Public Television to take Political Dollars

With stressed budgets and no end in sight, public television stations have been looking for a way to increase revenue in a very commercial way.  They may have their wishes granted. Yesterday, a federal court decision has created the possibility that some public television and radio stations that are perpetually challenged financially could see a windfall of cash from political advertising.
Stations that get that chance would have to weigh whether the money is worth the risk of alienating their audiences.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled in April that federal law prohibiting public broadcasters from airing political or issue advertising is unconstitutional, even though the same court said a ban on commercials by for-profit products could stand. The U.S. Justice Department must decide by next week whether to ask the court to reconsider its divided decision, or bring an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Public broadcasting has a place in our media mix, but one of the main pillars of it's existence is that it does not cater to advertising dollars.  Just think about it.  Could the truth campaign have been as successful if the tobacco lobby was allowed to advertise on television.  The lack of dollar pressure from advertisers influences the news media without even trying.  Political dollars are the most dangerous of all.  The stations will be allowed to take dollars from the people who will be funding them in the future.  Public media should be altruistic and serve the people without commercial influences.