Public broadcasters gather in DC to discuss future

[April 26, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- PBS anchor Jim Lehrer and public broadcasting leaders from across the country are gathering in Washington to discuss the most serious threats to their federal funding in 44 years.

The National Press Club and the Missouri School of Journalism host the summit Tuesday.

The Republican-led House voted to eliminate funding for public broadcasting. Those efforts stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate and a budget deal with the White House has kept most money intact.

Most of the uproar focused on NPR after the controversial firing of analyst Juan Williams over his comments about Muslims, and following the release by a conservative activist of footage that appeared to show an NPR executive condemning the tea party movement.

[Associated Press; By BRETT ZONGKER]

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