The Cincinnati Beacon - Do you think the Beacon can’t expand into radio? Think again!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Do you think the Beacon can’t expand into radio? Think again!

Congress members Mike Doyle and Lee Terry just introduced the Local Community Radio Act of 2007 to allow the FCC to grant more licenses to low-power FM stations. A similar bill is being introduced in the Senate. The FCC is opening the door for new noncommercial full-power radio stations. They announced there will be a week long window beginning in mid-October for applications to be filed.

In this interview Amy Goodman from http://www.democracynow.org is joined by Hannah Sassaman of the Prometheus Radio Project. They discuss this series of developments.

Here’s an excerpt from Hannah Sassaman:

Congress needs to get these bills passed. And there are thousands of community members and many, many strong organizations, everyone from the Christian Coalition to Free Press to the Future of Music Coalition to Consumers Union and many, many other groups, are letting people know that these bills are on the table. Once these bills are passed, the FCC will announce a licensing window, when any noncommercial group, whether you’re a community church, a department of transportation, a chamber of commerce or a school, you can talk to the FCC, fill out your form and get a free license, in order to serve your community with essential information.

One of the stories I really like to tell is of WQRZ-LP in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. When Hurricane Katrina made landfall at ground zero, basically, in Waveland and in Bay St. Louis in Hancock County, of the forty-one stations lining the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast, only a handful stayed on the air, and WQRZ-LP, this low-power noncommercial station, was one of them. When this station was broadcasting about the storm, local volunteers swam across the floodwaters with batteries strapped to their back to keep the station on the air. It was the only source of local information for forty-eight hours after the storm, and because it was so essential, the Emergency Operations Center of Hancock County set up shop with that station and became the FEMA headquarters, and it got a commendation from the President.

These stations not only save lives, but are deeply relevant to their communities. If you’re a farmworker community and you speak Zapotec and Quiche as your primary languages and Spanish as a second language, you can’t rely on Clear Channel, Viacom or Infinity for your news. In order to connect to your community, to organize for rights in the fields, you need your own community radio station, like Radio Consciencia of WCTI-LP in Immokalee, Florida, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ station. These stations are tools for social justice, and if we don’t take this chance to build them now, we’ll never forgive ourselves when we turn around in twenty years and hear the same corporate drivel and the same Christian right radio that we now have to abide by in our big cities and our small communities.

Together we can create a more democratic and vibrant media. Call your Congress member at (202) 224-3121. Act now!

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says:
27 Jun 2007 at 03:23 pm | #

Justin, this may be asking alot of you but this topic of “who owns the media” seems to really be of interest on this forum so how about presenting both sides of this debate. On the surface community radio sounds really great but I’ve heard bits and pieces of analysis from the right that this is just an attempt to stifle right-wing talk radio. How about providing for us over-busy people who don’t have time for much research some balance on this important topic?

says:
27 Jun 2007 at 05:40 pm | #

Trey, I have know idea what the other side of the debate is. I don’t understand how opening up more stations and making our public airwaves more diverse stifles right-wing talk radio. If you’ve been hearing reasoned arguments please let us know what they are.

This isn’t about shutting down the right-wing blow hards, it’s about having more local outlets for local music and expression. This is an open forum as you know and if you’re too busy to do some research and make your case, don’t blame us.

It’s quite easy to figure out who owns the media. It’s a handful of giant corporations that have no loyalty to the American people. They only care about profits. It’s that simple if you ask me. Feel free to disagree. We welcome it!

formerly f says:
27 Jun 2007 at 07:54 pm | #

It’s quite easy to figure out who owns the media. It’s a handful of giant corporations that have no loyalty to the American people.

Would viacom(owner of television networks MTV, VH1 and CBS)be an example? How about General Electric (owner of NBC and Universal Studios)or SBC Communications. You know all the companies that justin jeffre was at least a shareholder of.

hate to tell you but by owning the stock you are part of the giant corporation.

BTW one of the 2 leaders in the fight against low power radio has for years and years been - NPR. It isn’t now nor has it ever been “right wing blowhards” .

“Right wing blowhards” know that in a true marketplace of ideas they will kick liberal ass. just ask Air america

says:
27 Jun 2007 at 10:11 pm | #

formerly f, you’ve figured it out. I am the great liberal media bias. I’ve teamed up with GE to push single-payer universal health care and deny the American people their right to the 37th best wealth care system in the world. We’ve also started a new local paper and will soon conquer the world.

trey says people are claiming that this will stifle right-wing radio. You’ve missed the point and are confusing the issue. Actually, NPR listeners are better informed than listeners of right-wing radio. Rush may have good ratings but he’s not a good information source, NPR is.

I’m not a fan of Al Franken or Air America. This isn’t a right or left issue, it’s about more local programing and diversity on our public air-waves. Is that such a bad thing?

says:
28 Jun 2007 at 06:12 am | #

jeffre - why don’t we invest more and more in Viacom and hope that they buy the Beacon Radio show? - That’s been your secret plan all along right?. I don’t understand how somebody who “stands” for independant invests in Viacom. But tell me I am wrong. Dean, you know he is wrong here - don’t censor this post.

formerly f says:
28 Jun 2007 at 12:13 pm | #

trey says people are claiming that this will stifle right-wing radio. You’ve missed the point and are confusing the issue.

you are an idiot once again I corrected trey’s assertion that right wing radio was trying to stifle low power radio. I was pointing out that one of the two voices fighting this was precious little liberal NPR. It isnt the right wing it is the left.

let me say that one more time because you couldnt figure it out the first time. i will put it into a list for you to help.

1. trey says right wing radio is trying to stop low powered radio
2. I said no it wasnt right wing radio it was NPR and pointed out that right wing radio has no fear of liberal radio.

if you doubt me and can fit it into your busy schedule you can Google NPR and low powered radio and see how they have fought it for over 20 years.

This isn’t a right or left issue, it’s about more local programing and diversity on our public air-waves. Is that such a bad thing?

i agree shut up NPR from lobbying congress with my tax money on this issue.

BTW you make a profit off the media by owning stocks. You are part of those “giant corporations that have no loyalty to the American people”. if someone makes maoney off of war you would call them a war profiter. what does that make you for profiting off the media?

says:
28 Jun 2007 at 03:25 pm | #

formerly f, first, if you call me an idiot again I will probably not post your comments on this blog again. If you had the courage to give us your real name I might tolerate it, but I don’t think you do, so now you’ve been warned. I don’t have a problem with you disagreeing with me and I’m happy to debate you. Let’s have a grown up discussion about the issue please. (In other words, don’t be an “idiot”.)

Second, you’ve pointed out that there’s more than one voice involved but you don’t want to talk about any group other than NPR and as I said this isn’t a right or left issue. This isn’t just about low power FM either. Can you please show us who all opposes this?

I think it’s wrong for anyone to oppose this. Like the push for a jail tax referendum, I think there is broad support across the political spectrum for this.

I never said right-wing radio was trying to stifle anything other than the truth. Don’t make up arguments about things I didn’t say. I don’t have any control over NPR or any other media outlets except The Cincinnati Beacon.

I do believe that stock holders should have more control and that corporations should be forced to be more responsible. If I controlled them they’d be a lot different. I also think that PBS should have full funding and be truly independent. They currently rely on corporate donations as well as veiwers like you. I believe that the BBC is independent and they do some good investigative reporting.

I don’t think anyone talks about media reform more than I do and I’ve invested my time, money and energy to create an alternative here locally, but this post isn’t about me or the Dean (though some of you wish it was). It’s about an opportunity for everyone to get more local voices, interests and artists on our public air-waves. I think it’s an important issue and something we should make people more aware of.

You can hate on our media project all you want, but you sure do spend a lot of time here if it’s as bad as you say. Who else is bringing issues like this up?

I hope you all continue to enjoy the Beacon!

Have a nice day!!!

says:
28 Jun 2007 at 03:31 pm | #

Justin, the reason I thought this bill was being opposed by right-wing radio is that I turned on Hannidy’s show right at the end of a segment and he was talking passionately that some proposed new radio rule was just a smokescreen by the left to try to kill right wing radio. It might be something totally different. Thats why I suggested you should maybe present the opposing sides to an issue (even if you disaggee with it) just for the informational value to the reader.But if you just want to be an advocate for your position, thats your right.

My general position about big corps owning the media is that the fear is probably overblown. There is no doubt that media has a big impact in shaping the modern mind but I have found as I’ve grown older that ignoring dumb media isn’t that hard.

says:
28 Jun 2007 at 03:34 pm | #

The last sentence above should read isn’t that hard instead of is. (I’ve noticed that when you try to edit your post, it doesn’t show your change when you hit preview the 2nd and 3rd times.)

WestEnder says:
28 Jun 2007 at 06:57 pm | #

For those more interested in learning about the media than making personal invectives, the following sites are a good place to start:

Media Reform Information Center

Who Owns What

I don’t know what is so hard to understand about Jeffre’s point. How many times does he have to say the same thing? It’s not about ideology, it’s about local content vs. corporate content.

It’s an obviously good idea, and those who ignore it because they can’t help themselves from hurling insults say more about themselves than Jeffre.

formerly f says:
28 Jun 2007 at 10:49 pm | #

Second, you’ve pointed out that there’s more than one voice involved but you don’t want to talk about any group other than NPR and as I said this isn’t a right or left issue.

the two voices that have always opposed low power radio are NPR and the National association of broadcasters (NAB). NAB is pretty much non partisan and only deals with broadcasting issues. NPR is left leaning and opposes this bill. I brought up NPR because there was an assertion made by trey that the right was trying to hurt this bill. It is left leading NPR that is leading the charge.

I am sure hannity was talking about the fairness doctrine. not low powered radio

I never said right-wing radio was trying to stifle anything other than the truth.

Never said you did as i pointed out in the little post above with the numbers to simplify it for you the comment was in response to trey’s assertion. it is right there above- take a look.

I do believe that stock holders should have more control and that corporations should be forced to be more responsible.

when you by stock you increase the demand and thus the price of the stock. That creates more wealth for the people who own controlling interest in the company and validate their actions. You might not be a major player with these corporations with the small amount of stock you own but you are a player and as guilty as those at the top. You reaffirm the direction of the company when you buy into it. You profit off the same things you attack. if i cant call you an idiot anymore how about a hypocrite?

I don’t think anyone talks about media reform more than I do

On one hand we have your talk and on the other we see your profiting from the same things you attack. sell all of your stocks and bonds in the media giants that you attack and give the profits to a lobbying group that supports this bill. Do the same with your walmart stock and give that money to wake up walmart or someone similar who pushes living wage. then you are at least credible on the subjects right now you are a joke. (someone cue yossarian)

You can hate on our media project all you want, but you sure do spend a lot of time here if it’s as bad as you say.

I “hate” on comments from people that don’t know what they are talking about and are hypocrites.

when someone makes an incorrect assertion like trey did i correct them. i know that might derail your train of thought or your point but it is unfair for comments accusing or suggesting people of doing something they have nothing to do with.

says:
29 Jun 2007 at 11:50 am | #

I got a chance to hear Laura Ingraham(who I don’t particularly like) and it was the fairness doctrine that they were up in arms about. But I was pretty up front in my comments that I wasn’t sure what issue the right were commenting on. This is why I suggested that Justin’s posts could maybe be improved if he presented the main contours of the debate on the rather obscure issues he often presents. (And you know in this country that there would be political division on any measure, even saying that the sun is good thing would probably start a debate.)

As to media being owned by too many big corps: I honestly find it a very interesting subject and hope to look into it more when I have time. But I still think that there tends to be alot of alarmist rhetoric on the subject (which I think tends to come from young, smart left-wingers who maybe think they have an important perspective on the world and are frustrated they aren’t getting media jobs) but its not just media that is becoming bigger. Economies of scale are real cost savings by going bigger, so the question is if the merits of more small ownership can outweigh these?

says:
29 Jun 2007 at 03:03 pm | #

formerly f, can I belong to an organization and still be critical of some of the things that it does? I think so. Is it my buisness what you do with your money? Not really. If I want your advice on what to do with my money or what to write about, I’ll ask you. I’ve invested in non-commercial channels like Free Speech TV and Link TV and great news shows like Democracy Now. I’ve also helped create an alternative here locally but, once again, this isn’t about me.

You’re really off topic and more interested in complaining about me than weighing the merits of this discusion about the possibility of bringing more localism and diversity to our public air-waves. That’s the last time I’ll post an off topic comment from you and I’ve already warned you about the name calling.

Trey, I opened this thread to have a discussion. I don’t claim to know every side of the issue. I know what I think about it and I knew that by posting this that there might be some divergent views colliding with my view. That’s the point.

As far as the problem of consolidated media I recommend watching Bill Moyers report called “Buying the War”. He says the news business is at war with journalism.

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Friday, June 22, 2007