March 2, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — An Indianapolis Business Journal story examining moves in Congress to potentially eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- which supports PBS and NPR -- notes, "Even if public broadcasting survives this round, it will be the underdog in future budget debates, DePauw University communications professor Jeffrey McCall said. 'The budget hawks in Congress have always questioned whether the government should be funding them,' he said. Now with a massive budget deficit and Republican control of the House, McCall said, 'This is the most serious threat.'"
Kathleen McLaughlin writes, "McCall believes public broadcasting's image is being shaped more by National Public Radio. With the amount of corporate underwriting on NPR's programs, he said, 'It doesn't seem that non-commercial anymore.'
NPR's October firing of correspondent Juan Williams over comments he made about Muslims on Fox TV only bolstered conservatives' belief that NPR is pushing a liberal, politically correct agenda, McCall said. 'I think it’s really important for NPR to 
be more careful about its public image,' he said." Still, McLaughlin adds, "McCall, who supports the federal subsidy, thinks public broadcasting would find a way to make up for it."
The complete article is available at IBJ's website (a subscription is required to access the text).
Jeffrey M. McCall is a 1976 graduate of DePauw and is frequently called upon by major media outlets to discuss media matters. Earlier this week, the professor discussed the Academy Awards telecast with the Los Angeles Times and offered an analysis of the Obama administration's relationship with Fox News last week in the Indianapolis Star. Dr. McCall authored the book, of Viewer Discretion Advised: Taking Control of Mass Media Influences.