Advanced search
Publication Cover
The Communication Review Volume 5, 2002 - Issue 3
Submit an article Journal homepage
50
Views
3
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

The Contested Meaning of Public Service in American Television

Michael P. Mccauley Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine
Pages 207-237 | Published online: 17 Sep 2010

  • Abrams , E. B. 1954 . Educational TV--In two years: Plenty of dreams but only seven stations . Broadcasting-Telecasting , July 26 : 82 – 88 .
  • A. F. of L.0 Milwaukee Lubor Press . November 27 1952 . TV station nearer as suit falls , November 27 , 3 Slate Historical Society of Wisconsin Periodical Microfilms .
  • Aufderheide , P. 1999 . Communications policy and the public interest , New York and London : The Guilford Press .
  • Barnouw , E. 1966 . A lower in Babel , New York : Oxford University Press .
  • Barnouw , E. 1968 . The golden web , New York : Oxford University Press .
  • Bedford , K. E. 1995 . What to kill first? . Current , January 16 Reprinted by Current Online. Retrieved from: http://www.current.org/ino501.html
  • Benjamin , L. 1998 . Working it out together: Radio policy from Hoover to the Radio Act of 1927 . Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media , 42 (2} ) : 221 – 36 .
  • Blakely , R. J. 1979 . To serve the public interest: Educational broadcasting in the United States , Syracuse : Syracuse University Press .
  • Blumler , J. G. , ed. 1992 . Television and the public interest: Vulnerable values in West European broadcasting , London : Sage .
  • Spigel , L. 1992 . Make room for TV: Television and the family ideal in postwar America , Chicago : University of Chicago Press .
  • Starr , J. M. 2000 . Air war: The fight to reclaim public broadcasting , Boston : Beacon Press .
  • 1953 . Statement of Purposes and Minutes of the Organization Meeting of the Wisconsin Committee on State-Owned Tux-Supported Television . November 23 1953 . ZAITZ Papers4
  • Sterling , C. H. and Kittross , J. M. 1990 . Stay tuned: A concise history of American broadcasting, , (2nd ed.} , Belmont, CA : Wadsworth .
  • Streeter , T. 1996 . Selling the air: A critique of the policy of commercial broadcasting in the United States , Chicago : University of Chicago Press .
  • Swanton , M. 1954a . Wisconsin citizens back educational television . Wisconsin Journal of Education , February Box 1. Folder 3, WCCET Papers1
  • Swanton , M. 1954b . Educational TV referendum . Statement following the defeated referendum , Box 7, Folder 012, WHA Papers2
  • Television Station WHA-TV, Summary of Broadcasts Of First Three Months: May 3-JuIy 30, (1954}. Box 3, Folder 10, ENGEL Papers3.
  • Thompson , W. F. 1988 . The history of Wisconsin, volume VI: Continuity and change, 1940-1965 , Madison : Stale Historical Society of Wisconsin .
  • 1950 . Move for educ'l video channels gains momentum . Variety , December 6 : 30
  • 1972 . CPB Authorization bill shot down . Broadcasting , July 3 : 6
  • 1951a . Inside stuff-Television . Variety , January 31 : 32
  • 1951b . 12 colleges in WBAL cduc'l video series . Variety , February 14 : 22
  • 1951c . Inside stuff--Television . Variety , February 14 : 34
  • 1951d . Education lakes over Detroit TV . Variety , February 21 : 28
  • 1951e . D.C. station's plunge into classroom education by iele gets general kudos . Variety , March 21 : 26
  • 1951f . Ford Foundation's 90G grant. U.S. mayors spur to educ'l TV . Variety , May 2 : 49
  • 1952a . Cut out radio-TV confusion': B'Casters chart industry future . Variety , April 2 : 1
  • 1952b . TV's $41,600,000 black ink: 1951 net nudges AM's $61,800,000 . Variety , August 20 : 1
  • 1952c . $5,000,000 Educ'l TV system to blanket Minn. on univ. agenda . Variety , October 15 : 31
  • 1952d . Memphis suions mull TV station: Need 500G . Variety , October 22 : 37
  • 1979 . Rewrite written off . Broadcasting , July 16 : 24
  • 1953 . CBS moving in with own 26-univ. project where educ'l TV can't tread . Variety , March 25 : 49
  • 1954 . Lee skeptical of educ'l channels, asks reappraisal. Box 7, Folder 011, WHA Papers2 . Variety , June 23
  • 1971 . OTP's Whitehcad denies a "threat" on CPB funding . Variety , November 31 : 64
  • 1972 . Whitehead on "Private 4th Network.” . Variety , September 20 : 24
  • Votes Cast for Referenda Questions (1954}. November 2. Box 2, Folder 7, WCCET Papers1.
  • 1954 . Church backs state TV net . Waukesha Daily Freeman , June 5
  • Weintraub , J. 1994 . Opinions Vary on Subsidy of Public TV . Milwaukee Journal , December 8 : B3
