At 12:07 AM 2/2/02, Doug wrote:
>Jim Sharkey wrote: > > > > To me, when the Federal Communications Commission fines Howard > > Stern $1.5 million because of something he says, it's > > censorship, right or wrong. When an advertiser threatens to > > drop a show or a group puts pressure on its creators because > > of a gay character being in it, that's *not* censorship. If > > you wish to call it "shadow censorship," you may, but I don't > > think of it that way. > > >Censorship is suppression of material that the censor finds >objectionable. If a commercial entity knows that it can intimidate a >television network into not broadcasting something it doesn't want them >to, that is suppression. And I think it is more odious than the >governmental kind because at least you can challenge government censorship >in court. > >What is the difference between an economic sanction issued by the FCC and >an economic sanction issued by a commercial entity that threatens to >withhold its business? If a business refuses to sponsor a particular program, the broadcaster is free to look for another sponsor. If the government tells them not to broadcast (and it is upheld on appeal or if the program is live or otherwise time-sensitive, so an appeal would be moot), they can't broadcast. -- Ronn! :) God bless America, Land that I love! Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam� God bless America! My home, sweet home. -- Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
