Bill Moyers/Michael Winship: Will Big Bird Reject Attack Ads?

[marmar]

from Consortium News:



Will Big Bird Reject Attack Ads?
April 20, 2012

A federal appeals court has extended the Citizens United “logic” into the realm of public television, opening the door to cluttering up those stations with campaign attack ads like the rest of TV, an ominous development to Bill Moyers and Michael Winship.

By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship


A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about how the media giants who own your local commercial television and radio stations have been striking like startled rattlesnakes at an FCC proposal that would shed a light on who’s buying our elections.

The proposed new rule would make it easier to find out who’s bankrolling political attack ads by posting the information online. The stations already have the data and are required by law to make it public to anyone who asks.

But you can get only it by going to the station and asking for the actual paper documents – what’s known as “the public file.” Stations don’t want to put it online because — you guessed it — that would make it too easy for you to find out who’s putting up the cash for all those ads polluting your hometown airwaves.

If approved, the new rule would require the ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates in the top 50 markets to make their files on political advertising available on line immediately. Other stations would have a two-year grace period. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2012/04/20/will-big-bird-reject-attack-ads/