Press Release
Free Press denounces Patricia Harrison’s appointment as president of CPB
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Patricia S. Harrison, former co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, has been selected as president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. On Monday, Free Press delivered nearly 100,000 petitions to CPB, calling for Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson's resignation.
Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, made the following statement:
"Patricia Harrison's selection as president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is an outrage. Her complete lack of experience and close ties to the leadership of the Republican Party represent a new low in public broadcasting history.
"CPB was created to shield public broadcasting from political interference. But under the direction of Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson -- and now his GOP comrade, Patricia Harrison -- CPB has betrayed its original mission to protect the independence of public broadcasting.
"Millions of citizens have demanded an end to the partisan manipulation of public broadcasting. But, once again, those in power have ignored the voices of the vast majority of the American public to pursue their personal political crusade."
Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, made the following statement:
"Patricia Harrison's selection as president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is an outrage. Her complete lack of experience and close ties to the leadership of the Republican Party represent a new low in public broadcasting history.
"CPB was created to shield public broadcasting from political interference. But under the direction of Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson -- and now his GOP comrade, Patricia Harrison -- CPB has betrayed its original mission to protect the independence of public broadcasting.
"Millions of citizens have demanded an end to the partisan manipulation of public broadcasting. But, once again, those in power have ignored the voices of the vast majority of the American public to pursue their personal political crusade."
