The Washington Post profiles Amy Goodman, host of Pacifica’s Democracy Now!: “Her Edward R. Murrow comes always with a twist of Emma Goldman.” Goodman was also in the news when she was arrested at a anti-war protest at the White House. Pro-peace reporting from Goodman and others increased Pacifica’s take in its latest round of fund drives. Not surprisingly, Pacifica’s news probably soothes more minds than it changes, notes a Houston Chronicle article.

Wielding a grim financial analysis of public TV by a big-name consulting firm, CPB has begun a campaign to glue together a consensus supporting three initiatives to end the stagnation: catching up with other nonprofits in attracting “major gifts” of $1,000 or more from donors; improving station efficiency, especially by consolidating operations; using program research more effectively and taking other unspecified steps to re-examine public TV’s “approach to national programming.” CPB President Bob Coonrod and Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Cox discussed the initiatives in a Current Q&A. Coonrod said the CPB Board called for the consensus building in its statement of objectives adopted in fall 2002.

Fred Rogers occupied a quiet corner of the tumultuous television landscape, but his influence was profound and borne of the kindness, love and honesty he inspired in people.

The FCC changed the dates of this month’s filing windows for translator applications. (PDF, Word, text.)

Ad agencies seeking soundtracks to hypnotize consumers have found a hipness pass in Santa Monica’s KCRW-FM, reports Business 2.0.

Inspired by public radio stations on Cape Cod, KPLU in Tacoma, Wash., has started its own “KPLU Soundscapes.”

“Reality TV has pushed the envelope so far that An American Family seems almost quaint,” said Alan Raymond, co-director of the 1973 PBS reality series, in the New York Times.

“The old-fashioned idea of the airwaves as public property still excites both ends of the political spectrum . . .,” reports The Washington Post‘s Marc Fisher from the FCC’s media consolidation hearing in Richmond.

NPR’s Bob Edwards interviewed Pacifica’s Brian DeShazor about the radio network’s efforts to preserve its valuable archive of historic audio tapes. NPR’s page includes an extended version of the DeShazor interview and clips from archive recordings.

The Onion needles NPR’s Corey Flintoff this week–see fifth item, “News in Brief.” (Warning: gratuitous explicit language.)

Pubcasters are again calling on FCC Chairman Michael Powell to require cable to carry both public TV’s analog and digital signals during the DTV transition. The new request follows a similar appeal made in June 2001. Read the letter to Powell (PDF).

CPB honored Ted Stevens, Alaska’s senior senator, with its Ralph Lowell Award, public TV’s highest honor. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Stevens has steered millions of dollars in financial aid to pubcasters.

New York’s WAMC will buy an AM station to complement its stronger FM signal in Albany.

College radio stations are fuming that College Music Journal, their sole tie to the record industry, seems to be fiddling with their playlist data to promote its own ventures.

Studio 360 host Kurt Andersen tells Adweek he’s working on a second novel (set in the 19th century) and hates Craig Kilborn.