Unmasking the Super PACs

Why are broadcasters fighting an FCC effort to bring their political ad records into the 21st century?

By Kenneth Rapoza

It's election season in Anytown, U.S.A., and the incumbent County Dogcatcher faces some fierce competition. An issue ad from a Super PAC called Puppy Love has voters convinced the incumbent kills dogs for sport. A muckraking reporter trying to impress her editor [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

    “This is not a controversial measure for broadcasters,” says Andrew Schwartzman.

    Kenneth, instead of quoting Schwartzmann on what the broadcasters think, why not exercise some of that journalism of yours and actually ask some BROADCASTERS what they think?

    But then I forgot that a mere blogger is not to be confused with a real journalist, much as they might protest to the contrary.  Blogs are opinion forums, not news sources, and your blog post is a perfect example, giving only one side of the argument.

    Is there a reason why you failed to mention that the FCC requirement would apply ONLY to broadcast television, and not to cable or radio?  Have you researched how much political advertising money is spent on a relative basis in the various media?

    Look, I’m all for transparency,but let’s not pretend that there will be no cost to the TV stations to do this.  Have you bothered to ask any of THEM what this will cost?

    Never mind, I already know the answer to that question . . .

    Posted by txpatriot on Mar 28, 2012 at 10:33 AM

    And by the way, the proper spelling is “riffle” not “rifle”.  I invite you to look it up.

    Posted by txpatriot on Mar 28, 2012 at 10:37 AM

    This isn’t auto industry ads versus auto industry coverage. This is political ads versus political coverage, which is often a matter of fiction versus fact; a propagandist media versus a democratic one.  wedding groom speech tips

    Posted by Hill Bill on Apr 12, 2012 at 4:58 PM

    In the daily grind of a reporter covering an election, following the money is usually dependent on two things. Either the reporter gets lucky enough to know someone in tight with Cruella’s bumbling idiot sidekicks and is told by an off-record source who is behind the attack ads, or the reporter walks into the TV station that’s running them and asks to go through a file cabinet full of ad info. If that sounds so pre-Netscape 1994, it’s because it is.

    Posted by Jenny Blake on Apr 20, 2012 at 6:52 AM

    In October, the FCC issued its notice of proposed rulemaking to require broadcasters to put their political files online. They’ve solicited comments, and broadcasters all went on record as opposing the rule change. yacht charter greece

    Posted by ronald donovan on Apr 20, 2012 at 7:51 AM