In a time of scarce resources, how should it be funded?
And how much editorial freedom should the Presbyterian News Service have?
The General Assembly Council is being asked to consider those questions, which could include an even more basic one: should the denomination’s award-winning news service continue to exist?
The council voted with little discussion on Sept. 30 to create a new five-member task force, which will study these questions and report back in March 2009. Its members will be appointed by Carol Adcock of Texas, who is chair of the council.
Adcock explained that the review “is literally what it says it is,” an evaluation of how the News Service does its work. “We’re evaluating the six agencies of the General Assembly. It’s important for us to look at how we do our work,” at what needs to be changed, at what could be made more efficient, Adcock said.
But for the News Service, important questions are at stake. One of the issues on the table will be how a news service that has exercised a degree of editorial independence fits into the broader public relations plan of the PC(USA), and the desire by some leaders for the denomination to have a consistent and coordinated message, particularly on controversial issues.
This is not the first time the council has discussed what it wants the news service to do and be. But this proposal comes at a time when the issue of communication is front-and-center for the denomination’s management team — when it’s considered imperative for the PC(USA) to communicate clearly, quickly, and consistently.
Karen Schmidt, the council’s deputy executive director for communication and funds development, is conducting an overall review of the denomination’s communications strategy. Communications representatives are being assigned to each of the main program areas. There is clearly a desire that the message coming from the PC(USA) be coordinated and it’s unclear how the Presbyterian News Service, which operates with a sense of journalistic independence, fits into that vision.
In 2002, when the council last considered this question, the council voted 22 to 21 not to revise the role of the news service.
A report was presented at that time attempting to clarify PNS’ role with the idea of making sure that the denomination’s “institutional voice” was reflected in news service stories, particularly on controversial issues. But in that debate some cautioned against giving denominational leaders more room to “spin” the coverage the news service provides.
It currently is governed by editorial guidelines that say it shall operate “with freedom and integrity,” shall “report the facts accurately, clearly, fairly, impartially, and promptly,” and shall adhere to the ethical standards of Associated Church Press.
The close vote in 2002 indicates that Presbyterians do have differing views on what they want from the news service. And Schmidt, in presenting the proposal to the council’s Executive Committee, said that “it is fundamentally time to take a review of the Presbyterian News Service,” including where in the denominational structure it should report, how it should be funded, and what its role and purpose should be.
PNS currently has a budget of $305,000, with one coordinator and one reporter. Another reporter, Toya Richards Hill, resigned last spring, and her position has not been filled. Formerly, it was funded through the per capita budget. Its funding was shifted to the mission budget for the current budget cycle.
