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10:42 minute:EMBATTLED PBS
"Postcards from Buster," a children's program seen on some 350 Public Broadcasting Stations, recently sparked a major controversy when its main character in a particular episode visits a Vermont farm and meets two lesbian couples, who are not identified as such in the show.
Tonight, NewsHour Media Correspondent Terence Smith speaks with Karen Everhart of Current newspaper about the persistent controversies plaguing PBS and Mitchell's decision to leave.
Plus:"Frontline" using "Dirty Words"
EMBATTLED PBS
"Postcards from Buster," a children's program seen on some 350 Public Broadcasting Stations, recently sparked a major controversy when its main character in a particular episode visits a Vermont farm and meets two lesbian couples, who are not identified as such in the show.
The new U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings wrote to PBS President and Chief Executive Pat Mitchell about her "strong and very serious" concerns about that episode, writing that "the Congress and the Department's purpose in funding this PBS programming certainly was not to introduce this kind of subject matter to children."
Amid these brewing controversies, Mitchell this week announced that she would be leaving her post in the spring of 2006. Mitchell has maintained her departure was not related to the ongoing controversy over the Buster episode.
Additionally, PBS found itself in a second controversy after warning its member stations that it cannot protect them against federal indecency sanctions if they broadcast a version of a Frontline documentary, The Company of Soldiers, which contains profane language.
Tonight, NewsHour Media Correspondent Terence Smith speaks with Karen Everhart of Current newspaper about the persistent controversies plaguing PBS and Mitchell's decision to leave.