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13.04.2004

‘censorship’ row over howard stern in usa—$1/2 million‘indecency’ fine

“Back on March 5th I said the following about the new, iron-fisted, indecency rules that are being put in place for radio...

“"When you raise fines to that level and threaten to revoke licenses you are in effect engaging in "stealth censorship". By that, I mean that since what is considered to be "indecency" on the radio is very subjective and since the fines are so high, no radio stations are going to be able to afford to continue to carry "shock jocks" once this goes into effect." ”

You want to know what this is really about? Here is the link for a site campaigning against the behaviour of what the USA knows as ‘shock jocks’ – radio broadcasters who seek audiences by trying to shock, or be ‘controversial’. This is a normal behaviour pattern for both teenagers and advertisers.

“Clear Channel suspended Stern in February from its six stations that carry his program, which regularly features graphic sexual discussion and humor. It decided to make the move permanent after the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) cited the chain for 18 alleged violations from Stern's April 9, 2003, show.

“ "Mr. Stern's show has created a great liability for us and other broadcasters who air it," said John Hogan, president of Clear Channel Radio. "The Congress and the FCC (news - web sites) are even beginning to look at revoking station licenses. That's a risk we're just not willing to take." ”

Calling the programme content ‘humor’ looks like stretching the definition from what I have read!

Clear Channel is the largest radio broadcaster in the USA, with around 1,200 stations and many other interests in and out of the USA.

The air is full of accusation and counter accusation. For instance, there are claims that Stern was seeking to have his contract broken, and claims he has been taken off air for becoming highly critical of Bush.

“Victoria's Secret cancelled the television broadcast of their fashion show.”

Here is another case of fear-invoked self-censorship, incredible because the show concerned is insipid.

This all begs the question, “When will the US return to to witch trials?”

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