End Radio Coverage Bias of Recall Election in Wisconsin ...

Petitions, Politics ? By Nanette Curtis on May 31, 2012 2:51 pm

Target: Federal Communications Commission

Goal: Eliminate radio coverage bias by enforcing rule that requires equal coverage of candidates prior to an election.

Two radio stations in Wisconsin that broadcast on public airwaves are unfairly devoting more airtime to positive coverage of Governor Scott Walker than to his opponent during the current recall election. Broadcasters that use public airwaves have to serve the public interest. Providing more positive radio coverage of one candidate than another clearly does not serve the public interest and is in violation of rules governing equal broadcast opportunities for candidates.

The Media Action Center monitored two radio stations in Wisconsin to determine the amount of time each station devoted to Governor Scott Walker and his opponent, Tom Barrett, in the recall election. The analysis determined that the two radio stations, WISN and WTMJ, devoted much more time to positive coverage of Governor Scott Walker than to Tom Barrett. Over a week, WISN spent 60 minutes on average promoting Governor Walker and only 55 seconds on average on positive coverage of Tom Barrett. WTMJ spent 49 minutes on average on positive coverage of Governor Walker and zero minutes on positive coverage for Tom Barrett. Both radio stations are called ?News Talk?; however, they are clearly biased in favor Governor Scott Walker.

There are rules in place to ensure that candidates receive equal opportunities for exposure on public airwaves and WTMJ and WISN in Wisconsin are violating these rules. The Communications Act requires that broadcast networks treat legally qualified candidates equally when selling or giving away airtime. Both radio stations are effectively giving away airtime when they provide positive coverage to either candidate. Since the amount of positive coverage is much greater for Governor Walker than Tom Barrett, the two radio stations are clearly in violation of the Communications Act. The Zapple Doctrine requires that supporters of political candidates receive equal airtime in the sixty days prior to an election. Supporters of Governor Walker receive much more airtime than supporters of Tom Barrett, despite repeated requests from supporters of Tom Barrett for more airtime. Therefore, the radio stations are also in violation of the Zapple Doctrine.

Rules are in place to prevent unfair bias of radio stations that operate on public radio waves. When these rules are violated, radio broadcasts can have undue influence on the outcome of elections. It is important to protect the balance of coverage in radio broadcasts so voters can make up their own minds in elections.

By signing the petition, you will help urge the Federal Communications Commission to enforce rules to end the bias of two radio stations in Wisconsin.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Federal Communications Commission,

Two radio stations in Wisconsin are violating rules meant to ensure equal opportunities for candidates on public radio waves. The two stations are devoting more time to positive coverage of Governor Scott Walker than to his opponent during the current recall election. Therefore, these radio stations are exercising undue influence in the election.

The Media Action Center conducted an analysis to determine the amount of coverage two radio stations devoted to Governor Scott Walker and his opponent, Tom Barrett, during the recall election. Over a one-week time period, WISN devoted an average of 60 minutes of positive coverage to Governor Scott Walker and only 55 seconds on average to positive coverage of Tom Barrett. WTMJ devoted on average 49 minutes to positive coverage of Governor Scott and zero minutes to Tom Barrett. Both stations are called ?News Talk?, but they clearly broadcast biased content.

Rules are in place to ensure that political candidates receive equal opportunities for exposure on public networks. The Communications Act requires that broadcast networks treat legally qualified candidates equally when selling or giving away airtime. By spending more time promoting Governor Scott Walker than Tom Barrett, WISN and WTMJ are effectively giving away more airtime to Governor Walker than to Tom Barrett in violation the Communications Act. The Zapple Doctrine requires that supporters of different candidates receive an equal amount of airtime in the sixty days preceding an election. WISN and WTMJ have also violated this rule by giving supporters of Governor Walker more airtime then supporters of Tom Barrett.

I urge you to stop WISN and WTMJ from exercising undue influence in the recall election in Wisconsin by enforcing the Communications Act and the Zapple Doctrine.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

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