— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
After 33 days, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting responded to my request for a review of the operations of PBS 39.
They are tired of hearing from me, but if they had responded more promptly, I would not have sent multiple requests for an operations audit of PBS 39, aka Lehigh Valley Public Media (LVPM).
Whether an audit is proceeding or will, the Inspector General’s office wouldn’t say.
“We certainly appreciate the concerns that you have raised and are reviewing them,” the response said. The Inspector General’s job is to “investigate complaints regarding possible wrongdoing, wastefulness, abuse, and fraud … “
The issue at LVPM merits a look.
Here’s their record: Fiscal 2023, $6.49 million in revenue, $15.15 million spent, for an $8.66 million deficit.
So this little operation in South Bethlehem spent almost $1,000 per hour in fiscal 2023 than it took it.
What in heck is going on there?
Meanwhile they sit on an $80 million pile of federal money, and plan to ask the state and federal governments for more money.
In July, the City Council of Easton for some reason decided this organization — with a bigger endowment than Cedar Crest College — deserved another $8,000. It’s a mystery.
In the current fiscal year, PBS 39 is missing revenue goals, missing financial forecasts and prepared to cut more expenses. In 2018, it embarked upon a big television news initiative, introduced with the greatest pomposity, that lasted a little more than two years.
Meanwhile, three of the top four managers are out, and the fourth now holds “Emeritus” status after overseeing the fiscal 2023 debacle.
Based on meeting minutes, members of the same board of directors that oversaw that is now making management decisions.
Seeking more public money is not the solution. Figuring out how to be sustainable should be the first step before anybody gives this outfit another dollar.
If they can do that, perhaps a “strategic plan” that is more than a pile of buzzwords, something that is measurable, may be the next step.
I won’t pester the Inspector General again, but if anybody else wants to, send email to oilemail@cpb.org if you think an audit that burns through public money deserves some scrutiny.
We appreciate your interest and concerns about your local station, PBS 39.
As indicated in the automatic replies to your emails and web submissions, we review all incoming matters to determine if the circumstances warrant further attention. We certainly appreciate the concerns that you have raised and are reviewing them. You do not need to continue to submit the same information to us.
Whether this office decides to audit or not, that decision rests solely with our Inspector General. And those decisions are not publicly disclosed.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 