  • 1954 . County unit opposes Wisconsin-owned TV . Whitehall Tunes , September 30 Box 6, Folder 003, WHA Papers2
  • 1954 . Speak for yourself. John. Mss . White-witter Register , July 30 Box 4, Folder 2. WCCET Papers1
  • Wisconsin Citizens Committee for Educational Television . Meeting of the Executive Committee . May 14 . Box 2. Folder 1. WCCET Papers1
  • 1981 . Reagan transition's verdict on CPB: Termination with extreme prejudice . Broadcasting , January 26 : 26
  • Wisconsin Republican Party . 1954 . Resolution on state-sponsored broadcasting Copy obtained from Box 4. Folder 2. ENGEL Papers1
  • 1952a . Regents eye fund for TV . Wisconsin Slate Journal , May 10 Box 3. Folder 8, WCCET Papers1
  • 1952b . Closed TV gels nod at U.W . Wisconsin Suite Journal , May 11 Box 3. Folder 8. WCCET Papers1
  • 1953a . County CIO backs… TV net. Box 6, Polder 014, WHA Papers2 . Wisconsin State Journal , March 31
  • 1953b . FCC grants state council TV permit . Wisconsin State Journal , October 8 Box 3, Holder 8, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954a . Teachers must learn Io use TV . Wisconsin State Journal , April 25 : 1 sec. 3. Box 4, Folder 2, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954b . WHA-TV goes on the air on May 3 . Wisconsin State Journal , April 25 : 1 sec.3, Box 4, Folder 2, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954c . State TV net opposed by republicans . Wisconsin State Journal , June 13 Box 4, Folder 2, ENGEL Papers1
  • 1954d . State-operated TV setup hit . Wisconsin State Journal , September 16 Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEL Papers3
  • 1954e . Bishops oppose state TV plan . Wisconsin State Journal , October 16 Box 4, Folder 2, WCCET Papers1
  • 1950 . Reserve channels, youth group urges . Broadcastin-Telecasting , December 18 : 60
  • 1954f . Council of churches backs educational TV . Wisconsin State Journal , October 18 Box 6, Folder 012, WHA Papers2
  • 1954g . Keep Educational TV Alive . Wisconsin Slate Journal , October 29 Box 4, Folder 3, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954 . Tax-paid TV not justified--Finding . Wisconsin Tax News , : 1 Microfilm Newspaper Collection. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, reel P80-3378
  • Witherspoon , J. and Kovitz , R. 2000 . A History of Public Broadcasting, with an update by R. K. Avery and A. G. Stavitsky , Washington : Current .
  • Wyngaard , J. 1954a . British writer interested in Wisconsin TV proposal . Green Bay Press-Gazette , February 1 ZAITZ Papers4
  • Wyngaard , J. 1954b . Wisconsin taxpayer shells out almost 2 billion dollars . Junesville Gazette , May 20 Box 7. Folder 012. WHA Papers2
  • 1951a . Educators' survey: Highlights JCET hearing testimony . Broadcasting-Telecasting , January 29 : 63
  • 1951b . TV at the Stretch . Broadcasting-Telecasting , May 14 : 73
  • 1951c . TV 'Rule of Five' . Broadcasting-Telecasting , May 21 : 62
  • 1953 . Groups criticize N.Y. TV report . Broadcasting-Telecasting , March 9 : 85
  • Brown , R. and Petrozzello , D. 1996 . Industry gives thumbs-up Io bill . Broadcasting & Cable , February 5 : 12 – 13 .
  • 1953a . Say legislature, Kohler aid Hearst TV in Milwaukee . Capital Times , May 18 : 8 Box 3. Folder 8, WCCET Papers'
  • 1953b . We should have educational T.V. and one-party television should be prohibited . Capital Times , May 21 Box 3, Folder 8, WCCHT Papers'
  • 1954 . Farmers oppose slate TV network . Capital Times , October 14 Box 4. Folder 2. WCCET Papers1
  • 1993 . Milo Swanton, Mr. Agriculture, dies. Obtained through The Madison Newspapers web site . Capital Times , March 18 Available: http://www.madison.com
  • Carmody , J. 1994 . The TV Column . Washington Post , December 28 : D6
  • Cheney , M. R. 1976 . The utilization of educational television in higher education: WILLTV and the University of Illinois as a case study , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . Unpublished masters thesis
  • 1953 . Why hurry? . Christian Science Monitor , February 5 Box 2. Folder 6. WCCET Papers1
  • Coase , R. H. 1968 . Educational television: Who should pay? . Educational Broadcasting Review , 2 (2} ) April : 5 – 13 .
  • Colsou , C. July 9 1971 . “ Memo to H. R. Haldeman ” . In Richard Nison's secret files , Edited by: Oudes , B. July 9 , New York : Harper and Row .
  • 1967 . House . Congressional Record , : 26381 – 26417 .
  • 1994 . Gingrich wants to "zero-out" federal funding to CPB . Current , December 12 Reprinted by Current Online. Available: http://www.current.org/mo423.html
