Complaint filed with FCC alleges WISN, WTMJ radio bias on recall ...

A liberal watchdog group has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, charging that bias demonstrated by local radio hosts violates something called the Zapple Doctrine, requiring equal time not just for candidates but their supporters.

The complaint?by the Media Action Center charges that?shows hosted by Mark Belling, Vicki McKenna and Jay Weber on WISN-AM (1130), a Clear Channel Communications station, and Charlie Sykes and Jeff Wagner on Journal Communications station WTMJ-AM (620) demonstrated pro-Scott Walker bias in violation of the doctrine.

The regulation requires?that in the 60 days prior to an election, stations must provide comparable airtime to both major political parties.

However,?since Zapple was a byproduct of the Fairness Doctrine, which was taken off the books in 2011, it is unclear whether it still applies.

According to an attorney writing in Talkers magazine, the only exceptions to Zapple were newscasts, interview programs, documentaries and breaking news.

?So the question becomes whether or not most talk radio shows come under any of these exceptions,? wrote the attorney, Steven J.J. Weisman. He noted that the FCC ?has taken a broad interpretation? of the definition of ?news interview program.?

According to the complaint, Media Action Center monitored the stations for seven days in May. They?found WISN-AM aired an average of 80 minutes per day of ?pro-Walker / anti-Barrett and pro GOP anti-Democratic messages,? and WTMJ-AM aired 88 minutes.

During the survey period, WISN-AM aired six minutes and 30 seconds of pro-Barrett/ Democratic messages, and WTMJ-AM aired 13 minutes and 30 seconds.

If it can be proved that the stations ?consistently only interviewed or promoted a single candidate without ever providing air time to his opponent, it is not only possible but likely that the FCC would ? require equal time for the other candidates,? wrote Weisman.

Whatever the FCC rules ?may have a significant effect? on the fall elections, he wrote.

From JSOnline.com.

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