On Radio: What words can you say on radio, TV?
4 views
Skip to first unread message
keitha http://www.aussieseek.com
Mar 21, 2008, 1:37:08 AM3/21/08
to australia.radio.broadcast.moderated
On Radio: What words can you say on radio, TV?
Broadcasters hope US Supreme Court will clarify rules
By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER
Comedians have gotten a lot of mileage over the years from language
censorship on the radio.
Decades before anyone thought of the concept of "politically correct,"
Stan Freberg lampooned the censors with a sketch in which a singer is
compelled to change the objectionable parts of "Ol' Man River." The
new version: "Elderly Man River."
More recently, Monty Python's Eric Idle sang "I Bet You They Won't
Play This Song on the Radio," in which various sound effects obscure
words that might raise censors' hackles. And, of course, there is the
now-classic George Carlin routine of the seven words that cannot be
said on television (which was before the rise of cable TV programming,
on which some of those words could not only be said but constituted
much of the dialogue).
Broadcasters haven't been laughing much in recent years, though, as
Congress and the Federal Communications Commission threaten to come
down hard, in the form of hefty fines, on broadcasters who allow one
of the seven deadly words or other content deemed improper over the
airwaves.
Broadcasters have complained that they're dealing with shifting -- and
sometimes conflicting -- standards and rules, which makes it difficult
to answer such questions as: Just what can you say on the radio? And
in what context?
Is a fleeting expletive unleashed by a celebrity at a live event the
same as a remark made by a program host? What about remarks made by
callers?
The industry is hoping to get some clarity on the issue, now that the
Supreme Court has decided to hear a case involving one of the banned
words uttered during TV broadcasts of awards shows. The FCC ruled that
those events constituted a violation of its policies on profanity. An
appeals court overruled the FCC, citing First Amendment
considerations.
Both the industry and several FCC commissioners said they were pleased
that the court is taking up the case. The National Association of
Broadcasters said a ruling will "provide badly needed clarity."
While lawyers, judges and industry groups wrangle over the issue, it's
up to broadcasters at the operating level to figure out how to stay
out of trouble with whatever the standards are.
Call-in shows represent a particular challenge, hence the use of the
seven-second delay on live local shows at KVI-AM/ 570, says Dennis
Kelly, AM group program director for Fisher Radio Seattle. The station
doesn't run a delay on syndicated programs because they're already
operating with one, he added. KOMO-AM/ 1000 doesn't use a delay except
for its Mariners call-in show.
All of Clear Channel's local outlets, including music stations,
operate on a seven- to 10- second delay, depending on the station,
says Michele Grosenick, regional vice president and market manager.
"We never don't have the delay on," she says. "It's just being prudent
about it."
In years past, there might have been a list of forbidden words, says
Grosenick, but in recent years, the issue of what constitutes indecent
material has become broad and murky.
Clear Channel has in place a training program called the Responsible
Broadcasting Initiative that on-air personnel and producers, among
others, are required to take and pass annually.
That effort was prompted in part by a $1.75 million settlement with
the FCC in 2004 to resolve various complaints.
Fisher doesn't have a posted list of don't-use words for its own on-
air staff, says Jim Clayton, vice president and general manager of
Fisher's Seattle TV and radio stations. Instead it relies on their
judgment to know what's acceptable for broadcast. "If our employees
aren't smart enough to know that, they shouldn't be working here,
anyway," he says.
Broadcasters hope US Supreme Court will clarify rules
By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER
Comedians have gotten a lot of mileage over the years from language
censorship on the radio.
Decades before anyone thought of the concept of "politically correct,"
Stan Freberg lampooned the censors with a sketch in which a singer is
compelled to change the objectionable parts of "Ol' Man River." The
new version: "Elderly Man River."
More recently, Monty Python's Eric Idle sang "I Bet You They Won't
Play This Song on the Radio," in which various sound effects obscure
words that might raise censors' hackles. And, of course, there is the
now-classic George Carlin routine of the seven words that cannot be
said on television (which was before the rise of cable TV programming,
on which some of those words could not only be said but constituted
much of the dialogue).
Broadcasters haven't been laughing much in recent years, though, as
Congress and the Federal Communications Commission threaten to come
down hard, in the form of hefty fines, on broadcasters who allow one
of the seven deadly words or other content deemed improper over the
airwaves.
Broadcasters have complained that they're dealing with shifting -- and
sometimes conflicting -- standards and rules, which makes it difficult
to answer such questions as: Just what can you say on the radio? And
in what context?
Is a fleeting expletive unleashed by a celebrity at a live event the
same as a remark made by a program host? What about remarks made by
callers?
The industry is hoping to get some clarity on the issue, now that the
Supreme Court has decided to hear a case involving one of the banned
words uttered during TV broadcasts of awards shows. The FCC ruled that
those events constituted a violation of its policies on profanity. An
appeals court overruled the FCC, citing First Amendment
considerations.
Both the industry and several FCC commissioners said they were pleased
that the court is taking up the case. The National Association of
Broadcasters said a ruling will "provide badly needed clarity."
While lawyers, judges and industry groups wrangle over the issue, it's
up to broadcasters at the operating level to figure out how to stay
out of trouble with whatever the standards are.
Call-in shows represent a particular challenge, hence the use of the
seven-second delay on live local shows at KVI-AM/ 570, says Dennis
Kelly, AM group program director for Fisher Radio Seattle. The station
doesn't run a delay on syndicated programs because they're already
operating with one, he added. KOMO-AM/ 1000 doesn't use a delay except
for its Mariners call-in show.
All of Clear Channel's local outlets, including music stations,
operate on a seven- to 10- second delay, depending on the station,
says Michele Grosenick, regional vice president and market manager.
"We never don't have the delay on," she says. "It's just being prudent
about it."
In years past, there might have been a list of forbidden words, says
Grosenick, but in recent years, the issue of what constitutes indecent
material has become broad and murky.
Clear Channel has in place a training program called the Responsible
Broadcasting Initiative that on-air personnel and producers, among
others, are required to take and pass annually.
That effort was prompted in part by a $1.75 million settlement with
the FCC in 2004 to resolve various complaints.
Fisher doesn't have a posted list of don't-use words for its own on-
air staff, says Jim Clayton, vice president and general manager of
Fisher's Seattle TV and radio stations. Instead it relies on their
judgment to know what's acceptable for broadcast. "If our employees
aren't smart enough to know that, they shouldn't be working here,
anyway," he says.
newtaste
Mar 21, 2008, 1:32:05 PM3/21/08
to australia.radio.broadcast.moderated
> On Radio: What words can you say on radio, TV?
> Broadcasters hope US Supreme Court will clarify rules
If the Australian Senate has it's way, you probably will not be able
> Broadcasters hope US Supreme Court will clarify rules
toi swear at all. The Senate is going to inquire into swearing on
television:
Chef's foul specialty sparks swearing inquiry
Phillip Coorey Chief Political Correspondent
March 21, 2008
THE potty-mouthed British chef Gordon Ramsay has so raised the ire of
the Senate that it agreed yesterday to hold an inquiry into swearing
on television and what more could be done about it.
The motion to hold the inquiry was moved by the South Australian
Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi after a recent episode of Ramsay's
Kitchen Nightmares in which the abrasive gastronome dropped the F-bomb
80 times. That episode screened at 8.30pm on Channel Nine. Another
that offended the senator, in which Ramsay used the C-word twice,
screened at 9.30.
Labor and the minor parties voted with the Coalition yesterday to
establish the inquiry, which would concentrate on free-to-air TV.
Senator Bernardi promised it would be brief.
The move is understood to have angered the industry group Free TV
Australia. Sources told the Herald that Free TV Australia's chief
executive officer, Julie Flynn, protested angrily to the
Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, his Opposition counterpart,
Bruce Billson, and the Opposition Senate Leader, Nick Minchin, as well
as the Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson. It is understood she flew
from Sydney to Canberra to make her point.
Full story:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/chefs-foul-specialty-sparks-swearing-inquiry/2008/03/20/1205602575633.html
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages