Who's Accountable for Reckless Broadcasting?

November 12, 2013

Who is Accountable for Reckless Broadcasting?

.
A couple of weeks ago, through my non-profit project, the Media Action Center, I filed a Petition to Deny the renewal of the broadcast license of a radio station in Sacramento because, simply put, they killed a woman.

While the radio station's insurance company paid millions after they were found guilty for negligence in a lawsuit, the station itself never paid any price, as you or I would, if we had killed someone, even accidentally. The death, however, can barely be called an accident, as the jury discovered.

And now, it's up to the FCC as to whether they force real accountability in this matter, by denying renewal of the station's license to broadcast over our public airwaves. 

In 2007, Entercom Sacramento's KDND sponsored a water drinking contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii." The idea was to compete to see who could drink the most water without peeing; "last man standing" would win a Nintendo Wii!  But the stunt went bad, so bad that 28 year old mother of three, Jennifer Strange, died as a result. 

Her family hired a lawyer, who did two things:  he filed a lawsuit against Entercom and he wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking that the station's license be revoked.

The attorney, Roger Dreyer, won his lawsuit and a $16.6 million dollar award for the family in 2009.  The jury in William A. Strange v Entercom unanimously decided Entercom Sacramento was 100% liable for Mrs. Strange's death. 

The jury understood that her death was caused by no mere accident, but rather more like by a reckless driver careening down the wrong side of a busy freeway doing 120 mph. 

Media Action Center Files Petition to Deny KDND's Broadcast License

November 1, 2013

PRESS RELEASE

contact: sue@mediaactioncenter.net 

The Media Action Center has published its "Petition to Deny" the renewal of the broadcast license of KDND-FM, the Entercom radio station in Sacramento found liable for the 2007 death of Jennifer Strange in a water drinking stunt.   November 1 is the final day for the public to challenge California radio stations' licenses in the 2005 - 2013 license renewal period.

.

The pleading documents that not only did KDND staff know they were promoting a stunt that could kill someone, they never informed contestants of that fact. It further documents that Entercom staff and management had no training in safety procedures for contestants, and completely ignored contestants who became violently ill throughout the course of the contest.  Furthermore, the pleading shows that once Entercom management learned of Mrs. Strange's death, they chose not to call other contestants to warn them of potential hazards to their health, choosing instead to call attorneys.  In addition, it shows that Entercom has engaged in a pattern of conduct which proves it does not have the character qualifications to hold an FCC license to broadcast, including indecency violations, payola, defamation of character, deceiving listeners, and more.

.

"The question is not whether Entercom deserves to lose its license to broadcast, but rather will the Federal Communications Commission act?" says MAC director Sue Wilson.  "Another 'Petition to Deny' KDND's license was filed November 1, 2005, and has never been adjudicated.  If it had, it possible that Jennifer Strange would be alive today."

.

The FCC is the Federal agency tasked with overseeing broadcasters so they serve the public interest.  Wilson will go to the FCC November 13 and 14 to insist that the agency acts on this Petition, as well as many others that have languished for years.

.

The "Petition to Deny" can be found here: http://www.mediaactioncenter.net/p/blog-page_760.html

Step Up to the Microphone!

September 9, 2013

Originally published in the Huffington Post

Scan across just about any radio dial in the entire country, and you'll hear exactly the same big city, big corporate programming: Rush Limbaugh, Fox Sports, Top 40, NPR.
.
But what about local programming? Where are the reporters covering the city council or the county board of supervisors? High school football or Little League? Bake sales or community events? This kind of homegrown programming was once the heart and soul of radio. It formed a public square that informed listeners about the community's very identity.
.
We've missed that spirit of radio since 1996, when Bill Clinton and Congress decided to allow a few national companies to program the entire nation with their corporate choices of music, sports, and political talk, local needs be damned.
But thanks to activists ranging from the Philadelphia area Prometheus Radio to the Davis, California non-profit Common Frequency, the true heart and soul of radio may be coming back -- if people in local communities choose to be the media they want to hear.
.

On Your Marks, Get Set, Go!

        

FCC ANNOUNCES DATE TO APPLY FOR NEW COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS

Once in Lifetime Opportunity to Own Local  Low Power FM Radio!

It's official:  Local community groups will finally have an opportunity to be heard on their own radio stations in their own towns.  The Federal Communcations Commission has announced the official process to apply for these low power FM stations, but there's a catch:  all applications must be filed between October 15 and October 29, 2013. 

How 'Radio Ink' and the Right Attempt to 'Silence' Opponents: Lie About Them

(originally posted at BradBlog.com)

June 7, 2013

The radio industry magazine Radio Ink caught wind of my recent article, "Tell the FCC: Talk Radio is NOT 'Bonafide News'", as published at The BRAD BLOG, (and subsequently reprinted by the Huffington Post.)
.
As might be expected by an industry with a long track record of willfully misinforming the public, perhaps it is not surprising that Radio Ink --- which bills itself as "Radio's Premier Management & Marketing Magazine" --- would wildly mischaracterize not only the piece I wrote, but the legal underpinnings of the case which is helping to bring the question of what comprises "Bonafide News" to the forefront.

