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A Christian station here, a Christian station there. But together, religious broadcasters account for well over half of the low-power FM licenses granted by the FCC. And now, they've banded together to create de facto networks. Does this sort of large-scale mobilization by religious broadcasters defeat the intent of low-power legislation? Bob puts the question to San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Joe Garofoli.
Earlier this month, a judge in California ruled that three bloggers must divulge the source of information posted on their websites. The information detailed soon-to-be released Apple hardware, and had been leaked by Apple employees. The bloggers claimed that they were protected from having to testify by California's "shield law." But the judge said that no journalist, online or other, could bow out of an investigation that had to do with trade secrets. Bob talks to internet law maven Susan Crawford about the ramifications of court-endorsed secrecy for journalism. David Berkman "Leaving Home" Album: Leaving Home Label: Palmetto Jazz
This week, President Bush promoted FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin to chairman of the agency. Because he's already on the FCC, confirmation hearings won't be necessary. And so Martin, a shrewd political strategist and a hawk on indecency, becomes the person with the most influence on media regulation - with no questions asked. Bob has a few questions of his own, and turns for answers to Broadcasting & Cable senior writer Bill McConnell.
Last month, the FCC hit Fox stations with the largest ever aggregate fine for indecency on TV. The offending material was a scene on the short-lived reality show "Married by America," involving strippers and whipped cream. Regulators said the move was triggered by 159 citizen complaints. But Buzzmachine.com blogger Jeff Jarvis tells Bob that the actual number of angry missives was much, much smaller.
A reporter in Providence, Rhode Island this week joined the ranks of reporters facing jail time for refusing to disclose a confidential source. Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press executive director Lucy Dalglish weighs in on what it portends for the health of American journalism.
Last week, a photographer for a Missouri student newspaper was assigned to cover a campus political rally. During the event, she inadvertently photographed a theft in progress. The student offered to show the image to the police, but instead, they confiscated her camera. And with that, the incident entered the annals of conflict between media and law enforcement. Mark Goodman, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, discusses the case with Bob.
Most of the time, trial lawyers don't ever make it to trial. Personal injury lawyer Len Gabbay often serves his clients' interests by keeping them out of court. And he does it with the help of a video camera. Gabbay compiles documentaries on the suffering of the plaintiff, and screens it for the defendant. He tells Brooke that nine times out of ten they settle, and everyone is spared the ordeal of a trial.
Months after it punished a New York Times reporter for unflattering coverage, the Brazilian government is again under fire for a new measure to keep the press in check. Lawmakers are debating a proposal for a Federal Journalism Council that would have the power to "orient, discipline, and monitor" reporters, and could theoretically bar reporters from the profession if they violated a new code of ethics. Brazilian journalist Antonio Brasil discusses the controversy with Bob.
