Bruce's Blog

by Bruce A. Johnson

Monday, February 18, 2008

Is PBS Still Necessary?

It is a ritual almost as clockwork as Jimmy The Groundhog or George W. Bush trying to de-fund PBS - questions as to whether PBS itself is still necessary. The latest one comes in this article from this week’s Sunday New York Times. Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, I have worked for the last 20 years at a statewide PBS network in the Midwest, but believe me, I’m no blind flag-waver. PBS - and our organization - each does things I find silly at best, and just plain dumb at worst. But let’s try to take a quick peek at both sides, shall we?

(2) Comments • Most recent comments by: Chris Meyer, rich, • Permalink

Page 1 of 1 pages

Bruce's Blog by Bruce A. Johnson

A 1981 graduate of the Boston University College of Communication, Bruce A. Johnson got his first job in broadcast television at WFTV, an ABC affiliate in Orlando, FL. While there, he rose through the ranks from teleprompter operator to videographer, editor, producer and director of many different types of programming. It was in the early 1980's that he bought his first computer - a Timex/Sinclair 1000 - a device he hated so much, he promptly exchanged it for an Atari 400. But the bug had bitten hard.

In 1987, Johnson joined Wisconsin Public Television in Madison as a videographer/editor, and still works there to the present day. His responsibilities have grown, however, and now include research and presentations on the issues surrounding the digital television transition, new consumer technology and the use of public television spectrum in homeland security. He freelances through his company Painted Post MultiMedia, and has written extensively for magazines including DV and Studio Monthly.