2006 Press Releases
Yekaterinburg Journalism Students Learn About American Public Broadcasting
February 27, 2006
The U.S. Consulate General hosted a digital video conference for 20 students and faculty from the Urals State University School of Journalism with Bob Ottenhoff, a former PBS executive. Mr. Ottenhoff explained the role of Public Broadcasting in the U.S. and how it differs from commercial television and radio. He discussed at length the sources of financing for public stations, including contribution from the government while stressing the political independence of each station. Many of the students found it interesting that 22% of the money spent by public stations is from voluntary contributions from the public. Questions asked by students ranged from the role of corporate sponsors to future trends and viewership amidst the increasing competitive landscape in the media industry.
