Tracking the Media Revolution

More Americans turning to Web for news

February 29, 2008 · No Comments

Nearly 70 percent of Americans believe traditional journalism is out of touch, and nearly half are turning to the Internet to get their news, according to a new survey. While most people think journalism is important to the quality of life, 64 percent are dissatisfied with the quality of journalism in their communities, a We Media/Zogby Interactive online poll showed.

“That’s a really encouraging reflection of people who care a) about journalism and b) understand that it makes a difference to their lives,” said Andrew Nachison, of iFOCOS, a Virginia-based think tank which organized a forum in Miami where the findings were presented.

Nearly half of the 1,979 people who responded to the survey said their primary source of news and information is the Internet, up from 40 percent just a year ago. Less than one third use television to get their news, while 11 percent turn to radio and 10 percent to newspapers.

More than half of those who grew up with the Internet, those 18 to 29, get most of their news and information online, compared to 35 percent of people 65 and older. Older adults are the only group that favors a primary news source other than the Internet, with 38 percent selecting television.

Howard Finberg, of the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., said the public often doesn’t understand that the sources they are accessing online such as Google News and Yahoo News pull stories from newspapers, television, wire services and other media sources.

“It’s delivered in a nontraditional form, that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t traditional journalism underneath it,” he explained.

But Finberg said the study does support the belief among many large media companies that focusing on local issues is important to their journalistic and economic survival.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6232574.html

→ No CommentsCategories: Independent Media · Media · State of the Media

FCC Rules

December 9, 2007 · No Comments

The FCC prohibits educational broadcasters from including “calls to action” specifically in the context of announcements acknowledging a contributor or underwriter, so as to preserve the noncommercial nature of educational broadcasting (see http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/includes/33-nature.htm). A station’s liability may increase when it officially co-sponsors an event or rally, irrespective of broadcast announcements.

A DJ issues a call to action when he/she asks, urges, or suggests that the listener should perform some task which may result in a for-profit organization making money. This rule does not apply to non-profit organizations.

“FCC rules don’t prohibit a call to action at all,” says Allen Myers of the FCC’s Media Bureau. “It simply prohibits promotion.” Because a call to action can either promote or not, stations have to use their best judgment, he says.

Section 399B [of the Communications Act] provides, in pertinent part:
(a) For purposes of this section, the term “advertisement” means any message or other programming material which is broadcast or otherwise transmitted in exchange for any remuneration, and which is intended –
to promote any service, facility, or product offered by any person who is engaged in such offering for profit;
(2) to express the views of any person with respect to any matter of public importance or interest;
(3) to support or oppose any candidate for public office.

Calls to action include:
1. Urging a listener to buy a record.
2. Urging the listener to go to a concert or other performance.
3. Mentioning the price of a record or concert ticket.
4. Urging the listener to patronize a specific club or record store.
You are free to rave about how great an album or band is; that’s only a “review.” However you cannot rave about a business establishment, (i.e., “Sam Goody is a great record store”). That counts as a commercial.

Non-profit organizations like are the only entities you can specifically urge people to spend money on. You can, and are encouraged to tell people to attend a benefit for or purchase items. In short, if it directly makes or another non-profit organization money, it’s okay. Otherwise, it’s a call to action.

As a non-commercial broadcaster, it is illegal to say how to vote on candidates for public office, or issues of public importance or public interest.

Broadcast lawyer John Crigler explains the following:

“Calls to actions are of legal significance in four circumstances I can think of.

1. If anyone has paid or promised something of value to the station or on-air personnel, the call to action may trigger the FCC’s underwriting and/or payola rules.

2. If the call to action urges listeners to support or oppose a candidate for political office, it will violate FCC and IRS rules that prohibit noncommercial broadcasters from participating in political campaigns.

3. If the call to action relates to a legislative matter, it may trigger may IRS rules concerning the amount of grass-roots lobbying in which a tax-exempt organization may engage.

4. If the call to action foreseeably will result in personal injury, the call to action may result in tort liability under state law. It’s this last form of a call to action that is of concern in the e-mails below.”

The last type - the type under question here - is considered a “duty of care” issue. Let’s say a station urges people to attend a demonstration - even one planned to be peaceful - that turns violent, even if the violence is initiated by cops. If someone gets hurt or even killed, they (or their estate) could potentially sue the station.

Political Editorials
In October 2000, the FCC repealed the political editorial rule 73.1930 after the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found that the FCC had done nothing to justify the rule’s existence. In the Matter of Repeal or Modification of the Personal Attack and Political Editorial Rules 2000 FCC Lexis 5725 (2000).

→ No CommentsCategories: FCC

Independent magazines threatened by proposed postage hike

May 1, 2007 · No Comments

Since the beginnings of the US Postal System, media postage has been subsidized, in recognition of the importance of journalism to democracy. Now, as media scholar Robert McChesney revealed this week, the Post Office is preparing to radically reformulate its mailing rates for magaines - dramatically increasing rates for small magazines. (Larger magazines will be less affected–not surprising, since the new rates were devised by the country’s largest magazine publisher, Time Warner.) The rate hike, planned so far without public input, will threaten the existence of many small and mid-sized magazines.

