FCC Violation: Milwaukee Radio Stations Accused of Giving Walker Free Air Time
The Media Action Center has been monitoring the five local Talk Radio shows on Milwaukee, Wisconsin's WISN (Clear Channel) and WTMJ (Journal Communications) and has come up with some stunning results. Members of Media Action Center Wisconsin will release those results at a press conference Tuesday, May 22, at 10:00 AM, in front of WTMJ, 720 East Capitol Drive Milwaukee, and supporters of Tom Barrett will be present to demand comparable time throughout the remainder of the campaign.
The Media Action Center found that each of those radio stations are giving an average of 50 minutes every day to Scott Walker supporters to promote their candidate, while giving only seconds to Tom Barrett supporters. That's the monetary equivalent each of those radio stations giving between $70,000 to $180,000 in free airtime to the GOP - every week during the recall election.
Sue Wilson, Media Action Center founder, director of the media reform film Broadcast Blues, and author of the "Walker Recall Talk Radio Report," says this extreme imbalance in the 60 days before an election is not only unfair, it violates the law and FCC rules. "Radio stations must offer comparable time to candidates under Section 315 of the Communications Act, and to supporters of candidates under the Zapple Doctrine. WISN and WTMJ management are fully aware of this; even their own Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has warned them about it."
Supporters of Tom Barrett have been writing WISN and WTMJ asking for comparable time as the Federal Communication Commission requires. WTMJ has denied them time; WISN has just not responded.
Read more: http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/13509
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