Michael Getler is used to answering tough questions. Since becoming PBS's ombudsman in 2005, Michael has been taking feedback from viewers about anything and everything on PBS.
As ombudsman, Michael serves as a sort of internal critic for PBS. He publishes a column on pbs.org. Here is your chance to ask Michael a burning question—or questions—here on our "Five Good Questions" series.
Michael has the honor of being the first ombudsman for PBS. Prior to joining PBS Michael was the ombudsman for The Washington Post.
He began his career in journalism while attending the City College of New York. Along the way he picked up various awards for his work, including the Jesse Neal Award for his reporting from Vietnam.
In addition to being PBS's ombudsman, Michael also teaches a course on News Media and International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University graduate School of Advanced International Studies.
Wonder why Michael decided to leave journalism to be a critic? If he has seen a change in editorial standards in the media? What is his favorite part about teaching?
Leave your questions in the comments.
I'll choose five good questions and post Michael's answers soon.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
NewsTrust
Email This
the blackout of Nader on PBS
Nader is running for President on a platform of undoing the corporate control of our politics. The blackout of coverage is so thorough that most people are aware of only two candidates. The blackout is naturally explained by the corporate ownership of our media. That leaves public television and public radio as the main option for giving him a voice, but the blackout extends to these media also. I like to hear Nader because he has no hidden agenda, he tells the truth as he sees it, he's been right all along in his previous runs for President, and he puts his finger on the structural basis for our country's slide into despotism. These are pretty strong reasons to have Nader on PBS.
I saw a great show about Pinochet on PBS last night. Our CIA helped Pinochet succeed Allende, by first helping to kill Allende, and then training Pinochet's shock troops, who "disappeared" a bunch of intellectuals and leader-types as part of his coup. Thus, our CIA put capitalism above all else, at the expense of human decency. Is there any reason to think our CIA has changed? No. So what have we done lately? We gave the CIA (intelligence services) the keys to the internet. Now we are disappearing people. Our future is Chile's past. Does the ombudsman see anything alarming in this? If so, putting Ralph on the air would at least give a poke in the eye to our corporate masters, who are laughing all the way to the bank.
Thanks Carey for your
Thanks Carey for your thoughtful, sincere comments about Ralph - if only it were that simple, but.. What if he-d at the last minute thrown all of his support to Al in 2000 - Ralph suffers from extreme ego difficulties and at the same time he has contributed to the dialogue - Again, thanks!
R.Nader for President
I am a strong Republican. I believe that everyone shoud have a voice, Therefor I agree with Mr C. Carlson 100% Tell Me Why all candidates who can pay for airtime are not granted it ?
Democratic Election Coverage
Why is Barack Obama continuosly referred to as black? He is not more black than he is white. He, like America, is a combination of races and our hope must be that, as president, he can take us forward as one race, one nation, one America.
BEING BLACK
YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT WHEN YOU ASK WHY IS HE IS JUDGED BY HIS COLOR.
HE SHOULD NOT BE, NOR ANYONE ELSE IN OUR COUNTRY.
THE SAD TRUTH IS..THAT IS HOW SOME OF THIS BACKWARDS PEOPLE WHO FORGET HOW WE BECAME SO STRONG..STILL THINK.
JUST LIKE THEY WOULD NOT REALLY EVEN THINK ABOUT A WOMEN BEING OUR PRESIDENT.
YET..FINALLY ONE WOMAN WAS STRONG ENOUGH, AND BELIEVED IN HER OWN HEART..SHE COULD AT LEAST TRY.
AND WHAT A AMAZING AMOUNT OF ENERGY DID SHE USE...SHE WANTED TO WIN.
AND SHE DID WIN IN A LOT OF TOWNS..WHERE HE COULD NOT.
MY ONLY QUESTION..MIGHT NOT BE VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW...
BUT I THINK IT MIGHT COME UP AGAIN...WHEN OBAMA MIGHT LOSE THE ELECTION HE WOULD HAVE WITH NO DOUBT WON..WITH HER BY HIS SIDE.
EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY, WOULD HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE REASON TO VOTE AND BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD BE HEARD.
BLACK MAN...NOT SINCE MARTIN KING...FIRST WOMAN EVER TO RUN....
WHY WOULD WE NOT VOTE FOR THAT TEAM?
ALL OF OUR DREAMS ...FOR ALL OF AMERICA..WOULD HAVE FINALLY COME TO BE REAL IN OUR LIVES....
YET..HE BECAME AFRAID.
IF THEY WERE A TARGET TO BE KILLED...IT COULD HAPPEN WAY BEFORE NOW.
AND IT DIDN'T.
BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE..MADE THEM GIVE UP.
AT LEAST, HISTORY HAS BEEN CHANGED.
THE DOOR IS OPEN FINALLY....THEY TOOK THE CHANCE TO SEE THE OPEN DOOR..
AND WALK INTO A NEW PLACE IN LIFE.
I THINK MCAIN MIGHT WIN NOW....BECAUSE HE IS SAFE.
BUT IN ANOTHER FOUR YEARS...THEY COULD MAKE THAT CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY
THEY BELIEVE THEY WILL...
AND THEN TRY AGAIN.
My neice asked me that same
My neice asked me that same question. If someone is half white and half African American, why do they have to say they are black? She wanted to know if it was because it was a bad thing to be black.Being color blind that I am. I do not have an answer. anyone out there that does?
OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
I AM JUST THINKING..MAYBE AS A LOT OF OTHERS TONIGHT..
WHY DID THE FIRST AND ONLY BLACK MAN TO FINALLY HAVE THE CHANCE TO REALLY RUN FOR THIS OFFICE...
DID NOT PICK THE ONLY OTHER HISTORY MAKING PERSON TO RUN AS WELL..THE FIRST AND ONLY WOMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
DID SOMEONE TELL THEM..THEY BOTH MIGHT BECOME A TARGET TO BE KILLED?
OR WAS IT PRIDE...
I REALLY THINK IF THEY WOULD HAVE RAN AS A TEAM...
THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST LANDSLIDE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
I think the reason Obama
I think the reason Obama didn't pick Clinton was because she comes with baggage and three people in the White House is two much
three people in the White House
THREE IS MUCH BETTER THAN ZERO.
You are so right! With
You are so right! With McCain and Pain oops Palin at the helm we would have zero intelligence and leadership. Well, if talking to the Middle East doesn't work we can always charm them. Or, we can invite them over for Moose stew, that is sure to impress someone. I feel sorry for the Eskimos. Like the Aborigines they have had to watch their land being raped by humanity.
Veterans have one place to go.
As a sixty plus aged Vietnam veteran who has no representative in local government, state or indeed especially federally, I'm told to go to a veterans' organization to get 'help'. My experience is that no one
is interested to know whether I can receive 'in home' supportive services when I go hungry when I can't walk or can't get to the toilet; especially any of those organizations I am referred, who do not compete with any 'civilian' entity since there are none to help veterans. Nowere to go if for example you are discriminated against for any reason. Nowere to go if the hospital has corrupted, lossed, or unauthorized your file, or is not responsible in any way. What is it like to survive a war that no one wants to remember? What is it like to be a survivor, in excile, living in a country that seems to have no memory of the forced sacrafices of those who were drafted, but received honorable discharges, but receive no help and no support?
1). How can we say that we
1). How can we say that we follow the Golden Rule when we don't even give our citizens in the womb a (choice) chance to live? Each woman and man has to realize that life is from God not from the woman or the man. If you don't believe this hold your breath and ask yourself why does this heart and lung of mine expand and contract millions of times without even thinking about it. Still holding your breath?
When in doubt side with life.
2). The wisdom to know when to defend our inalienable rights, see number 1. What do we believe, see number one. The draft, see number 1. The wholesale killing in the world, see number 1. The withholding of health care, see number 1. The security of our borders, see number 1. The complaints of our own children bored, not caring or being considerate see number 1.
Not even knowing your own next door neighbor, see number 1.
Think we understand all aspects of choice, see number 1.
