equal time controversy

[Paul Hopfgarten]

Hello:

I would certainly want to chime in on this.

My first question is do we consider radio separate from Television, 
Newspapers and Magazines as part of the so-called 'media'?

Who owns the Milwaukee Journal, for example? (I don't know the name of the 
Madison paper, but dollars to donuts in a Government Workers/University town 
it supports the Dem, if for no other reason than its audience in Madison is 
likely to support him).

If we think there should be 'equity' in radio, then I would submit that 
equity should also apply to television (MSNBC, CNN etc) and even to print 
media.

I believe it is a mistake to take the one part of todays USA media that is 
mostly (NPR is NO friend of the conservative) right-of-center and think it 
should be more 'equal', and not then set the same standard to apply to ALL 
forms of media (where I submit the left-of-center view holds predominance in 
this country)

Full Disclose, I am rooting hard for Gov. Walker tomorrow.....

PS: I had more comments but in the interest of keeping this cordial I 
deleted...<G>

Paul Hopfgarten
Epping NH


-----Original Message----- 
From: Donna Halper
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 8:37 PM
To: Boston Radio
Subject: equal time controversy

I am hopeful we can discuss this one with courtesy, rather than breaking
it down via partisan points of view.  There's a question being raised in
Wisconsin by Sue Wilson, a Democratic advocate from the Media Action
Center,  about the fact that all the leading radio stations in Milwaukee
are dominated by Republican talk shows and are only inviting Republican
guests to discuss the issues and to promote voting for Republicans
(including the governor).  Beyond whether you do or do not like
Democrats (or Republicans, for that matter), does radio still have a
duty to present both sides of major issues when a small group of
corporate owners control all the stations?  I always thought radio
should present guests from both sides, and here in Boston, as you know,
hosts like David Brudnoy, even though they were personally conservative,
always invited guests from both sides and treated them with respect.
But in some cities, evidently, not so much.
http://www.talkers.com/2012/06/04/wisconsin-recall-spurs-question-of-equal-time-on-milwaukee-newstalk-outlets/