Contentious Exchange Between John Dahlia And Richard Carter At 13 September EBA Meeting

At the Thursday 13 September meeting of the Educational Broadcasting Authority board Richard Carter (Director of Television Production at WVPBS) and board member John Dahlia had a tense exchange over the popular, locally-produced kids show, Abracadabra. Mr. Dahlia expressed frustration about the time it takes to produce the show and about some of Carter's production decisions, notably use of staff and costs related to staff travel. At one point in the discussion, Carter was trying to explain his camera, lighting and other needs when Dahlia reminded Carter that he (Dahlia) is a former news director and doesn't need to be talked down to about cameras and lighting.

Executive Director, Dennis Adkins and Director of Finance, Michael Meador, reported positive financial news. Cash, receivables and underwriting are all up over last year.

Beth Vorhees, Director of News and Public Affairs, reported the hiring of 2 new reporters and that the WVPBS newsroom will now be staffed on weekends. The new reporters will cover the West Virginia legislature.

-- No anonymous or pseudonymous comments are published on Higginbotham At Large. All submitted comments come to Joseph Higginbotham for publication or deletion. Only comments from  identifiable submitters will be published. No exceptions.

No Strategy In Dennis Adkins' "Strategic Plan" For WVPBS

I didn't hear any strategy in the "strategic plan" Executive Director Dennis Adkins presented to the Educational Broadcasting Authority - his bosses - at their Wednesday 22 August meeting. I attended that meeting in hope that I might hear Adkins' strategy for bringing WVPBS into alignment with its stated mission and its stated vision or even a strategy about how to re-engage individual donors who have stopped giving to WVPBS because there is apparently no one at WVPBS who has dusted off and read the mission and vision statements lately.

Higginbotham At Large will be mailing copies of their mission and vision statements to some of the members of the Educational Broadcasting Authority which has oversight of WVPBS. 

See those mission and vision statements below.

"MISSION: West Virginia Public Broadcasting satisfies the human need to learn. Our programs nurture personal growth and civic responsibility, respect people's intelligence, and promote life-long discovery." - from the West Virginia Public Broadcasting website. (http://www.wvpubcast.org/about.aspx)

"VISION: West Virginia Public Broadcasting, through our unique programs and services, will empower people to broaden their perspectives, appreciate their history and become active in their communities. Using the power of public service media, we will create more informed, more educated, more motivated, and more prosperous citizens who will build a better West Virginia for our children and grandchildren." - from the West Virginia Public Broadcasting website. (http://www.wvpubcast.org/about.aspx)

--Higginbotham At Large reads all submitted comments but anonymous and pseudonymous comments will not be published. 

Nobody Would Ever Guess That WV Public Broadcasting Is Governed By An "Educational Broadcasting Authority"

Perhaps West Virginia Public Broadcasting's executive director, Dennis Adkins, could solve  WVPBS' financial problems - reported by Phil Kabler in the 7 June Charleston Gazette - if he spent less time finding ways to alienate the kind of people who comprise public broadcasting's natural constituency. 


With its Catholic preaching shows, shows that promote "intelligent design" (Journey Of The Universe) and its shows that feature dozens of fat,  semi-famous gospel singers sitting around singing and crying with each other, nobody would ever guess that West Virginia Public Broadcasting is governed by something called "The West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority".


Because I am old enough to remember when we actually called public TV "Educational Television", I'm probably not in Dennis Adkins' target demo, but I should be. People like me have a natural desire to support public broadcasting but can't bring ourselves to write a check when we turn on WVPBS and see some globetrotting Catholic preacher yammering about  how God "jammed the cross into the machinery of sin" and separation from God and how the resurrection of Jesus conquered death and so on.


When I go to the West Virginia Public Broadcasting's website and look at the makeup of the EBA board, I count at least 3 professional educators (Jorea Marple, Bruce Berry, Priscilla M. Haden). I hope these 3 professional educators will actually tune in to WVPBS some time and ask themselves if WVPBS makes them proud.


To be fair, WVPBS also airs some outstanding shows, but people like me who remember when separation of church and state was actually taught in 9th grade Civics, are offended when WVPBS, which receives some taxpayer support, airs preaching and gospel singing when it could be airing something educational.