Petrelis Files

May 18, 2005

Daniel Okrent
Public Editor
The New York Times

Dear Mr. Okrent:

I write to you today about two recent stories in the New York Times about the chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kenneth Tomlinson.

The first article ran on May 2 and the second one appeared on May 16. (Sources: NY Times and NY Times)

In the May 2 story, the Times reported the following: "Mr. Tomlinson's tenure has brought criticism that his chairmanship has been the most polarizing in a generation. Christy Carpenter, a Democratic appointee to the board from 1998 to 2002, said partisanship was 'essentially nonexistent' in her first years. But once Mr. Tomlinson, a former editor in chief of Reader's Digest, joined in September 2000 and President Bush's election changed the board's political composition, the tenor changed, she said."

What the Times failed to report is that Tomlinson was appointed to the CPB's board by former Democratic President Bill Clinton. (Source: CPB)

The Times' May 16 article said, "Last month, the corporation's board, which is dominated by Republicans named by President Bush, told the staff at a meeting that it should prepare to redirect the relatively modest number of grants available for radio programs away from national news, officials at the corporation and NPR said."

Again, the Times didn't inform readers that Tomlinson, chair of the CPB board, got on the board thanks to Bill Clinton.

The Times also made no reference to Tomlinson's many donations to GOP politicians since 1987, according to Federal Election Commission records, which are listed below. (Source: NewsMeat)

Frankly, I think the Times owes readers all the facts about who appointed Tomlinson to the CPB board and his generous donations to GOP politicians.

Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
^^^


TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y.
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$200
primary03/09/05

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y.
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$200
primary02/09/05

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
BURNS, CONRAD R (R)
Senate - MT
FRIENDS OF CONRAD BURNS - 2006
$500
primary11/19/04

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y.
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$250
general09/23/04
TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y MR.
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
$1,000
primary08/24/04

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
SPRINGBROOK FARM
DEMINT, JAMES W (R)
Senate - SC
DEMINT FOR SENATE COMMITTEE INC
$500
06/21/04

TOMLINSON, KENNETH
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
MARTINEZ, MEL (R)
Senate - FL
MARTINEZ FOR SENATE
$500
primary06/15/04

Tomlinson, Kenneth
Middleburg, VA 20118
Retired
WOLF, FRANK R (R)
House (VA 10)
FRIENDS OF FRANK WOLF
$1,000
primary01/20/04

TOMLINSON, KENNETH
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
WARNER, JOHN WILLIAM (R)
Senate - VA
SENATOR JOHN WARNER COMMITTEE
$1,000
primary04/23/02

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$250
general10/06/98

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$500
primary03/10/98

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118
RETIRED
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$250
primary03/25/97

TOMLINSON, KENNETH
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
READER'S DIGEST
KELLY, SUE W (R)
House (NY 19)
SUE KELLY FOR CONGRESS
$200
primary06/27/96

TOMLINSON, KENNETH
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
MILLER, JAMES CLIFFORD III (R)
Senate - VA
MILLER FOR SENATE (1996)
$1,000
primary05/14/96

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
FORBES, STEVE (R)
President
FORBES FOR PRESIDENT COMMITTEE INC
$1,000
primary02/20/96

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
BUCHA, PAUL W (R)
House (NY 19)
COMMITTEE TO ELECT PAUL W BUCHA
$200
primary08/29/94

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
READERS DIGEST
ROHRABACHER, DANA (R)
House (CA 46)
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
$350
primary01/24/92

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y MR
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
READER'S DIGEST
PAUKEN, THOMAS W (R)
House (TX 03)
PAUKEN FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
$1,000
03/14/91

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y MR
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
READERS DIGEST
KEMP, JACK (VICE-PRES) (R)
President
JACK KEMP FOR PRESIDENT '88
$500
primary12/18/87

TOMLINSON, KENNETH Y MR
CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
KEMP, JACK (VICE-PRES) (R)
President
JACK KEMP FOR PRESIDENT '88
$500
primary01/06/87