Local news

Cuomo Cleans Up Corruption on TV

In TV Ad, Cuomo Vows to Clean Up Corruption(NYT)

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who is expected to seek a second term next year, promises a “government that we can trust. * The Times Union writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent fundraising activities leaves him open to accusations of hypocrisy after previously beating the drum on campaign finance reform: *

Gov. Cuomo slammed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics over disclosure (NYDN) ‘The only thing transparent about Gov. Cuomo’s administration is his obvious attempt to avoid disclosure,’ says the liberal organization. A new TV ad by Cuomo touting his anti-corruption Moreland Commission drew sharp criticism from former NYC Public Advocate Mark Green, who lost to Cuomo in the 2006 AG’s race. Cuomo used campaign cash to pay for the ad, which is unusual, since up to this point he had been relying on the Committee to Save NY and the state Democratic Party to do that for him. A circus-themed analysis from the left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington categorized Cuomo as a “sideshow” — the least awful of its three categories of bad executives — for what the group described as transparency and cronyism failures.


WNBC which has made million on TV ads political candidates Will Not Air the Full 90 Mayoral Debate Tuesday Night

WNBC only airing two-thirds of climactic Democratic mayoral debate on Tuesday? Quinn, Thompson, Liu, Weiner demand fix // via @mikiebarb
The 8PM Hour on WNBC Will Be Taken by Hollywood Game Night THE STARS BRING THEIR A-GAME TO FINAL NIGHT OF COMPETITION – Two contestants will lead their respective teams of three celebrities, which include Tom Arnold, Terry Crews, Emilie de Ravin, Jerry Ferarra, David Giuntoli and Hoda Kotb, and in a series of unique party games in hopes of winning the $25,000 grand prize. The games will bring out the best, funniest and most competitive sides of some of Hollywood’s most beloved stars in this hilarious no-holds-bar competition hosted by Jane Lynch.

 Four mayoral campaigns pen open letter to news channel WNBC4 demanding that it air upcoming debate in full  (NYDN) Campaign managers for Christine Quinn, Bill Thompson, Anthony Weiner and John Liu signed the letter to WNBC4, which is scheduled to only air one hour of the 90-minute debate. Bill de Blasio notably did not co-sign the letter.





More than two centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson said that the strength of our democracy would depend on how well-informed the American electorate is

The End of the Fairness Doctrine Has Allowed the Media to Dumb Down the Public and Make $$ Off Them

The Radio & TV Act of 1932 before it was destroyed by congress and Reagan in the 1980's required those who possess a broadcast license had a contract between media owners and the public.   In order to use the electromagnetic spectrum, which belongs to the public, the broadcaster promises to serve the public interest.   Today it is not about serving the public interest, it is about maximizing profits. In the quest for $$$ they have dumb down the public and given the wealthy special Interests , not an informed public the ability to shape and control government.


When Congress Got Rid of the Fairness Doctrine It Created A Media That Controls Rather Than Informs the Public  
Serving the public interest, as the Supreme Court said in Red Lion v. FCC, means that “[t]he broadcaster must give adequate coverage to public issues.” Giving adequate coverage to public issues is what media owners promise the public to do in exchange for getting their licenses. In 1987 congress elimited the Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. 

The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented.  In 2011 the Federal Communications Commission special report, “The Information Needs of Communities,” says there is a lot of journalism out there, just not much “accountability reporting” of local and state government. It is not a secret that TV and radio stations rely on the local newspaper for most of their hard news. So those "rip and read" TV broadcasters have offered their views much less hard and investigative news as newspaper staffs shrivel amid because of draconian layoffs caused by the internet and the recession?

Local TV news devotes most of its time to crime and gossip stories, almost nothing to local government

NYC Local TV Keeping the Public Uninformed While Racking In the Millions

This Is What WNBC (4) Calls Informing the Public This Morning

6:30 Weather,  6:31 - Dead baby found beaten in the Bronx, 6:32 NJ Man trying to lures teens into his car in NJ, 6:34  A 25-year-old motorist was hauled into court yesterday on charges his drunken driving led to the death of a Nassau cop, 6:35  Missing killer in Harrington State Park,  6:35  Skate Board Event on Broadway canceled may go on anyway,  6:36 Sun screen that caught fire, 6:37 Mediator shower in the sky, 6:37 Weather, 6:39 Commercials, 6:42  Shredding personal documents, 6:42 Reporter out west has a cockroach crawing on him during a stand up, 6:43 Commercials,  6:46  Europe Royal Wedding. Justin Timberlake Wedding, 6::47 Movie Reviews, 6:48 Commercials, 6:51 Check in with the Today Show, 6:52 How Halloween can be dangerous for you pets, 6:55 Commercials, 6:57 Top Stories Baby died with bruses on her body, wake for nassau cop, Drill Simulating Plane Accident To Take Place At Newark, 6:58 Weather

Not Only Does TV News Make the Public Uninformed, It Makes Millions From Wealthy Candidates and Special Interests Seeking Public Support

Besides candidates running for office unions and business interest spend millions on TV ads to local stations to push their candidacy or interest. In other words the media makes money of the same public they dumb down.   Local TV stations stand to profit from boom in super-PAC spending (The Hill)*CSNY’s budget blitz: $3.9 million (updated)(TU) *Save NY airing tax cap ad(TU) *Budget opponents up their ads and mailers(TU) *Bloomberg Blames Negative Ads For Poor Showing In Education ...(Politico) *Save NY now airs on school money(TU) *NYC's Bloomberg Pays for TV Ads Backing Cuomo's Pension *  Bloomberg Defends His Administration With TV Ad - NY1.com * Local TV News For $ale: How Special Interests Control News Content and Public Opinion ***Local News Dumb Down Journalism(True News)