Programming threatened as Louisiana Public

A brief conversation with Louisiana Public Broadcasting President Beth Courtney makes one thing clear: She does not mince words.

It's apparent, as well, that she will not let her station go down without a fight.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is funded partially through the Public Broadcasting System, and the head of the latter is nearly always on the chopping block. Federal funds pay a portion of the bills for PBS, and in turn pay a portion of the bills for LPB.

Last month the U.S. House Republicans announced legislation aimed at cutting off federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes PBS, saying it could get along just fine without taxpayer help.

"Just because you have a bookstore doesn't mean you don't need libraries," Courtney said. "I'm not going quietly into the night."

The move comes on the heels of PBS' record 58 Emmy Awards nominations. The mass following of "Downton Abby" alone has pushed public broadcasting into a new dimension where young adults tune in at the rate of small children to "Sesame Street." That is to say, PBS is hip.

The state of Louisiana has been chipping away at LPB's budget since 2008; it's now down 37 percent. Another nearly $2 million in cuts from the federal government could be the death blow.

"You get ($2 million) with the decline in state funding, and it would be devastating to our budget," Courtney said. "That money is really important."

If the proposed cuts pass, Louisiana residents would lose local programming first. That includes "Louisiana Public Square," "The State We're In," "Atchafalaya Houseboat" and dozens of other programs that tell Louisiana's stories of creek banks, farm houses and skyscrapers.

Much of the PBS/LPB programming that goes to DVD or book ends up in Central Louisiana libraries.

"I was surprised at the variety and substance of material we have (in the parish library system)," said Rapides Parish Library Director Steve Rogge. "The latest is a documentary called 'Too Important to Fail' -- it's about African-American teenagers and the dropout rate. And there are materials on the Dust Bowl and Huey Long -- solid topics."

It's losing the children's programming, though, that would be most detrimental.

"What LPB does for our school children is amazing," said Carole Baxter, a Friends of LPB board member from Alexandria.

PBS/LPB is not just "Clifford, the Big Red Dog" and "Arthur." Children's educational programming is top priority for LPB. Louisiana educators avail themselves of LPB's materials to makes ends meet in the classrooms.

"Teachers can download programming to their (digital devices, including Promethean Boards)," Baxter said. "They can't get things off the internet because of all the (potential viruses). They can download this programming safely."

Angie Delrie, Library Media Specialist at W.O. Hall Elementary, said PBS Kids is an invaluable resource.

"They have such a wide range of subject areas and interesting topics," she said. "I don't think teachers or parents realize how many resources are at their fingertips."

The funding strain could be the reason, Delrie said. She said she hasn't seen much literature available to promote PBS Kids.

"A child or even a teacher could be on for days and never access all the resources," Delrie said. "And it's all free."

Free resources to teachers is more important now than ever, as the Louisiana education system is revamped this year.

"With our new common core, (PBS Kids) gives the kids a technology base for their learning," Delrie said. "We are to provide every type of learning we can to the kids. PBS provides technology learning, and through handouts I can print out for activities, it provides hands-on learning."