Contacting Your PBS Station: Think First19 Aug
Hi all,
“JJ” writes in with an important point that I felt was important to pass along to you all. I’d sort of assumed this went without saying, but when you’re dealing with a far-reaching internet campaign, I suppose it’s important to ask everyone to pause for a second and think before they take action. Here’s JJ’s note:
Our local PBS station is getting hit with a bunch of emails regarding “saving Mr. Rogers” and keeping the program on the air. Only thing is, it hasn’t been on the station for over two years, since January 2006! The people who are emailing obviously aren’t watching so what kind of message does that send to the station?
If you want to make an impact, don’t ask everyone in your contacts list to forward the email to their PBS station. Ask them to investigate and make an informed decision.
What she says is true: It’s important for you to take a second to educate yourself before contacting your local PBS station. Most member station websites have searchable program schedules, so you can look there to see if Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is still on the air — it is currently on 63% of PBS stations.
If you happen to live in an area where the Neighborhood was removed from the PBS schedule in the past, it’s still important for you to voice your opinion. Let them know you want the show back on the air five days a week! We’d simply ask that you craft the wording of your message to reflect the specific situation with your PBS station.
Thanks, everyone, for your continued support!
- Brian
I wanted to make a plea for Mr.Rogers to be put back on the air for daily veiwing, my youngest is 13 & grew up with Mr.Rogers holsom ethics & now my oldest is having a child fo her own & I so wish for her child to be able to enjoy his eduacational show & he did it with a huge warm heart! So many shows now are just plain jibberish & have left the teachings of good morals & great character on the way side I still to this day have conversations about how crayons are made & wish kids could see that. He had a kind & gentle way about him that was soothing & friendly he is truely missed in this day of violence & hurriedness to grow up too fast, I hope my email meant something to someone & somebody there feels as I do about Mr.Rogers He is a childhood icon I’d love to pass on to my grandchild here in Chicago
I am in complete agreement with the others comments about Mr. Rogers. I am so sad to see that as of today September 1, 2008 he is off the air here in Chicago. I grew up watching the show. Such a wholesome show in comparison with all the other junk on the air for kids. My daughter is 12 years old and has loved the show for years. I wish they would reconsider and put this awesome show back on the air. If I were considering joining wttw and becoming a member it certainly wouldn’t be without Mr. Rogers.
Please do not take MR. Rogers off the air. We need his calm, cool, level-headed male role modeling for our boys. I raised two young men on Mr. Rogers, now 15 and almost 20 and I am thrilled they loved watching him.
Donna Reiter Brandwein
Here are two resources for looking at the station’s schedule in your area:
http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder
http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/
I am 14 years old and I believe that Mr.Rogers should be put back on the air. I gre up watching Mr Rogers as did my mother who is almost 50 years old. His show has taught children many lessons about emotions and education. Mr.Rogers is a calm, gentle, and comforting voice for the children to hear. The thought of the next generation not being able to watch the beloved Mr.Rogers upsets me. If he won’t be put back on the air during the week than someone needs to. I’m currently planning on purchasing as many seasons as possible on DVD so that my children will be able to watch his show. From the sweaters put on everyday, to the comforting songs ( You are special and so am I) and the neighborhood of makebelieve Mr.Rogers is a great show that enriches children’s minds.
Although many people did not notice that his show has been off the weekday schedule, they did know in their hearts that it is a great show. Just because they didn’t notice doesn’t mean the children haven’t been impacted.
I have seven children ages 13 to 31 and all of them grew up watching Mr. Rogers. I, myself, watched Mr. Rogers every weekday even after all the kids were in school; and we watched it together on weekdays they had off. We are all going to miss seeing him every day. His show was the best children’s program I’ve ever seen. The problem-solving and moral values taught will have a lasting impact in all of our lives. I’m really sad that PBS decided to remove it from their daily roster and I hope they will reconsider that decision.
The ingenuity and forthought behing Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood have made it a timeless program. Virtually every child (especially those born in the late 60’s and early 70’s)has an integral part of their upbringing through the grace and talent of this host and his program. The lessons on life, love and compassion will never go out of style and as Mrs. Rogers herself professed, the program is indeed needed now, in this fast paced, rapidly changing, often impersonal, technology driven world, more than ever!! Please hear our plea and remember that age has no correlation with worth or value.
My husband and I are raising a two year old grandson and we want him to have the same opportunity as we to grow up with MR.ROGERS.
Fred Rogers was like a family member, and when he died, we grieved as if he were. We firmly believe that the WORLD WAS A BETTER. PLACE BECAUSE OF FRED ROGERS.
PLEASE do not silence MR. ROGERS’ message.
Sincerely,
Kerry and Linda Elliott-Rudasill
My children (2 girls) watched Mr. Rogers when they were small. During the years that have passed since that time, I have given children’s programing very little thought — even though my husband and I have been contributors AETN through our local station. Now that I have grandchildren, I have rediscovered Mr. Rogers’ Neighboorhood. Although, that was almost 3 decades ago, it is just as relevant and enriching today as it was then. My two year-old grandaughter loves it and is learning so much. I look, forward to my 10-month old grandson having the same opportunity. Please continue to support this valuable programing.