On Nov. 18, the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC) is poised to sever ties between Alabama Public Television and the Public Broadcasting System. The commission is also toying with the idea of keeping PBS but eliminating PBS public affairs programming such as the PBS News Hour. To make matters worse, the commission plans to make this decision in a Birmingham conference room too small for more than a handful of interested Alabamians to attend.
Our friend Elaine Witt has put together the amazing tool kit below with more information and a guide to contacting the Governor’s office, APTV and the individual ATEC members. Thank you Elaine!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Join us this Wednesday, November 12th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing (4500 5th Ave S Building, 35222) as we write postcards to both APTV and the Alabama Educational Television Commission. We will hand deliver them to the Governor’s office and to APTV offices.
- Email public officials involved in this decision to share your opinion. Sample email template and below.
- Call the office of Gov. Kay Ivey, who appoints this commission. Sample telephone script and phone number below.
- Call or email your Alabama House Representative or Alabama Senator to express your concern. Ask them to please intervene to stop Alabama Public Television from cutting ties with the Public Broadcasting System, and let them know if you are an APT member. Or adapt one of the templates below. You can find their contact information here.
If you do not know who your elected Representative and Senator are, find your address on this map.
- Show up for the next public meeting of the Alabama Educational Television Commission, at 10 am on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 2112 11th Ave South, Suite 400, Birmingham, AL 35205. We may not all get into the room, but media will be there to capture our turnout. Feel free to bring a small sign supporting the partnership between APT and PBS. Sample messaging: APT & PBS Belong Together *** LISTEN to your members: Keep PBS!
KEY TALKING POINTS
- APT is a treasured Alabama institution that has been educating Alabamians and enriching their lives for 70 years.
- APT members should have access to any discussion that could cause the loss of 90 percent of APT’s programming; this discussion should not take place in a tiny conference room.
- APT has many thousands of members, nearly all of whom will probably cancel their memberships, and perhaps demand their contributions back, if they can no longer access PBS programming via APT’s four digital channels or the popular PBS Passport app. Losing these loyal members and having to refund their money will ultimately lead to the death of APT.
- PBS educational resources for teaching basics like reading and math are vital in schoolrooms throughout Alabama. These resources will be lost if APT severs ties with PBS.
- Members of the AETC have been quoted in press reports to say they want to cut ties with PBS because the president doesn’t like it. These commissioners should be ashamed to put politics above the concerns of more than 20,000 APT contributors, many, many more APT viewers and Alabama schoolchildren.
SAMPLE SCRIPTS
Sample Telephone Script for Gov. Kay Ivey (334-242-7100): Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m a voter from [CITY]. I am opposed to the elimination of programming from the Public Broadcasting System on Alabama Public Television, as is proposed by members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission. As an APT (contributor/viewer), I am asking the governor to intervene in what would be a reckless action by a board she appointed.
Sample Email Script to Gov. Kay Ivey
Dear Governor Ivey,
I am a (FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO/VIEWER OF) Alabama Public Television, and I am alarmed to hear of the proposed severing of ties between APT and the Public Broadcasting System. I (SUPPORT/WATCH) APT because I value programs like the PBS New Hour, Nature and American Masters, as well as children’s programs like Sesame Street.
APT is a treasured Alabama institution with a 70-year history of educating Alabamians. Cutting ties with PBS will quickly lead to the loss of APT altogether. The more than 20,000 viewers who support APT through their donations cannot be expected to continue giving if they can no longer access PBS programming via APT’s four digital channels or the popular PBS Passport app. Some will certainly ask for their money back.
The loss of PBS will also mean the loss of valuable teaching tools that have supported teachers throughout Alabama for generations.
I am writing in hopes you, as governor, will intervene in what would be a reckless action by a board that you appoint.
Respectfully,
(YOUR NAME, CITY)
Sample Email to APT and individual AETC Members (addresses below):
Dear (NAME OF RECIPIENT)
I am a (FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO/VIEWER OF) Alabama Public Television, and I am alarmed to hear of the proposed severing of ties between APT and the Public Broadcasting System. I (support/watch) APT because I value programs like the PBS New Hour, Nature and American Masters, as well as children’s programs like Sesame Street. Please consider my concerns, as stated below:
– Without PBS, there will be no APT. The more than 20,000 viewers who support APT through their donations cannot be expected to continue giving if they can no longer access PBS programming via APT’s four digital channels or the PBS Passport app. Some will certainly ask for their money back.
– The loss of PBS will also mean the loss of valuable teaching tools that have supported teachers throughout Alabama for decades.
– Members of the unelected board that controls APT have been quoted to say they want to cut ties with PBS because politicians they support don’t like it. These commissioners should be ashamed to put politics above the interests of thousands of APT members, viewers and schoolchildren.
– I would like to voice my concerns to the board that controls APT, or at least have access to the Nov. 18 meeting where this proposal will be discussed. I am told this meeting will be in a small conference room, which is highly inappropriate for the discussion of something that matters so much to so many Alabamians. I ask that you find a larger, more suitable space for this meeting, and allow public comments.
Respectfully,
(YOUR NAME, CITY)
CONTACT INFO
Click here to email Gov. Kay IveyWrite to the Commission here, via APTSign the online petition here
Write to individual members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which controls APT:
* Mr. Ferris W. Stephens, Chairman, Birmingham (6th congressional district) ferrisstephens@bellsouth.net
* Ms. Bebe Williams, Vice-Chair, Huntsville (5th congressional district) bebe67williams@gmail.com
* Mr. J. Holland, Secretary, Gadsden (4th congressional district) jholland31@comcast.net
* Ms. Tijuanna Adetunji, Montgomery (2nd congressional district) tyadetunji@gmail.com
* Mr. Les Barnett, Mobile (1st congressional district) hlbarnett@southalabama.edu
* Mr. Pete Conroy, Jacksonville (3rd congressional district) pconroy@jsu.edu
* Mr. William A. Green, Jr., Montgomery (7th congressional district) (email address unavailable)
BACKGROUND READING & VIEWING
- Alabama Public Television could lose millions, members and programs if they drop PBS (AL.com)
- APT considers dropping PBS programming (WBRC 6 News)
- Alabama Public Television may drop PBS programming (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
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