One Person, One Voice
The Parents Television Council (PTC) has dominated the number of indecency complaints filed to the FCC, according to this article by MediaWeek. Out of all complaints filed in 2003 (with the exception of the infamous and over-hyped Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction”), 99.8% came from the PTC.
Lara Mahaney, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles-based group, said the issue should not be the source of complaints, but whether programming violates federal law prohibiting the broadcast of indecent matter when children are likely to be watching. (MediaWeek.com)
Mahaney is incorrect. It does matter where the complaints come from, lest the media become controlled by special interest groups. A handful of people should not have a disproportionate influence over millions of people. One person writing 10 letters to the FEC does not count as 10 voices.
Lara Mahaney, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles-based group, said the issue should not be the source of complaints, but whether programming violates federal law prohibiting the broadcast of indecent matter when children are likely to be watching. (MediaWeek.com)
Mahaney is incorrect. It does matter where the complaints come from, lest the media become controlled by special interest groups. A handful of people should not have a disproportionate influence over millions of people. One person writing 10 letters to the FEC does not count as 10 voices.
posted by Anonymous at 8:00 AM
3 Comments:
This is also indicative of the systemic problem Trippi describes. The FCC has an agenda that is driven by complaints from the PTC. Did you hear Powell after the Monday night football "Desperate Housewives" incident? First thing he said is there haven't been any complaints, but as soon as he receives one they will investigate. He was basically asking for someone to complain.
While I agree that the FCC needs to be reigned in, and that 1 person writing 10 letters does not count as 10 voices ... the key issue is whether a given broadcast violates standards (law / FCC ruling).
Another important issue is that the FCC is less than upfront about the standards they are holding broadcasters to ...
I don't understand your point. If they won't explain the standards then what constitutes a violation? Everything or nothing?
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