Citizens for Civility & Accountability in Media

Statements by Members of Citizens for Civility & Accountability in Media

Les Kimber

KMJ radio is the number 1 radio station in Fresno and the entire valley. The station has some 80 thousand listeners out of the 1 million plus residents that reside in its broadcast area.

KMJ's programming is dominated by talk show hosts that are exclusively biased in favor of the Republicans Conservative, anti-government and anti President Barack Obama point of view. Which in no way reflects the vast diversity represented in KMJ's broadcast area.

The 90 plus hours primetime weekly programming (9:00a.am -- 11:00 pm daily) creates an atmosphere of divisiveness that allows for the real possibility of violence toward elected officials including the President of the United States.

Every year, throughout this country we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we are reminded of the circumstances surrounding Dr. King's assassination. Not unlike what is happening today Dr. King was constantly demonized by his opponents which created an atmosphere of hate and violence that convinced his assassin James Earl Ray that he would be doing the country a favor by killing Dr. King.

We are in no way questioning the free speech right of the various talk show hosts that dominant KMJ's daily programming we are questioning the fact that KMJ provides the infrastructure for programming that exclusively promotes one point of view.

Because KMJ is such a powerful voice that covers a tremendous area of Central California the programming that it provides has a heavy impact on the image of Fresno, that helps to portray this area as far right wing "redneck" part of California.

The truth of the matter is that Fresno and KMJ's broadcast area is probably one of the most diverse areas in the state of California and we believe that KMJ has a civic and moral obligation to reflect in it's daily programming the truth of that diversity.

KMJ radio is known throughout the state as the exclusive home of the CSUF Bulldogs a public institution that proclaims diversity as a major part of its mission statement.

We believe that it is a major contradiction for KMJ on the one hand to be the exclusive home of the CSUF Bulldogs and on the other hand be the home of biased daily programming that offers no diversity.

We are asking residents of KMJ's broadcasting area to join with us in our attempt to promote civility and accountability in KMJ's daily programming.

Venancio Gaona

The FCC has granted a radio license to KMJ-AM to broadcast.

In the spirit of fair play and responsible broadcasting, we expect programming that reflects the constant change of diverse interests of the service area's population on socio-economics, politics, and education rather than creating a sense that different beliefs are unacceptable and anti-US values.

The KMJ-AM radio programming continues to nurture a negative image on issues or leaders who might impact residents in the station's service area.

The United States holds general elections every 4 years to reflect a change as perceived by the country's citizens. KMJ-AM should also consider changing its programming format to reflect a variety of socio-economic, political, and educational perceptions on how to improve the US

Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor

For the last more than 40 years I have been a part of various peaceful civic and community efforts to bring better understanding among diverse ethnic, social cultural and religious groups, generate positive energy and create a climate of respect trust and tolerance in Fresno and the surrounding areas.

My life and views are based on my strong belief that we are inherently peaceful loving souls and can learn to live in peace and harmony without hurting each other, without prejudice and discrimination, without vilification and alienation, without hate and fears particularly without the corrupting influence and bigotry that we witness in the media.

As a responsible citizen of the nation, as a concerned member of Fresno community, I am troubled and appalled by the inflammatory tone, the tenor and texture as presented by some talk show hosts on KMJ Radio Station considered the valley's prestigious media outlet. In my view it disturbs our civic and social peace. It contributes to the climate of hate, fear and mistrust and ultimately to violence, the kind of violence that led to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We do not want to see this kind of negativity and poisonous atmosphere prevalent in our nation, in our community, in our work place, in our neighborhoods and in our daily lives.

We do not want any more divisiveness and polarization. We had enough of it.

I therefore appeal to KMJ and its management to look into their policies and programs carefully and compassionately and bring some balance in tone and content and make appropriate changes as suggested in our release.

Richard Stone

KMJ's prime-time programming cannot be evaluated by taking kind its shows one at a time. All of their prime-time commentators have a unified perspective, cumulatively teaching listeners that only one view of current events is to be tolerated, and anyone who opposes that view is not worthy of respect or attention. The perspective put forward 90-plus hours each week ridicules the notion of concern for others and government for the people. The impact of creating such an "echo chamber" is well-known; and the power of repetition was famously articulated by Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's PR master.

As a licensee of public air space, KMJ has a responsibility to serve the public welfare by not structuring its programs in a way that fuels extreme disrespect and intolerance. In allowing little or no room for reasoned disagreement, while demeaning those who offer dissent, KMJ's chosen line-up of commentators has created a profoundly undemocratic and potentially dangerous presence in our community.

In their letter responding to the statement of concern we sent to them last November, KMJ claims to be dispensing only entertainment. Fundraising on air for Tea Party events is not entertainment. Influencing people to picket in protest of speakers they otherwise know nothing about is more than providing entertainment. When the content of their programming so clearly enters the realm of provoking social action, KMJ needs to take responsibility for the results of the political advocacy advanced on their station.

KMJ calls itself the most powerful media presence in the Valley. We call on them to take that position seriously, and provide programming that does not do damage to the social fabric in the region they serve.

Vickie Fouts

I am Vickie Fouts, a social justice activist, Madera County Chair of the Peace & Freedom Party and director of the Uprooting Racism Project. Talk radio has been a concern of mine for some time. But since the election of President Obama and the start of the Tea Party Movement my concerns have greatly escalated. Today talk radio and some cable news seems full of fear mongering, half-truths, hate, prejudice and bigotry.

My greatest fear is that all this talk will motivate people who hear this all the time to commit hate crimes and violence. I worry about the safety of my President. Even though only 12 at the time of President Kennedy's assassination I can clearly remember the picture of young JohnJohn Kennedy, standing with his mother and sister on the Capitol steps, saluting as his father's coffin passed him. I do not wish that experience to be repeated for Malia, Sasha and First Lady Michelle Obama.

