SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Is Big Brother out to get Big Bird?
ABC 4 News has learned there's now concern on Utah's Capitol Hill over whether Channel 7's programming is politically slanted.
This concern could affect the budget of KUED, Salt Lake's Public broadcasting station.
Representative Chris Herrod is the sponsor of HB 307.
His bill would give Utah legislators more authority over KUED's budget.
Herrod expressed to ABC 4 some concerns about Channel 7's programming,
"Money can be used various ways. I'd just like to make sure that I know exactly how the money is actually being spent."
Under Herrod's bill, all of KUED's budget would be scrutinized by legislators.
Not just the two million dollars the state gives but, Herrod says, also the 7 million more KUED gets in donations and grants.
Just, he adds, to make sure the money is being spent wisely,
"Is that two million dollars being spent on, for example, a news program that some people might [think] has a liberal slant or a conservative slant."
For the record, Representative Herrod is a conservative from Utah County.
KUED executives didn't know about the bill until ABC 4 told them.
They find the bill "disconcerting."
KUED General Manager, Michael Dunn, points to the station’s numerous awards over a half century as proof of its impartial work,
"We have a 42 page manual that talks about editorial integrity and making sure that whatever we do, that we're doing it in as objective a manner as possible."
Now ABC 4 also asked Representative Herrod if he planned to cut KUED’s budget.
He said it's not his intention now but added that every penny will have to be accounted for.
