Citizens for Civility & Accountability in Media
CCAM Letter to KMJ
November 27, 2009Patty Hixson
KMJ-AM 580
1071 W Shaw Ave
Fresno, CA 93711
Dear Ms Hixson:
We the undersigned are the conveners of a coalition of several organizations and individuals united by disgust with the brand of "hate radio" that dominates your airwaves. To be clear, by hate radio we mean: "Speech not protected by the First Amendment, because it is intended to foster hatred against individuals or groups based on race, religion, gender, sexual preference, place of national origin, or other improper classification" (Webster's New World Law Dictionary). We are especially concerned about the shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Inga Barks.
We do not contest the constitutional right of these radio personalities to create programming expressive of their beliefs. We are perturbed that as custodians of public air space, you neglect your responsibility to provide for the public benefit by offering any countervailing programs, or even programs where contrary ideas are entertained with respect. As an example of what is possible, The Bill Moyers Journal on PBS is unabashedly liberal in its content, yet it frequently hosts highly respected proponents of opposing views who are given time and space to lay out their reasons for holding contrary opinions. In contrast, the hosts of the shows on your station are typically rude and derisive, cut off any voices that question their positions, and have no scruples about fairness or truthfulness in framing their aggressive attacks on individuals, groups and political positions.
We will no longer tolerate your until-now unquestioned right to present such a barrage of programming as entertainment or commercial freedom. We deem it as damaging to the social fabric and to the possibility of a civil society. We furthermore believe this onslaught of unreasoned rhetoric has been, and can be, a contributor to actual acts of violence perpetrated by people urged on to extremism by the kind of programming you dispense.
We expect to receive a response from you within two weeks that offers serious negotiations for changes in programming that will allow for reasoned discussion and countervailing opinion. If we do not hear from you we will engage in a series of actions to publicize our evaluation of your station. We will let businesses and organizations that support your station for strictly commercial purposes know that they need to weigh the possible loss of business for their continued support.
Yours,
Richard Stone, Vice-President Fresno Center for Nonviolence
Ellie Bluestein, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Vickie Fouts, Director Uprooting Racism Project
Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, Professor Emeritus
Dr. Jean Kennedy, Valley Black Talk Radio Show
Les Kimber, Founder California Advocate
CC: Federal Communications Commission
National Telecommunications and Information Agency