Re: WBUR takes on Clear Channel

[TC Cheever <tc@chaostheory.com>]

On Monday, March 31, 2003, at 08:17  PM, Dan Billings wrote:
>
> What's wrong with the owner of a broadcast station (or a printed
> publication, for that matter) deciding editorial policy for their 
> property?


What's wrong with it could be any of the following:

1) There have been larger accusations that Clear Channel has created, 
sponsored and/or promoted pro-Iraq involvement rallies, leading to the 
question of whether they're then manufacturing the news that they then 
cover.

2) As a broadcast entity, they are-- unlike a printed publication-- 
regulated by the FCC. So that further leads to the question of whether 
the overt pro-war stance reflects a genuine editorial policy, or is an 
opportunistic attempt to curry favor with the current administration so 
that the action is remember if/when ownership rules are revisited.

There is a relevant news article on the Chicago Tribune website:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-0303190157mar19.story