[grc] Election opinions on-air

[Ani Raven]

KBOO's interpretation is that no on air host may endorse or oppose any
candidate, as while they are on air, they are representing the station.
Hosts can discuss issues, but not give their personal opinions of
candidates.

cheers,
ani

On Tue, Feb 9, 2016 at 12:45 PM, Paul Bame via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org>
wrote:

>
> "I understand that as a programmer for a 501[c][3] organization, I
>> cannot, while on-air, endorse (or encourage people to vote for or
>> against) a political candidate or initiative."
>>
>> Anyway, I think KMUD's rule is a pretty good one -- but is it too narrow?
>>
>
>
>> The FCC's own language above is certainly helpful -- "refrain from
>> making statements that suggest the station supports or opposes any
>> candidate."
>>
>
> I'm not a lawyer or legal scholar, so take this for the mildly-informed
> personal opinion that it is :-)
>
> There will always be people who will believe, or who will claim to
> believe for possibly manipulative purposes, that the voice of one person
> in a group is the voice of the group, and this is probably worse for
> media outlets.  And who can really say that the volunteer programmer
> who is "in control" and will be signing the on-air log book, is /not/
> representing the station, since in a very physical way they are!?
>
> Whether labile naivety or subtle attack, painting a group with the
> brush of a single member is an effective gag --- another version of the
> "liberal media" gagging method.
>
> There will also always be people who are part of a group who are Very
> Very Worried that things they Really Do Not Agree With, or will Offend
> Important (to them) People, will be said by those Other members
> of their group.
>
> To reduce both of these unfortunate problems, many stations air ample
> disclaimers, especially surrounding anything which could be thought
> to be opinion rather than fact.  Probably a good idea, especially for
> political editorials, especially during election season.
>
> I personally think that, ignoring 501c3, that everything I've read says
> it is fine to express station opinions on non-candidate election
> questions -- just not on candidates.
>
> My take is that KMUD's policy is too narrow.  But without great
> programmer and staff training, careful disclaimers, and a lawyer on
> retainer, it is a very sensible way to handle things.
>
>        -Paul (pablito) Bame
>
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