Our invovlement with Russia/Georgia
With the present state of our military, how can any United States politician "beat the war drum and rattle the saber" for our involvement with Russia? Wouldn't any reasonable citizen know this can not be done without a draft? And wouldn't a draft put this country back to 1968 status. Who are we TRYING to fool, Russia or ourselves?
Charles
ENQUIRY ABOUT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
I am a B.Ed student of oriental college of education and research in INDIA and my subject is International education. My topics are concept, objectives, need and importance of international education, IB organization- history, purpose,and function. Educational system in diff countries like USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE. many other topics are there which I have not mentioned. can u please send me the complete details of these topics so that it will help me in my exams to study.
Demcratic convention coverage
I watched most of the Democratic Convention last night on my local PBS affiliate, and the commentary following Michelle Obama's speech was extremely disappointing. You had 3 or 4 "old white guys" and one young black man providing their opinions. The speech that I saw was incredibly good, but the commentary by the old white guys was that it was just okay, and a "missed opportunity". Then the black man gets his say, and says he loved the speech but follows it by comparing Mrs. Obama to Rosa Parks. Huh? Because they are both black???
The message I get from all of this is that only black people support Obama. And furthermore, black people cannot articulate why they support Obama other than the fact that he is black. I expect this kind of stuff from Fox, but PBS? Disgraceful!
Michelle Obama
I listened to her speech. Knowing how politicians spin every detail made me wonder why a ivy league lawyer with a large sucessful firm would just give it all up to do unpaid Pro Bono work. Doesn't make sense for someone to push so hard for so long to get ahead to just give it all up not long after she was just getting started. Did she get fired? Was she pushed out the door? She seems like a smart, capable person with ambition and drive, but she "quits" to help the helpless, defend the defenseless. Hmmm, that sounds more like Zorro than the next "First Lady". Just an observation. Her drive is evident in this race for the White House. Something about quiting the big law firm just doesn't make any sense for this ambitious, driven to suceed, woman.
Michelle Obama
I do not undersand why it is so difficult to understand Michelle Obama's decision to leave a large sucessful law firm to focus on work that she found was more meaningful. At the firm she worked on marketing and intellectual property. Subsequently, she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government and then was the Executive Director for a Chicago office of a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies. She went on to serve as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University's Community Service Center. Most recently she workinged for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. I am sure she was well compensated for her work, perhaps not as well as if she had stayed working for the firm. Clearly making a change in her community meant more to her.
Paid 10 times more then the average employee at the Hospital
Michelle's job at the hospital is to divert patients from the ER (where their care is paid for) to local community health clinics. For her services she is paid over $340,000 a year. Don't mistake her work as being anything for the community it is simply a corporate job that is using a black woman as a front for their profits. She also like many black woman left her children to be raising by her Mom.
The average salary for an attorney (not a minority) in Chicago is less then $120,000 a year and the average salary for everyone is $45,000. Her salary was doubled when Barack was elected to be Senator. Do you honestly think she got the job or was paid that much due to her own abilities?
I feel that is is difficult
I feel that is is difficult for anyone to be unbiased in their assessments on presidential speeches particularly.if they are for the opposite team. Obama is an amazing orator and he writes his own speeches, that come from his heart. Most Pundits write speeches for those that can't. It must be tough on the ego to give credit where credit is due on those terriffic Obama speeches that are so heartfelt
10 pm Monday night program on obesity.
Where can we get more information on this subject?
Shame on PBS
Bias reporting by two white women reporters.
When they interview positive people for Obama they frown or
look confused, They will not let you listen to the person speaking
but tell you what the person is saying in their opinion.
People who tune to PBS do not need someone to tell them what
the person is saying.
No Women Commentators?
Why when over 50% of all delegates, over 50% of all college graduates and over 50% of all voters are women do you have 3 "old white men" making comments about the speakers and our life experiences?
Certainly you could find at least 1 woman in the country who is qualified to give us commentary on the convention?
