are down. The rating company, Neilsens Media Research, does not count viewers who watch programs on their DVRs and TIVOs because the viewer can fast-forward through the commercials. Ask Nielsons to include customers who watch Full Focus on their DVRs and TIVOs and your ratings will change dramatically. Radio does not have this new loophole in the way ratings are calculated. Give Full Focus the grant for Investigation Reporting because that is what they do. You already have a wonderful Investigative Reporting Team. Again, please bring back Full Focus. Please.

Posted by La Playa Heritage | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 8:57 am

It is unfortunate that Managfer(?) Myrland fails to understand the nature, promise and mission of Public Radio and TV. It is not about Nielson ratings. How does he know how many viewrs there are? And why does it amtter. The duty of KPBS is to provide programming that brings important local matters and issues to the public. In addition, the production of valuable, and entertaining, intellectual material such as "Away With Words" is exactly what is needed to give listeners an alternative to the "crap" found on the commercial stations. It is time that the Trustees reviewed Mr. Myrlands performance.

Posted by Former GM | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 9:52 am

This is offered as a long time KPBS member and regular listener/viewer of the affected programming. Context is everything. The overall news and public affairs programming needs to be refocused in terms of use of resources, topic and content, on air personalities. My perception is that management has decided that some of the existing programming is not providing return on investment; to continue spending the money -rather than harboring it for strategic use later - would be silly at this stage. Let's all just hope the money does get spent to create more potent local programming. Regarding the role of management and listeners, I think those of us who love the station and write the checks need to express our views, then those who we pay as managers need to make decisions. It is no different in a newsroom, a church, or a union. Someone has to lead.

Posted by Bob Nelson | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 9:28 pm

I neglected to put one thing in my previous post. The "P" in KPBS is public. I suggest this GM does not understand this and the why these types of stations exist. They are not a commerical broadcast company in the normal sense, they are funed through and for the public so we can see local shows and events.

Posted by Rick | reply to this comment
August 7, 2007 9:46 pm

I think the money they are referring to is actually the NPR/KPBS positions that were advertised so damn quietly that, after the grant was awarded, I only found out were being interviewed and hired on AFTER the closing date. It truly is a matter of who you know. As far as this show is concerned, I can only hope they actually do investigative, fearless pieces and not lame, 'this guy claimed workman's comp but he can catrry a bag of groceries,' crap usually passing for broadcast investigative reporting. How about a nice piece on where the scumbags spend their ';mad money' millions at the supervisor level, and how they use their money to bend cities and other governments to their will on prop 172 funds? These investigators had better do a damn fine job, and I had better not see a lot of family connections in the hires, Myrland.

Posted by Frank In SD | reply to this comment
August 8, 2007 12:08 am

While I agree that the GM's position may be a difficult one, the shallow, callous, uncaring attitude displayed by Mr. Myrland is indicative of the disdain with which he treats the public - the same public that support the station with dollars, not words. Gloria Penner should have retired, one way or the other, a long time ago. Yet, through all this turmoil, she stays; perhaps to garner the award for Worst Interviewer in San Diego radio and television history. I'll let the fundraisers and their omnipresent and phony smiles go without comment. KPBS - say goodbye to my support.

Posted by Chatta-Nooga Choo Choo | reply to this comment
August 8, 2007 2:28 am

The "Decider" does have a track record. A few years back he canceled a scheduled perfomance on St. Patrick's day by Frank Patterson, a famed Irish tenor with a large local following. I told everyone I knew. But at the scheduled time, a good German singer was in that time slot. When I called to object, I was told that KPBS had run a segment of Patterson at 2PM and did not have much of an audiance so the evening slot was cancelled. I pointed out that his target audiance was likely at San Diego's St. Patrick's Day Parade and festivities at that time. Bad decision. But we do have a couple options besides watch or listen, and they are, contribute or support.

Posted by J. Flynn | reply to this comment
August 8, 2007 2:49 am

I think the collective gripe IS very much on the abrupt cancellation of these two shows. 'Full Focus' was local content, locally produced. It's a major shame and irresponsible decision to axe this program. I didn't care much for Gloria Penner -- she struck me as too partisan and 'old San Diego money.' Amitha had a Miss Smarty-Pants air about her, pretty as she is. But they practiced their craft reasonably well, asking pointed questions, drawing conclusions for the viewer and being coherent in their stories. They managed to bring local celebs, developers and other journalists to the table. The community of San Diego has lost a lot -- local news and information, local radio-TV budding talent, etc. -- because of the cancellation decision, REGARDLESS of the reason.

Posted by kuaaina | reply to this comment
August 8, 2007 6:15 am

I enjoyed "Full Focus" and "A Way With Words" very much. But I think Doung Myrland could have used a softer approach with this cutback. He should have cut "Full Focus" to 3 nights a week and announced that "Words" would become a special page on their website. His meat axe method was bound to have a backlash. I have always like Gloria Penner and see her as a very even-handed interviewer with the best show on local radio "Editors' Roundtable" on Friday morning.

Posted by Sylvia | reply to this comment
August 9, 2007 5:09 am

What's next- Real World La Jolla? I liked A Way With Words- it made you think. Doug needs a vacation. What a dismal attitude. I feel like taking the KPBS license plate holder off my car. Good thing he isn't in the private sector- alienating your core market can get you fired out here. The only check KPBS will get from me is for Myrland's sensitivity training- or early retirement package.

Posted by Omni-potent | reply to this comment
August 10, 2007 12:38 am

Enclosure:"Is this just a bunch of bull?" Robert Coonrod, President, CPB: Journalism depends on answering questions. As reporters and editors, you are focused on the traditional ones — the “who, what, where, when and why” questions that are the foundation of journalism. But your audiences have questions too. “How can I know I’m hearing the whole story?” “Are fact and opinion clearly identified?” “How can I trust what I hear?” As public radio journalists, you are accountable for those public questions as well. As the steward of the federal contribution to public television and radio, CPB is specifically charged by Congress with protecting public broadcasting’s editorial independence, (and) with ensuring its objectivity and balance.

Posted by Gregory Duch | reply to this comment
August 10, 2007 6:02 am

Greg, actually CPB was founded by Lyndon Johnson and charged with promoting his New Society agenda.

Posted by Homeboy | reply to this comment
August 10, 2007 6:12 am

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