  • 1954 . Two sides of the fence on 'educational television' . De Pew Journal-Democrat , August 25 Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEL Papers1
  • Dickcrson , L. 2000 . “ Restructuring public radio and television in Wisconsin ” . A report to Wisconsin's restructuring public broadcasting and funding digital television transition committee
  • 1954 . 'Unbiased' survey by biased group . Dam County Advocate , January 1 Box 3, Folder 7, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954 . The pioneer stations. Sidebar article in Special Issue on the Second Anniversary of FCC Order Reserving Educational TV Channels . Educational Television News , Box 3, Folder 7, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954 . Statement by MiIo K. Swanton . Educational TV Referendum , Box 7, Folder 12, WHA Papers2
  • Educational Television: Wisconsin . 1953 . Excerpt from Municipal Yearbook. 1953 Box 7, Folder 009. General Subject Files, WHA Papers2
  • 1954 . Fellowship of Churches endorse educational TV . Bloomington Record , October 27 Box 6, Folder 012, WHA Papers2
  • 1954 . Taxes and television . Fand du Lac Commonwealth Reporter , July Box 4, Folder 2, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954 . Guy Clark reports slate FU convention highlights . Frederick Leader-Star , October 27 Box 6, Folder 012, WHA Papers2
  • Gaventa , J. 1980 . Power and powerlessness: Quiescence and rebellion in an Appalachian valley , Urbana : University of Illinois Press .
  • Gibson , G. H. 1977 . Public broadcasting: The role of the federal government, 1912-76 , New York : Praeger .
  • Could , J. 1953 . Incredible document: Report on educational video is shameful . New York Times , March 1 Box 2, Folder 6, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954a . State TV opposed by towns' assn . Green Buy Press-Gazette , August 30 Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEL Papers3
  • 1954b . Legislative Council lakes no TV stand . Green Bay Press-Gazette , October 27 Box 6, Folder 014, WHA Papers2
  • Hoynes , W. 1994 . Public television fur sale: Media, the market, und the public sphere , Boulder : Westview Press .
  • November 23 1953 . “ Individuals listed as being involved in organization of the 'Wisconsin Committee on StateOwned Tax-Supported Television' ” . November 23 , Box 3, Folder 7, WCCFT Papers1
  • Introductory comments by Andre Pertain and Arch Ely . November 23 1953 . “ Organization Meeting of the Wisconsin Committee on Stale-Owned Tax Supported Television ” . November 23 , ZAITZ Papers4
  • Junesville Gazette (n.d.}. Time for action by TV opposition.
  • 1951 . Robbing the taxpayers for a privileged few . Janesville Gazette , March 27 Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEI, Papers4
  • 1954a . 8-county conference opposes slate TV . Janesville Gazette , October 18 Box 6, Folder 003, WHA Papers2
  • 1954b . Milk producers say 'no' to TV . Janesville Gazette , October 27 Box 6, Folder 003, WHA Papers2
  • 1954 . C of C against state TV plan . Kenosha Evening News , October 7 Box 6, Folder 003, WHA Papers2
  • 1995 . Language: A key mechanism for control . EXTRA! Update , February Available: http://www.fair.org/extra/9502/language-control.html
  • Ledbetter , J. 1997 . Made possible by …: The death of public broadcasting in the United Stales , London and New York : Verso .
  • 1954 . Rural voters urged to O.K. educational TV . Maustam Star , October 28 Box 6, Folder 012, WHA Papers7
  • MuChesney , R. W. 1993 . Telecommunications, mass media and democracy: The battle for the control of U.S. broadcasting, 1928-1935 , New York : Oxford University Press .
  • McChesncy , R. W. 1999 . Rich media, poor democracy: Communication politics in dubious times , Urbana : University of Illinois Press .
  • Measures Pertaining to Educational Television in the 1953 Wisconsin Legislature (1953}. Box 2, Folder 6, WCCET Papers1.
  • Members of the Wisconsin Committee on State-Owned Tax-Supported Television (n.d.}. ZAITZ Papers4.
  • May 7 1952 . “ Memorandum on Organizational Meeting of Wisconsin Citizens Committee for Educational Television ” . May 7 , Box 2, Folder 1, WCCFT Papers1
  • Meyer , R. J. 1967 . The development of educational television councils in New York Slate , New York University . Unpublished doctoral dissertation
  • 1952a . State Granted 51 Channels fur Television. Microfilm Newspaper Collection. State Historical Society of Wisconsin . Milwaukee Journal , April 14 reel P3795