Why do some woman feel so
Why do some woman feel so threatened by a mans success Yet have no problem spending his money or asking for help?
internet site
Sirs: your site is absolute garbage. I attempted to order one of your DVD's four days ago. When I entered your site by typing in PBS.ORG a screen came up saying I had the book I requested in my 'cart'. It also said my internet address was not found in your system. Somewhat difficult to believe since you had found my order from my typing PBS.ORG in Google. I called your customer service number to find out what was happening on August 24th and again on the 26th and both times was assured that my order would be processed and the e-mail address question would be resolved.
I also requested verification of my password & your system said it would e-mail me this information in about three minutes. It has been 72 hours and not one e-mail.
The first woman to run for president of the United States
Some of the commentators and newsmen on WTTW last night still referred to Hillary Clinton as the first woman to run for the US presidency. UNTRUE!
Belva Lockwood, the first woman lawyer in Washington, D. C., was the first woman lawyer to present a case in the U. S. Supreme Court (1879). She and her vice presidential candidate, Mariette Stow, ran on the Equal Rights ticket in 1884 and eked out 6,000 of the 10 million votes cast. Ms. Lockwood was THE FIRST WOMAN TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
Please advise all PBS and NPR personnel of this. Otherwise they make false claims re. Hillary Clinton.
A Question for Mr. Getler
Mr. Getler:
Who decides what topics you will address? And how are these addressed publicly?
Thank you,
A Huge PBS Fan
What do people most often
What do people most often complain about to you? I've read a couple of your columns and it seems you're always having to address PBS's bias to one side or the other of the political spectrum.
Mr. Getler: your opinion please
How has the shift from journalist (what I would call an external critic) to ombudsman (internal critic) changed your point of view? Has the professional shift changed how you teach students about journalism?
I have a local cable
I have a local cable television broadcast. I film, edit, and produce the broadcast in my office and provide a dvd to the television station. I am charged an amount each month for the air time. However, I inquired from the public access channel 53 at Cableone and I was informed that all public access was from PBS and not local customers. I want to air my broadcast without costs under the public access programming. How do I accomplish this if the station makes me pay a fee?
I thoroughly enjoyed
I thoroughly enjoyed watching every single evening of the Democratic National Convention!. It has'nt been this good since the former President Bill Clinton's era. My question to you is; "Will there be dvd recording for sale of the Democratic National Convention"? I would be estatic have my very own copy to share with my grandchildren. Please advise
Media Coverage on CNN and MSNBC
I know that Fox News will offer very biased news coverage, but am shocked that CNN and MSNBC have been spending the day on repeating over and over Republican attacks; repeating attack ad lines and talking for hours now about the inappropriate stage set for tonight's stadium speech. What do they not understand about what is happening to our country and what people care about? Our endless war, our near-depression economy, the earth's sturggling climate, our
terrible struggle for health insurance coverage, our collapse of city schools, corporate pollution,
corporate welfare, corporate corruption...not to mention FEMA as a new hurricane hurdles toward
New Orleans.
WE DESERVE BETTER! THIS IS OUR COUNTRY AND WE WANT YOU (MEDIA) TO TALK ABOUT :
ISSUES AND ANSWERS.
WAKE UP OR WE WILL STOP LISTENING TO YOU ALTOGETHER.
Biz kids
I really enjoyed Sunday 8/23 in the morning when the biz kids showed a piece on entrepreneurship and accounting. I teach accounting at Belen High School and would like to obtain a copy of this show. Can you tell me how to do this? I think it would be really great to show my students.
Our school filters do not always allow emails to get through so if someone can call me at work: 966-1319 or leave a message on my machine at home I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you!!!
Sheri Johnson-Spader
Topic seeks DVD of Democratic Convention?
Why doesn't PBS help with this simple request for HISTORIC DVD of Democratic Convention? is/was it Copyrighted? if so, who owns copyright? WWHERE can we acqure bona-fide coyrighted DVD of it? Does PBS have acccess to any? I too, desre an authorized copy of that HISTORY-MAKING event for myself and grand-kids.(Preferably without reporter Punditry).
convention coverage
I was shocked, shocked that the PBS coverage of the Democratic Convention that I watched on Wednesday and Thursday failed to include any women as commentators. Two women were included as reporters on the convention floor, doing short interviews and, and one brief moment, being allowed to voice an opinion. For the rest of the 6 hours, the opinions came exclusively from the guys. Can't you folks find ANY women whose opinions you think might possibly be worth listening to?
