[BC] equal time controversy

[Bill Croghan]

      I think you are right Donna.  Equal time should be given by responsible journalists.  That said, the reality is that a large majority of the talk show types are not journalists and rarely claim to be.  Limbaugh is the first to say he is an entertainer first.  The talk shows target an audience and for the most part that audience is not willing/wanting to hear the opposing sides, liberal or conservative.  News reports should be objective, many are many are not.  Disclaimer; I am a fairly hardcore somewhere between conservative and libertarian.  I am absolutely opposed to any mandate of equal time as a clear violation of freedom of speech.

      A few of our local talk hosts have had candidates with views opposing their own on and usually have treated them well.  There have been exceptions.  One of the bigger problems has been so called candidates with no budget, no real effort to run and no apparent seriousness about the process demanding that they have their hour in the sun on these shows.  We have all seen the political hack, who has little chance to win, who is always listed by the party as token opposition to some well liked politician.  I am in agreement with the hosts who have said they will only have serious candidates on, as long as they don't abuse that.

Bill Croghan CPBE WBØKSW
Chief Engineer,
Lotus Broadcasting, Las Vegas, NV