We have a short window to keep from getting railroaded by this corporate-backed rate hike. Visit www.stoppostalratehikes.com to send the Postal Board a message, or read on for more information.

→ No CommentsCategories: In the News · reclaimthemedia

“Where’s Walden?!?” Allen Hallmark on Brain Labor Report

March 30, 2007 · No Comments

Allen Hallmark is a former reporter with the Mail Tribune, former criminal defense investigator and activist with Citizens for Peace and Justice, who joins Wes for a discussion on corporate-consolidated newspapers, the history of CP&J and current actions regarding Rep. Greg Walden.

March 29, 2007 >>> Listen Here

“The newspaper industry has been on the decline for a number of years … the corporate bottom line being the most important thing…”
~ Allen Hallmark on corporate consolidation.

Bought-and-Paid-ForCP&J is planning an action on Friday, March 30 at 2:30 pm at Walden’s Medford office. Citizens are encouraged to ask “Where’s Walden?!?” For more information visit Rogue IMC.

Websites Mentioned:
Citizens for Peace and Justice
Fair and Accuracy in Reporting

→ No CommentsCategories: In the News · podcast

Back in the Day of the WPA

March 12, 2007 · No Comments

Wes interviews 98-year-old Mary Stone. Born in 1929, Mary was a social justice activist with the WPA (Works Progress Administration) in the 1930
’s.

“We’d march and we’d be on picket lines and we would be arrested because we had sit downs. So once in a while we’d land in jail”
~ Mary Stone

read more | digg story

→ No CommentsCategories: Breaking News

More Merging of Radio, TV News

March 8, 2007 · No Comments

There is an ongoing trend in local broadcasting to share their anchors and other reporters with radio stations, since most local radio stations do not staff news departments.

→ No CommentsCategories: Breaking News

Washington Post Losing Ads, Circulation, Income, Everything

February 28, 2007 · No Comments

The bloodletting continues at the Post. Here’s all the bad news from the last quarter of 2006:

  • Net income plunged 6.7%.
  • Classified advertising dropped 22%.
  • Overall ad revenue is down 8%.
  • Circulation is down 2.9% — except for Sunday, which is down 3.2%.
  • Operating income in the publishing division fell by 24%.
  • Craigslist’s CEO says this is because U.S. newspapers just plain suck.

Wash Post Co. Newspaper Q4 Ad Revenue Falls 8% [Editor & Publisher]
Newspapers brought financial woes upon themselves, says Craigslist boss [The Register]

→ No CommentsCategories: Advertising · State of the Media · newspaper

Unions at Pittsburgh Paper Ratify New Contract with Pay Cuts

February 27, 2007 · No Comments

The final unions to vote ratified a new contract with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, agreeing to a deal that includes staff reductions, net pay cuts and changes in health care.  http://www.freepress.net/news/21315

→ No CommentsCategories: State of the Media · newspaper

Cherished Newspaper Disappears

February 26, 2007 · No Comments

The last weekly issue of the Bowdle Pioneer rolled off the presses in October, after 120 years in business, when the owner and publisher died. Residents of Bowdle are missing their hometown newspaper.

http://www.freepress.net/news/21316

→ No CommentsCategories: State of the Media · newspaper

Wave of FCC warnings hits Texas anti-war stations

February 26, 2007 · No Comments

The Federal Communications Commission has issued eight individuals with “notices of unlicensed operation” over the last five days, seven of them from the Lone Star State.
Activists in Texas say that these broadcasters carry programs provided by Radio Free Austin (RFC), an alternative radio service that offers features critical of the U.S. war in Iraq.
The Commission’s enforcement bureau sent notices to three residents of Austin and to residents of Dallas, Georgetown, Gonzales, and San Antonio.

The warnings claim that the Commission’s agents detected radio broadcasts emanating from the homes of these individuals at 95.7, 90.1, 100.1, and 101.5 MHz.
“UNLICENSED OPERATION OF THIS RADIO STATION MUST BE DISCONTINUED IMMEDIATELY,” the FCC notices conclude. “You have ten (10) days from the date of this notice to respond with any evidence that you have authority to operate granted by the FCC.”

Mike Jones, a member of Radio Free Austin, issued a statement today on RFC’s Web site in response to the notices, one of which he personally received.
“I am going to continue to broadcast until one of two things happens. One - you the listeners step up to the plate and host a transmitter; Two - the FCC returns,” Jones says
“The time to act is now. We need new locations now. Resistance Radio formally Radio Free Austin will put up and maintain the equipment. We need locations in all parts of town. Please call us for details.”
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Radio operators must pay a fine of $10,000 for unlicensed broadcasts. A Nation Storage outlet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also received a notice.

http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/367    

→ No CommentsCategories: Breaking News · FCC · Radio