I do not know about the rest
I do not know about the rest of America, but Mr. Obama did not fool me. He said absolutely nothing in his speech. He is completely full of fluff. He has no idea how to correct the war, correct the economy, and will carry the Clinton Plan in health care over which will destroy the great health care we have in America.
He is hiding the passing of a great tax burden to America in order to fund his socialized programs.
He plays on emotions of Americans by throwing in Martin Luther King and his mother and her struggle with health care.
I'm sorry, I don't buy it and if you do I have got some swamp land in Florida to sell you.
All of you Jimmy Carter voters, please do not get dragged into 4 years of Peanut farming again.
Let's see if the Republicans can put more substance into McCaines talk.
Obama doesn't have enough experieince to do this job and it shows.
Thank you,
Someone who wants to see America get through this
I was very surprised to hear
I was very surprised to hear the response this morning by the anchor person reporting in regards to Barrack Obama's challenge to Senator McCain to have a debate on whether or not Barrack had the temperament to be the next president of the Unioted States. A word was taken out of context and the next thing I am Hearing is that Senator McCain has a temper. And whether or nor Barrack has a temper? What is wrong with this writers? Don't they hear correctly? The definition for temperament is....The manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person:
I understood Barrack to have said that he would challenge Senator McCain to a debate on whether or not he (Barrack) had the temperament to be the next President of the United States. A lot different than whether he has a temper or not.
I am a Barrack Obama supporter and feel that this particular item needed to be corrected
koce bagathon
when is koce going to quit!!! it" 24/7 bagathon .There amercan helth jernal is nothing but a high end info camershal pull the plug give the two other pbs a chance
lehrar report - August 29, 2108
For me Jim Lehrar has always been a news program that I could count on for factual news and not innuendo and personal interpretations. No longer. I can now put it in the same category as CNN and as MSNBC. Fox was never a credible news channel as far as I was concerned. Maybe Comedy Central has the best news program after all..... Gwen Iful and her cohorts seem to be the best PBS has to offer. Any comments on the state of today news presentations?
Flowers from China
I saw a show on pbs that explained china is the garden of the world with many veritys of flowers. And in the 1800 a man from Britin explored China and brought back many flowers including roese to england. I am trying to get more infromation about this subject and the mans name.
I have a sorta have a bet riding on this.:-)
Any help would be welcomed.
Viewer Favorites
Is there anyway to obtain a schedule of "Viewer Favorites"? We came by accident on "Sense & Sensibilit" today, and would like to turn it on other shows that we liked.
McCain has made me vote Democratic 2008
I have been a republican for 40 yrs and enjoyed it untill now. John McCain's VP Sara is a housewife, with responsibilities to her four
children that come first. Are we to believe that she is a heartbeat away from actually, legally, becomming our President, etc?
This shallow attempt to capture womens votes had made me think that McCain's thinking strategy is very poor and not considering the
reality check of illness and what will happen to the leadership. I am
so angry at this quick-fix for votes it made me change my party now.
I will vote the better ticket & stronger VP. I will also pray that Barack makes better decisions for our country. McCain is done!
Herb Love
Being a good soldier does
Being a good soldier does not entitle someone to the presidency. He must also show good judgement and be intelligent...very intelligent.McCains choice for VP is an embarassment. Here is a women that was mayor of a city with the population of Apple Valley and govenor for a little more than a year, of a state with the poulation of San Bernardino County. She somehow thinks she has the qualifications to be VP of the U.S. Iam anxious to see the first debates Oct. 2. I use to watch Joe Biden on CSpan. Whew, this guy knows his stuff. The GOP may not have enough time to educate her on foreign policy to take on Obama and Joe Biden. Since I am a Obama supporter, this being a blessing from God, showing McCains lack of good judgement ...
AGAIN
Taxes
So all of you think that by electing Obama that our great Country will be fixed, well think again people, he has flat out stated that he will raise taxes. And for all of us poor people that think Obama is someone that we can relate to, think again, unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Wake up people and think about the future of our great nation. Good Luck and GOD BLESS (you see I still believe in God and Country.
