“WELCOME TO THE OCCUPATION …” STARTING HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
“Hang your collar up inside/ Hang your freedom higher,” R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe once sang.
That’s sage advice for members of the media, whose editorial decisions would be “monitored” by so-called “researchers” from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under a new program sponsored by the agency.
Dubbed the “Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs,” the program was exposed by FCC commissioner Ajit Pai – who penned a must-read column about it in The Wall Street Journal.
“The agency selected eight categories of ‘critical information’ such as the ‘environment’ and ‘economic opportunities,’ that it believes local newscasters should cover,” Pai wrote. “It plans to ask station managers, news directors, journalists, television anchors and on-air reporters to tell the government about their ‘news philosophy’ and how the station ensures that the community gets critical information.
That’s not it, though …
“The FCC also wants to wade into office politics,” Pai continues. “One question for reporters is: ‘Have you ever suggested coverage of what you consider a story with critical information for your customers that was rejected by management?’ Follow-up questions ask for specifics about how editorial discretion is exercised, as well as the reasoning behind the decisions.”
What?
Unfriggin-believable.
Oh and guess what … the FCC occupation (errr, experimentation) commences this spring in our hometown of Columbia, S.C.
Wow.
Not surprisingly, FITS founding editor Will Folks (a.k.a. Sic Willie) weighed in on the matter as only he could …
Dear Federal Communications Commission: If you attempt to place a "researcher" in my newsroom I will slit their fucking throat. Sincerely, W
— Will Folks aka Sic (@fitsnews) February 20, 2014
Well, with one caveat …
I would rethink my philosophy if the FCC sends a researcher with Christian Louboutins and a daddy complex. Maybe …
— Will Folks aka Sic (@fitsnews) February 20, 2014
Yeah … how’s that for an “editorial policy?”
Anyway, given the abject subservience to the left-leaning status quo habitually demonstrated by South Carolina’s bought-and-paid-for mainstream media we are shocked that such an occupation would begin here.
Other than this website, there’s really no resistance to the bipartisan big government goat show in this state.
Irrespective of where it commences, though, such an occupation of media newsrooms is flagrantly unconstitutional.
The First Amendment expressly guarantees freedom of the press – a vital right that cannot be preserved if Big Brother is sitting in the room looking over reporters’ shoulders (to say nothing of dissecting editorial decisions).
We get that government has been stung by scandals involving its surveillance of reporters … but the answer is not kicking in the door to the newsroom.
“The government has no place pressuring media organizations into covering certain stories,” Pai writes.
Amen to that …
34 comments
The media’s version of “OSHA”- have fun boys.
FITS…the way your Bash Republicans, I don’t think you have anything to worry about…
“Yeah … how’s that for an “editorial policy?”
Shifty agrees with Mr. Folks …..
+1
Does Mignon Clyburn ring a bell?
Jims daughter. I saw them at Cain’s the day this was coming down.
I might add she is totally unqualified to sit on the FCC, except of course her time on the PSC, also brought to you by her corrupt dad. Typical.
I do believe even the skinny socialist loving media will push back at the gestopo propaganda dept. this would appear to be the work of VJ and her Shitcago politics.
They can do this, but they can’t do anything about the terrible “reality” TV shows. Figures.
Terrifying. The boot of fascism is here.
Have they not announced which media they will be invading and occupying? Why are they not suing to prevent this evil?
First, Will Folks, then they will be looking at the commentators.
“THIS IS NOT A DRILL”
Listening to Faux in secret would be like listening to Faux live.
Laugh if you will but it is getting awful close to a dictatorship.
Obama’s FCC Gestapo better back off. They are grossly outnumbered and can be crushed like the piss ants that they are.
Who is at the heart at this idea? We need names so we can single them out and persecute them all.
The NSA, IRS, FCC, how soon before the Secret Service starts wearing the uniform of the SS?
When Fox News merges with Clear Channel…
Unlike you I think it is wrong no matter what station it is.
You probably should have specified gender, Will.
Why don’t they just ask the NSA to monitor you? They already know what your typing even when you don’t hit “enter”.
Besides, do you think a researcher is going to fit on your living room couch next to you?
Some folks have their computers in their bedrooms.
The rumor is that this “experiment” will be tried at WIS-TV-10, who has agreed to “invite” the FCC monitor in, thanks to pressure from Jim Clyburn and his “relative.” If we allow this, that truly will be the death of the 1st Amendment as well as the 4th. I wonder if any State Democrats OR RINOs will protest.
— is your comment for real or are you just joking..?
Turns out it’s pretty much true. But now, Clyburn’s daughter et al are backing off. There’s mpre npw, though. Apparently, there was cushy money for the “study” data recording company. Are they friends of the Clyburnses?
interesting, thanks….
Did anyone not think Ms.Cyburn would do this.
Q: What is a government censor?
A: A government censor is a person that can see three meanings to a joke that has only two meanings.
If you don’t like it, go whine to Trey Gowdy (if you can drag him away from the cameras that is…….)
I do think there is a bit of over-reaction but it will give the right-wing nuts and talk radio jerk-offs having something to bitch about and call in for at least a year.
If they don’t have an “enemy” they have no reason to exist.
Well, it will probably make my SiriusFM (oops….I meant SiriusXM) stock go up.
There is a silver lining every time…………….
FITS has nothing to worry about. There’s no journalism going on here. It’s just a poltical hack jerking himself off on a blog.
—- then why are you here?
Left-leaning media? I think not. If anything most of the media in SC is there to support the powers that be and the status quo.
Local television reporters here in Charleston spend so much time reporting on fluff B.S. that little of any real import sees the light of day. Two promos from TV 5 come to mind: 1) Two-headed snake found in South Carolina! and
2) Which fast food restaurant makes the best smoothie?
The Post and Courier isn’t much better. Reporters there know that there are topics which are verbotten and people who are protected.
I wonder how many of the individuals who become entrenched in this obvious deception actually consider themselves to be journalists? How many move on to other careers when they realize that there is a guy behind the curtain ready to stymie their investigations?
“If you attempt to place a “researcher” in my newsroom. . . .”
As if!