Robert McChesney
Robert McChesney
american-critic among less similar
Because Hightower's problem, among other things, is that advertisers would be a lot less interested in his show than in Limbaugh's, even if they have similar ratings, because of what Hightower is saying.
cost four twice
The cost of congressional and presidential campaigns has been leaping every two or four years. I think this year it will be 60 percent more than 1996; well over twice as much as in 1992 in the presidential and congressional races.
american-critic commercial history interests national trade whose
If you look at the history of broadcasting, what you find is the National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association whose mission is to protect the interests of the commercial broadcasters.
campaign finance happening reform
But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is devastating.
american-critic attitude change towards
But having said that, there's also a sea change in attitude towards media.
american-critic applies basically largest markets mostly primary stations tv
Because what's going on now, and this applies mostly to television stations in the largest markets too, but TV stations basically are now the primary receivers of campaign spending.
affiliates american-critic antagonize fairly good largest local market running terms
If you're running for reelection in the House of Representatives race, you know, it's very important to you that you be on fairly good terms with the local affiliates in the largest market in your area. I mean you don't want to antagonize them.
clear corrupt highly indictment nature positions power press relationship shows system
It's clear that there is a highly corrupt relationship between some journalists and those in positions of power, ... This indictment shows the corrupt nature of the press system and its linkage to power.
american-critic change hard unless
And they've got to be held accountable; our broadcasting system has to be made accountable; and unless it is, it's going to be very hard to change anything else for the better in this country.
airwaves american-critic cell example pay scarce spectrum
And understand that scarce spectrum is used today for example for cell phone operators, they have to pay for the airwaves they use, for their services.
american-critic behind closed commercial decades input interests licenses public took wealthy
The whole process of getting licenses to broadcast, which took place decades ago, was done behind closed doors by powerful lobbies, and wealthy commercial interests got all the licenses with no public input, no congressional input for that matter.
american-critic pays people relationship strictly
The relationship between the media owner, their relationship isn't strictly with people and audiences. It's also with advertisers, and that's the most relationship in radio; in fact it pays the bills.
american-critic finance lobby national opposes reform states united
The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the National Association of Broadcasters.
hit plenty
They've had plenty of opportunities to hit it out of the park,