My other fear is the possibility of violence breaking out all over our country. For example what if a police officer shoots a person of color somewhere or a white police officer is shot by a person of color. Will people take to the street and bring about even more violence, hate and possible death? One has to wonder what could happen when you see people bringing guns to President Obama's appearances and Tea Party gatherings and others telling people to buy guns and ammunition in order to "take back their country".

I feel I must take a stand against all this chaos and hate. As Gandhi said we must be the change we wish to see. If I stand by and do nothing and violence was to break out I would only have myself to blame for not doing something to try and stop it. By doing something now I know I have given it my best try.

In closing I would like to quote Martin Luther King Jr.:

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true."

Dr. Jean Kennedy

Balancing Programming is not too much to request from a radio station that claims to cover a wide listening audience. KMJ advertises for many socially conscious organizations such as The Poverello House , who's mission statement would disagree with the type of one sided programming that is allowed to take place. The People's church Rev. G.L Johnson who also, features a sermon about God's love and compassion on KMJ each Sunday is followed by the insensitivity and disrespectful commentaries that Rush Limbaugh puts out on KMJ. I find myself asking the question, "Does the attacks put out by KMJ's radio hosts compliment those organizations I mentioned? I find myself asking the same question when I review The City of Fresno's and Fresno City College's core values tenets, both of whom advertise on KMJ, and again I find myself questioning , 'how does KMJ truly reflect these organization's core values statements when these radio hosts promote all this passionate hostility over their airways!' I personally don't believe the hostile attacks of radio hosts Sean Hannity, Mark Levine, or Glen Beck, along with our local radio hosts, Inga Barks, Ray Appleton, and Rev. Jim Franklin mirrors these organization's core values.

Then when I listen to Rev. Jim Franklin who each Sunday preaches to his congregation, and attempts to mirror "what Jesus would do..."(I've visited his church), then he gets on his radio show on KMJ and attacks peace organization's reputations and encourages his listening audience to not financially support Fresno State University (which is the proud home of the Bulldogs), that seems unreasonable and personal to me, and I wonder why a radio station who claims to have an upstanding reputation and strong dedicated audience, would allow such ramping and raging to take place amongst their KMJ radio hosts.

Then Fresno Pacific University, another organization with a strong mission statement and complimentary core values, who also advertises their International MBA program and other enrollment information, Yet again, when I hear how KMJ radio host unleashes hours of prime time incivility towards those who would dare to call in and disagree with their points of view, It makes me enquire how FPU could advertise on KMJ? Does KMJ truly believe that they are complimenting their sponsor's mission statements and core values when they insert their own negative bashing and harsh opinions followed often with their own "choice" words and expressions? This seems disingenuous. What a painful way to keep ratings up, and what a dangerous way to incite one's listening audience and especially when our very own local radio hosts lash out against their own government and use disrespectful remarks - Sure we know that much can be improved for our country's direction, but does it have to take abusive language to exercise our free speech amendment rights as radio hosts?

More people are becoming aware of the constant rhetoric and the 90 plus hours of unbalanced programming - As a consumer and stakeholder I would typically hesitate to support those organizations I mentioned, but I recognized that the fault lies with those marketing firms they have hired who unfortunately place their client's image and reputation on a radio station that straight out attacks their own government and the current president's role. The manner is which KMJ's radio host suggests doing away with the governance of our country, day in and day out, seems "unresting". In fact, KMJ's radio hosts are known for spewing out unreasonable rhetoric and I believe personally that KMJ's current style of programming creates an hostile environment and paranoia. In fact, many of KMJ's radio host misleads in order to create fear - It is not unusual to hear KMJ's radio hosts say that they are "afraid.....". This constant classical conditioning over a 90 hours programming, cannot be healthy for this country. It becomes a breading ground for a country's revolt.

We are therefore, appealing once again to KMJ's management and stakeholders to please create a more balancing programming that will balance out the emotions of your listening audience, unless it is the intended will of KMJ's attempts to start a bloody revolution by using the voices of their Radio Hosts to incite their listening audience to action.

A healthy community thinks about the well being of each other, and we are appealing to KMJ to do what's right.

Dr. Jean Kennedy, Professor and Radio Host, KFCF (Valley Black Talk, "Health Comes at a Premium")

Ellie Bluestein

Radio Stations should be responsible for telling the truth and for being respectful to callers even those who don't agree with the host's point of view. I have no problem with a radio station expressing a point of view, but I do not believe that a radio host has a right to mislead the public by telling falsehoods and demeaning those who express another point of view

Rush Limbaugh compared Nancy Pelosi to the terrorist group Al-Qaida saying she is doing the same thing as Al-Qaida...she is actively recruiting suicide bombers from the ranks of the Democrat congress to pass health care.

Mark Levin often refers to President Obama and Democrats as "lying bastards" and vows that "we will do whatever is necessary to stop Obama and his crowd from destroying our country." He belittles callers who disagree with him as "ignorant dummies."

On April 20, Reverend Jim Franklin attacked WILPF, a 100 year old International Women's peace organization, as Communists and accused them, along with Peace Fresno, of promoting terrorism.

Ray Appleton viciously verbally attacked a local African American community leader who called in to comment on an issue in the West Fresno community, calling him a bold faced liar. When the caller complained about being called a liar Appleton responded by stating, " I don't give a damn about how you feel" and abruptly cut him off the air.

Last summer Ray Appleton stated that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar should be given a reception with a .45 the next time he visits Fresno.

These are inflammatory and dangerous expressions. We hope that KMJ will consider moderating their rhetoric and bring greater accountability to the views which they present as facts to the public.