Tell the FCC: Talk Radio is NOT Bonafide News!

Originally published by The BRAD BLOG...  

                                                                               May 28, 2013 

   President Obama recently nominated Tom Wheeler as the new Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the federal agency tasked with protecting the public interest in broadcasting, particularly over our public airwaves.
   One of the first questions Wheeler's FCC will have to (reluctantly?) decide: Is Talk Radio the same as "bonafide news"?

Media Action Center Files Legal Action to Deny Milwaukee "Conservative" Radio Licenses

November 1, 2012

The Media Action Center has filed Petitions to Deny the licenses of Clear Channel's WISN-AM and Journal Communications WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee.  

.

Both cite MAC's formal complaint to the FCC about the stations donating nearly a million dollars of free airtime to supporters of Gov. Scott Walker and other GOP candidates during last spring's recall election, while refusing to allow supporters of opposing candidate Mayor Tom Barrett and other Democratic candidates any access to station microphones whatsoever.  

.

The Petitions charge that WISN and WTMJ management willfully violated FCC rules during elections and furthermore, violated the First Amendment rights of the petitioners and the greater community of Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Media Prop up Ryan's Lying

October 22, 2012

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan stepped into the vice presidential debate prepped with a cadre of misstatements to confuse voters (24, according to Think Progress' count.) But he didn't get away with much, what with Vice President Joe Biden giving him a drubbing ("Facts matter," Biden said again and again) and moderator Martha Raddatz repeatedly holding his feet to the proverbial fire.  No wonder he seemed rattled; he's never faced hard questions before.
.
The seven term congressman from Southeast Wisconsin is not used to reporters verifying statements or holding his feet to the fire because, throughout his career, he's been well coddled by Big Media owners so blatantly right wing they publicly brag about their power to get Wisconsin Republican candidates elected.

Putting Talk Radio on Trial at the FCC (Can the Supreme Court be Far Behind?)

June 1, 2012
Anyone remember a time when radio seemed friendly and informative, rather than hostile and manipulative?

I do. And I remember when it changed in 1996, after Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act into law, and suddenly, huge corporations like Clear Channel began using our public airwaves -- those scarce radio frequencies which are owned by us ALL -- as a hammer to pummel Clinton and all other Democrats.

I've been working to correct the problem ever since 1998. I've advocated rewriting the Telecommunications Act, made the film Broadcast Blues to educate people about the problem, founded the Media Action Center to get local groups communicating with their local broadcasters, filed petitions to deny stations' licenses, and more.

Nothing worked.

But now, I believe I have found the legal means to put Talk Radio on trial at the FCC -- and perhaps eventually at the Supreme Court.

Standing Up in Wisconsin and Beyond for Our Rights in Radio!

May 19, 2012

Any time progressives try to get their views out over the radio, Conservative Talkers squawk that they are jeopardizing their rights of Free Speech.  I agree radio talkers have their rights.  But so do We the People, and it is time we stand up for them.  Right now.  Especially in the middle of an election like the Walker recall, where the law says BOTH major politcal party supporters are entitled to comparable airtime.

Most people don't know that we have special rights when it comes to local radio and TV, but we do.  Despite what Big corporate media tells us again and again, Broadcasting operates under unique rules designed to protect the public interest.  Let me explain why Broadcasting enjoys special treatment in the name of the public.

4 Days After Scathing Report, Clear Channel GM is Fired

May 4, 2012

The Sacramento Bee today confirmed that Jeff Holden, fourteen year General Manager of Clear Channel Sacramento, is summarily being replaced by radio veteran Dave Milner. 

The article gave no real reasons for the dismissal.  It is interesting to note, however, that it came just four days after the Media Action Center published a detailed report on its meeting with Sacramento Media Group, Occupy Sacramento, and Clear Channel execs Holden and Alan Eisenson.

FCC to Public: Boycott Rush and Leave Us Alone!

The FCC is wading into the Conservative Talk Radio debate, dipping its toe in the water just enough to make it seem it is doing its job in protecting the public interest in broadcasting, but not making enough of a ripple to rock the corporate lobbyists’ boat.

.
Surprisingly, given the general lack of response by the FCC to the general public, the federal agency instantly responded to a March 10th letter from Roger Smith, of the broadcast watchdog Sacramento Media Group.  Smith complained about the gross imbalance of political viewpoints on the public airwaves in Sacramento, citing a study that Clear Channel stations in Sacramento devote 190 hours per week to Right Wing talk, while devoting not a single minute to any other viewpoint (a model perpetuated throughout 90% of the country.)
.
The FCC responded with the following: