Mpt

For the last two weeks, I have done everything I could to get people to watch "The Learning," an illuminating documentary about the lives of four Filipina teachers who are recruited to teach in Baltimore City Schools. I have blogged, and here's a link to that. I have gone on WYPR radio to talk about it, and here's a link to that. I am upset that Maryland Public Television is airing at 10:30 tonight (Sept. 25) on its digital channel 22.2 only. It debuted Tuesday night on public televisions  stations nationwide.

Baltimore's only televised mayoral debate wasn't much of an event Monday night. In fact, it was so flat and empty in terms of providing citizens with any insights into the candidates that all of us in the media should probably be a little ashamed that this is as good as Baltimore TV can do in a mayoral election. Some of the blame surely falls on Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who clearly did not make it easy for any station to herd her and her challengers in front of the TV cameras more than once.

Baltimore's only televised debate among incumbent Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and all her challengers will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 and be hosted by Maryland Public Television at its Owings Mills Studio, according to a campaign spokeswoman for the mayor and a news executive at WBFF (Channel 45), which has agreed to stream the debate online and carry it on tape delay. MPT had not yet confirmed the details, but a spokesman for the public brodacsting outlet said they would have an announcement later today.

With regard to the piece on state-run public TV, David Zurawik gets to the heart of the matter when he says, "the community-based formula, as practiced at WETA in Washington, is vastly superior in terms of guaranteeing editorial independence and community access. " ("Chris Christie's take on state-run public TV outlets — like MPT," July 5.) While Gov. Martin O'Malley may be completely blameless, the door is wide open for the abuse of power by less-then-honorable officials.

Don't let your feelings one way or the other about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stop you from thinking dispassionately about what he has to say about the perils of state-run public television systems like the one we have in Maryland. Christie, a conservative, has been trying to get his state out of the public television business in an effort to cut ballooning state government costs. Maryland has most or all of the same kinds of money problems. And like New Jersey, Maryland is one of the states where the state, not a non-profit citizens group, holds the license, provides funds and controls content on the statewide public television operation.

Dan Rodricks ' article, "MPT's flawed decision on flawed film" (June 19) is on the button. Mr. Rodricks' article may have been about MPT, but it highlights what is wrong with our heath care system. The MPT film, "Under our Skin: A health Care nightmare" is bound to get under the skin of most Infectious diseases specialists who study and treat Lyme disease. The film's premise, that chronic Lyme disease, requiring treatment with long term antibiotics is an epidemic condition, is neither an objective nor a proven observation but mere speculation and exaggeration by patients who suffer from a hodge podge of nebulous symptoms and doctors who are willing to bet their licenses that those symptoms are related to persistent Lyme disease.

Thanks to Maryland Public Television for scheduling the airing of "Under our Skin" ("MPT airing deeply flawed film about Lyme disease," June 19). A controversy in medicine is not a new thing, and the push to stop the airing of this film is quite telling. It's great to know that MPT is still in the business of free speech. Bravo. K. Meyer, Vienna, Va.

Maryland Public Television is set to air a polemical film about Lyme disease that is built on fear-provoking speculations and assertions while advancing a central message that has been discredited by experts in infectious diseases. Despite being apprised of the film's serious flaws, MPT has "Under Our Skin: A Health Care Nightmare" on its afternoon schedule for June 26. Other stations throughout the Public Broadcasting Service also have "Under Our Skin: on their schedules; some already aired it. The program was distributed free to stations by the National Educational Telecommunications Association.

With the state of Maryland looking hard for budget cuts, and Maryland Public Television looking for new leadership as it loses audience, membership and funding, the time seems right to seriously consider whether Annapolis should be in the television business. It might seem like an unconventional idea. But if Maryland can't do better than it has in recent years, it should sell the license or lease operational control of MPT to a local nonprofit group. That is not as bold and unprecedented a move as it might seem; New Jersey is trying to do just that with NJN, its public broadcasting operation.

Public television stations, including Maryland Public Television (MPT), are America's largest classroom. Federal funding provides is vital for MPT, which is locally owned and operated. Those funds support educational programming with content often not given needed attention by commercial broadcasting stations. This week, public broadcasting faces withdrawal of support by opponents in Congress. This action would be a serious mistake. Maryland Public Television has a $29 million annual budget, of which less than 10 percent comes from federal appropriations.