Well, If you make more than
Well, If you make more than $250,000 a year than you might see an increase. And if you do than shame on you for not wanting to pay your share. Obama plans to lower taxes for 95% of the people. Check out his web site and inform yourself. What you are saying is just plain rubbish
Democratic Government...
I used to be a proud democrat, but I began to feel very convicted over the parties stand on many of today’s issues. The Democratic Party has contradicted themselves so much, I switched parties. I can't for the life of myself figure out why all I hear from the democratic party now is "America Wants Change" yet our government is controlled by the Democratic Party...the very people who have caused our current economic problems and stress. They even voted to go to war, and now that its not as popular, they act as if President Bush alone started all this. If anyone has a brain, they need to use it and vote for McCain. He at least, is not someone who is indecisive, supports our troops, and doesn't always talk about his skin color. It’s not your heritage that makes the person, it’s the heart, caring about America’s people, not just yourself. A good president will practice what he preaches, not just make good speeches!
All we here from McCain is
All we here from McCain is what a war hero he was. He says he is for environmental issues and renewable energy but he never even showed up to even vote on them which counts as a negative vote. He is agianst gay and lesbian rights and the rights of women. Either for equal pay for equal work or the right for a woman to choose to end a pregnancy. Or for education and healthcare. Also, he sided with Bush on vetoing the Vets Bill allowing the vets to receive a education when they got out of the service. His reasoning when asked was because the government is short handed with military and we don't want to make it too attractive for them, they may want to get out McCain does not want to work evenings or weekends and yet he is seeking a job that might require a 90 hour work week. He will be hiding behind a skirt at the debates, because Obama and Biden will have to be careful not to seem like they are attacking Palin and offending the women they may be voting for her because of her gender. We women are smarter than that though, I say, find out what kind of qualifications she has. Our country is in a mess we don't need another 4 years with leadership like we have had.
The U.S. is spening upwards
The U.S. is spening upwards of closed to $10,000,000,000, dollars a month on the re-building and defense of Iraq. a war that Bush felt we should be in to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction that they never found. One of the few senators to oppose the war was Barack Obama. I encourage you to do your homework. Learn more about the policies of both candidates by going to their web sites. You are misleading yourself and other readers
palin's daughter
Did it bother anyone that Palin's teenage daughter was carrying her (downs syndrome) child? Here is a mother who passed off the responsiblity of her baby to her daughter. How much time would this woman have for this baby? If she wasn't holding the child her husband should have been but he obviously is too busy. If she is elected VP this child will be with caretakers constantly. I am all in favor of women having careers but someone has to care for the children and it shouldn't be the teenage daughter or some non family person.
McCain is an adulterous "CHEATER"
Obama needs to refocus the campaign on McCain, not Gov. Palin. McCain is a "CHEATER" who committed adultery against his first wife who was disabled by a car accident. The "CHEATER" label needs to be permanently tattoed on McCain. Besides, how can Gov. Palin, an alleged staunch supporter of morality, be proud of McCain? It doesn't say much about her morality, does it? Pass the word, please.
McCHEATER McCAIN
Sen. McCain is an adulterous "CHEATER". Why is McCain getting a free pass on this? Sen. Obama's campaign needs to refocus on Sen. McCain, not Gov. Palin. Sen. McCain committed adultery against his first wife who was disabled by a car accident and then dumped her for a 25 year old mega-millionaire. The "CHEATER" label needs to be permanently tattoed on McCain. Besides, how can Gov. Palin, allegedly a staunch supporter of morality, be proud of Sen. McCain? It doesn't say much about her morality or Sen. McCain's, does it? Pass the word, please.
Post new comment
- Keep your comments focused on the topic at hand.
- Don't use profanity, personal attacks or hate speech.
- Don't promote a business or raise money.
- When all else fails, think "Golden Rule": Treat others the way you'd like to be treated yourself.
We reserve the right to remove posts that don't follow these guidelines. By submitting comments, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which include more details.