Legend of Charlie Birger is part of history

David Kidd
senior producer, WSIU Public Broadcasting

Dear Editor:

This letter is in response to Grace Priddy's column in the Daily Egyptian on Wednesday. The people of this region asked WSIU, again and again, to produce "The Legend of Charlie Birger." WSIU also produces numerous programs throughout the year that reflect positively on SIUC and the Southern Illinois region, including "SIU Connections," "Southern Issues," "Saluki SportsView," "Live Saluki Basketball," "Concerts from Southern," "alt.news 26:46" (a multiple-EMMY winner), annual coverage of "The Apple Festival Grand Parade" and "Scholastic HiQ." I produce "Backroads," a magazine-style series featuring the interesting and positive things about the people and places of Southern Illinois. Yet programs like "Backroads" have received very little attention from newspaper columnists in the past.

Over 500 people attended "The Legend of Charlie Birger" pre-broadcast premiere at the Benton Civic Center in October. Most area newspapers wrote front-page or large feature articles about this documentary and were familiar with its content. It was also partially funded by the Illinois Humanities Council. Should every one of them be condemned for covering the story about this local production?

"The Legend of Charlie Birger" enjoyed widespread support both during production and now after its release. We were being a responsive public television station by tackling a subject that the public wanted to know more about. It was history, and - like it or not - it happened here in Southern Illinois.

I believe I covered this story in the most socially responsible manner possible. Philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." After over two years of painstaking research and production work by our staff and over 25 SIUC students - who gained invaluable, hands-on experience in the making of a television documentary - we deserve a little more credit for our efforts to bring this chapter in Southern Illinois history to life.

Perhaps Ms. Priddy is not clear about the message of the documentary, which is "Who deserves to be remembered?" It is a flaw in human nature that tales of bad people like Charlie Birger excite us and that we elevate such individuals to the status of a legend. I have tried to exploit this local legend in order to get people to seriously ask themselves, "Why do we do this?"

Sensational stories fill our headlines every day . . . as the saying goes, "If it bleeds, it leads." Rather than chastising our station's efforts to present an accurate local historical documentary, as requested by our viewing public, I propose a different "self-examination." Perhaps it is the values espoused by some media, the stories pursued and how those stories are covered that needs to be addressed. Start by looking at the front page of the DE from Thursday, and you'll see what I mean.

David Kidd
senior producer, WSIU Public Broadcasting

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