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A Special Announcement from ‘Moyers & Company’
http://billmoyers.com/2013/11/15/special-announcement-from-moyers-company/A Special Announcement from ‘Moyers & Company’
November 15, 2013
by Bill Moyers
It’s been only three weeks since I announced that Moyers & Company would end, as originally planned, on January 3. It was time, I said, to turn the corner after all the years of meeting the deadlines and demands so integral to producing television. An hour broadcast every week — virtually handcrafted from many different parts — has been exciting and satisfying, even joyful to produce, but at this age and stage I was prepared to leave the field to the next generation.
What I could not anticipate was the response of our viewers. As my grandchildren would say, I was blown away. We received thousands of well-written and heartfelt messages. The outpouring is unmistakably about the importance of public broadcasting and the value many people place on our mission to offer a place for sane, calm and civil consideration of what is going on in the world.
Our funders also weighed in with an equally simple but passionate message: keep going. And they have backed those pleas with commitments of underwriting. So, I want to announce today that we indeed will continue with a half-hour weekly broadcast and multimedia offerings that will feature the trademark ideas, interviews and analysis that you have told us are important to you.
The final episode of our current series will air January 3. One week later — on January 10 — the first episode of the new series, still Moyers & Company, will premiere.
We’re very grateful for the enthusiasm and support.
– Bill Moyers
57 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
I really love his show. 
and the THREAT it represents.
He speaks on so many subjects no one else does...I am SO glad he's continuing. 
Thanks for the thread, G_j.
... a bright beam of Democracy in a dark time in our country's history. I smile every time I see his face. A gentle giant, but a giant nonetheless. 
.
. . . and I'm glad I did. Because I would have been crestfallen, and for no reason! 
Things in ()'s and "..." are mine. The bold face is mine too - they didn't raise their voices at these points.
They are discussing mainstream media reporting on the Iraq War in this part:
AMY GOODMAN: Unfortunately in this country I have to disagree with you Charlie respectfully on the issue of NBC, CBS, and ABC — they have provided a very serious disservice to the people of this country when it comes to a true debate around war. Most people are opposed to war yet the vast majority of guests across the board on the networks are for war. They’re a parade of retired generals and -
CHARLIE ROSE: You can make that argument and look at it. That’s not the point I was taking. The point I was making is it’s not dictated by with whoever the corporate ownership is. I promise you that — they are not dictating. They are not saying we want you to have more generals who are in favor of the war than you have generals who are in opposition to the war; that’s just not the way it works.
AMY GOODMAN: They don’t have to say that. They hire the people who will do just that.
CHARLIE ROSE: The argument I have with respect is Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, and Dan Rather — a whole range of people — are journalists who have paid their dues and they are very competent journalists (etc. etc. snip)
AMY GOODMAN: I could only say that during the Persian Gulf War what we saw on NBC and CBS, NBC owned by General Electric–at the time CBS was owned by Westinghouse — two of the major nuclear weapons manufacturers in the world — I don’t think it was any accident that what we saw on TV was a military hardware show.
... (some more back and forth)
CHARLIE ROSE: You are suggesting that because they choose the people. I'm just saying that this is a debate for another time which I’m happy to have them come and talk about that.
AMY GOODMAN: Let me quote Dan Rather himself on BBC — he says he thinks he would be necklaced. He thinks he that he cannot simply speak out and ask the kinds of questions that should be asked. That’s quoting Dan Rather.
CHARLIE ROSE: (hemming and hawing and more hemming and hawing)
CHARLIE ROSE: You can make that argument and look at it. That’s not the point I was taking. The point I was making is it’s not dictated by with whoever the corporate ownership is. I promise you that — they are not dictating. They are not saying we want you to have more generals who are in favor of the war than you have generals who are in opposition to the war; that’s just not the way it works.
AMY GOODMAN: They don’t have to say that. They hire the people who will do just that.
CHARLIE ROSE: The argument I have with respect is Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, and Dan Rather — a whole range of people — are journalists who have paid their dues and they are very competent journalists (etc. etc. snip)
AMY GOODMAN: I could only say that during the Persian Gulf War what we saw on NBC and CBS, NBC owned by General Electric–at the time CBS was owned by Westinghouse — two of the major nuclear weapons manufacturers in the world — I don’t think it was any accident that what we saw on TV was a military hardware show.
... (some more back and forth)
CHARLIE ROSE: You are suggesting that because they choose the people. I'm just saying that this is a debate for another time which I’m happy to have them come and talk about that.
AMY GOODMAN: Let me quote Dan Rather himself on BBC — he says he thinks he would be necklaced. He thinks he that he cannot simply speak out and ask the kinds of questions that should be asked. That’s quoting Dan Rather.
CHARLIE ROSE: (hemming and hawing and more hemming and hawing)
More: video and transcript (the fun part on the video begins at about 13:40 - the video is SOOO much better than the transcript above because its easier to follow and you get to see Amy Goodman in attack dog mode and poor Charlie getting beaten down and trying to come up with something, and trying to talk down to her. And Amy Goodman's little victory smile right at the end
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2013/3/19/video_2003_charlie_rose_interview_with_amy_goodman_about_iraq_war_protests
Now if all Charlie Rose shows were like that, I'd be happy if PBS trashes its whole lineup and broadcasts Charlie Rose 24/7/365 (366 in leap years)
What a great public service. His show is a bulwark against ignorance and apathy.
*I* am blown away that he's going to keep going...I guess he'll never get that damned LBJ book done!
Great, great news. Thank you for the glad tidings -- can't wait to see everything else this guy does.
