Speak Up or Lose

A Cindy Sheehan news item caught my eye today. ABC affiliate KTVX in Utah refused to broadcast her national advertisement and stated their reasons for declining ("TV Station Refuses to Air Anti-War Ad Featuring Sheehan," by Jennifer Dobner, AP).

I decided to send KTVX a note:

'I'm writing regarding your station's recent refusal to accept ads by Gold Star Families for Peace. In an email to media buyers, your station stated, "The viewpoints reflected in the spot are incompatible with our marketplace and will not be well received by our viewers." Since a portion of my tax dollars fund the FCC and enable you to broadcast, I'm compelled to let you know that I find your comment reprehensible. Am I to believe that your station never broadcasts beer commercials nor accepts programming with positive depictions of dancing? How well a commercial may or may not be received by your audience is of little relevance--I'm confident you run ads all the time that your viewers don't like. Thus, your decision smacks of censorship and partisanry, and is a stain on your broadcasting license. What a shame.'

The important issue is not the content of Sheehan's ad, but the growing ease with which media outlets decide what they want the public to hear. The fact is, ideas can be powerful. And the powerful understand this, including broadcasters.

In an era of rising fundamentalism, both here and abroad, I can imagine no better antidote than a free exchange of ideas assisted by a fearless and relatively objective media. But many so-called journalists and the broadcasters they work for are neither fearless nor objective. And the lame FCC can't be counted on to care. Until the tax-paying public raises a collective stink and holds the media accountable, broadcasters will have no incentive to straighten up. So take a moment and write a note to KTVX or any other organization whose censorship you find objectionable, and let them know you care. Believe it or not, they notice.