There is no question the Obama administration and most Democrats thinks conservative talk radio is something that should be eliminated from the “new” American culture. We documented that in the book Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio. Now, the administration is stepping up its subtle attack on conservative talk radio stations.
In 2008, Arbitron, which measures radio audiences nationwide, began rolling out its latest measurement technology called the “Portable People Meter,” or PPM. It’s a pager-device that automatically registers what someone is listening to at any moment. It’s the measurement of real time listening as opposed to the “old” system that required a listener to recall and write down once a week the stations they could remember they heard. Most radio executives feel this system is the future for radio audience measurement. When the New York ratings came out last fall, it showed conservative talk radio was even stronger than previously noted under the old audience measurement system and that minority radio stations were not as popular. Well, you know the rest of the story.
The Obama administration, along with the City of New York, and other minority interests cried foul. Then, the FCC stepped in and announced it would investigate the new Arbitron system. After all, it cannot allow conservative talk radio to improve its already strong position on American airwaves!
Several things are playing out that conservatives need to be aware of. First, the Fairness Doctrine appears dead on arrival. Democrats finally figured out re-imposition would be unconstitutional. So, they are going through the backdoor to “clarify the public interest obligations” of broadcasters as stated by Obama and the Democrats in their 2008 party platform. The FCC on May 7th began hearings to “diversify” media ownership in America. The only way to do that is to take a broadcast license away from a current owner and give it to a minority. Democrats can’t understand that such a “redistribution of wealth” is a form of censorship of another point of view. And, of the 31 members of the advisory committee appointed by the FCC, it was hard to find one that represents conservative interests. There is no one to represent Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, or Lars Larson in these on-going hearings. Secondly, the FCC will reduce the broadcast license renewal term from eight to three years. Big brother at work looking over the shoulder of media. But, back to the Arbitron measurement issue.
Seattle has always been a strong talk market for radio. But, in the first month of the new PPM methodology, talk radio tanked. Any correlation to the FCC/Obama concerns that PPM does not represent minority interests? Time will tell, but the Seattle ratings don’t reflect the trends for talk radio nationwide under the new audience measurement system. Newstalk leader, KIRO switched to an FM frequency which always creates some confusion in early ratings. Hopefully, subsequent Seattle PPM ratings will reflect the strength of talk radio in America. Expect the Democrat controlled FCC to meddle where it should not because as acting FCC Commissioner Michael Copps told CNSNews.com earlier this year, “If markets cannot produce what society really cares about, like a media that reflects the true diversity and spirit of our country, then government has a legitimate role to play.”
Such a totalitarian statement leaves no question that liberals want to re-define talk radio in America. It eliminates the ability of the free market to choose what it wants to hear by forcing the intent of regulated balance of the Fairness Doctrine. We must be aware of what is happening under our noses because the tactic of the new administration is to get it done before we can raise the red flags.
Brian Jennings is a 40-year talk radio programming executive and author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio.
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