  • 1952b . Zeidler veto counters educational TV slap . Milwaukee Journal , October 26 Box 3, Holder 8, WCCET Papers1
  • 1953 . N.Y. report opposes expense of stale TV . Milwaukee Journal , March 1 Box 4, older 1, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954a . State's laxes 29th highest . Milwaukee Journal , September 5 Box 7, holder 012, WHA Papers4
  • 1954b . Oppose stale TV network, report of committee . Milwaukee Journal , September 10 Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEL Papers1
  • 1954c . A. of C. favors 'no' TV vole . Milwaukee Journal , October 22 Box 6, Folder 003, WHA Papers2
  • 1954a . GOP raps stale radio net. terms school TV 'socialistic.' . Milwaukee Sentinel , June 13 : 2A Microfilm Newspaper Collection. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, reel P68-1554
  • 1954b . What about educational TV?-No. 3: pilot station devotes roost of lime to adults. General Subject Files . Milwaukee Sentinel , October 22 Box 7, Folder 012, WIIA Papers3
  • 1954 . Minutes of WCCCT Board Meeting . January 22 1954 . 1954. Box 2, Folder 3, WCCKT Papers1
  • 1954 . State TV is 'caviar und cake before bread,' hearing is told . Musinee Times , July 7 Box 6, Folder 012, WHA Papers2
  • NAB . 2001 . “ On the Bucks of Broadcasters: The Truth and Consequences of Campaign Finance Reform ” . NAB Campaign Finance Kit . Available: http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/lssues/campaignfinance/default.asp
  • 1964 . Rights . NAB Highlights , August 31 : 3
  • 1967 . Speaking of broadcasting . NAB Highlights , May 15 : 3
  • 1968 . Speaking of broadcasting . NAB Highlights , May 13 : 2
  • 1971 . Who owns the airwaves . NAB Hotline , August 18
  • 1951 . Some propaganda of your own . NARTB Member Service--Confidential TV Newsletter , May 15 : 2
  • 1952 . Petition planned to ask FCC redefinition of 'educational.' . NARTB Member Service--Confidential TV Newsletter , July 7 : 2
  • 1954 . Commercial tops in cd-TV support . NARTB Member Service--Industry-Government Highlights , October 18 : 501
  • Nesbit , R. C. 1989 . Wisconsin: A history , (2nd ed.} , Edited by: Thompson , W.F. Madison : University of Wisconsin Press .
  • News Release . 1952 . “ Wisconsin Citizens' Committee for Educational Television ” . May 7, Box 2, Folder 1, WCCET Papers1
  • News Release . 1954 . “ Wisconsin Committee on State-Owned Tax-Supported Television, for release on September 16, 1954 ” . Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEL Papers4
  • Newspaper editorial comment: Need for more TV experimentation (1954}. Box 2. Folder 7, WCCET Papers1.
  • Origin of Wisconsin Citizens Committee for Educational Television . September 22 1952 . “ Remarks by Milo Swanton to the Wisconsin Legislative Council Hearing on Educational Television in Wisconsin ” . September 22 , Box 6. Folder 6, WCCET Papers1
  • 1954 . Stale taxed TV plan should be defeated . Oshkosh Daily Northwestern , September 17 Box 4, Folder 1, ENGEL Papers4
  • 1956 . Speaker calls for awareness. Historical Collection. Oshkosh Public Library. Oshkosh Organizations. Pro America Folder . Oshkosh Daily Northwestern , April 13
  • 1972 . Metropolitan government is monopoly say pro am speaker at luncheon. Historical Collection, Oshkosh Public Library. Oshkosh Organizations. Pro America Folder . Oshkosh Daily Northwestern ,
  • Peterson , A. April 13 1953 . “ Circular letter to WCCET supporters ” . April 13 , Box 2. Folder 6. WCCET Papers1
  • Powell , J. W. 1962 . Channels of learning: The story of educational television , Washington, D.C. : Public Affairs Press .
  • Rowland , W. D. Jr. 1986 . Continuing Crisis in Public Broadcasting: A History of Pisenfranchisement . Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media , 30 (3} ) : 251 – 74 .
  • 1953 . Editorial reprinted in A.F. of L. Milwaukee Labor Press . St. Louis Post Dispatch , November 25 : 8 State Historical Society of Wisconsin Periodical Microfilms
  • Severin , W. J. 1978 . Commercial vs. non-commercial radio during broadcasting's early years . Journal of Broadcasting , 22 (4} ) : 491 – 504 .
  • Smith , F. L. , Wright , J. W. and Ostroff , D. H. 1988 . Perspectives on Radio and Television: Telecommunications in the United States. , 4th ed. , Mahwab, NJ : Lawrence Erlhaum .

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Order Reprints Request Corporate Permissions

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

Request Academic Permissions

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.

Related research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.