Public television supporters are ramping up a campaign aimed at reversing Arkansas’ decision to cut ties with PBS, forming a new advocacy group chaired by two former state first ladies and hosting a top PBS leader for a public forum.
Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS KIDS, visited Arkansas Thursday and planned to headline a forum focused at the Central Arkansas Library System’s main location in Little Rock.
The visit and forum are part of efforts by the newly formed Friends of Arkansas PBS, which is urging the Arkansas PBS Commission to reconsider its vote to disaffiliate. Arkansas was the first state to cut ties with PBS after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced its closure last year due to a loss in federal funding.
DeWitt told the Arkansas Advocate Thursday that she still believes there are avenues for keeping PBS in Arkansas rather than cutting ties. CPB’s closure is “a stress to the whole system” of PBS member stations, and viewers have since increased their donations nationwide, including in Arkansas, DeWitt said.
system,” she said.
The vote to disaffiliate came as a shock to PBS headquarters and to Arkansans throughout the state. Many viewers and donors decided to stop financially supporting the network, according to emails to and from Arkansas TV obtained via a public records request.
For the full story visit original reporting by the Arkansas Advocate.
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