The NAACP Image Awards turned out to be a ratings flop for fox, they actually lost viewers and were beat out by several networks. It wasn't that big of a hit with African Americans either, even though it was broadcast on FOX's free television network, it could only draw two million viewers out of an estimated 40 million black ppl counted by the Census. Assuming only African Americans watched the show on FOX, that would only be around 5% of the Black U.S. population.
"Fringe" was preempted by FOX in favor of the NAACP Image Awards, so we don't have to worry about our little-Friday-show-that-could this week. The Image Awards couldn't pull the ratings that "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Fringe" usually do, only barely beating The CW's "Smallville" and "Supernatural episodes."
When it comes to African- American media ownership, much has been written about the lack of it and the controversial programming of the existing Black owned corporate media as well as the non-Black owned media conglomerates that target and market to the Black community. Many of these mainstream conglomerates are not serving the real needs of the community in that they are not using the power of the media to influence positive changes in our communities but are exerting a negative influence from the music and senseless chatter they promote. Rosa Clemente who was the 2008 Vice-Presidential nominee of the Green Party said it best when she said:
"As a new mother, with a two-month old, I refuse to let these companies, these corporations, call my daughter a 'bitch,' a 'hoe,' a 'nigger.' It's over. It's not about 'free speech.' It's about you're peddling drugs into the mind of our community. What you do is addicting our children to violence." - Rosa Clemente at 2005 Hot97 Protest.
Media experts and critics advocating for change are too quick to dismiss the Internet and Internet radio specifically as a means to combat and negate the media conglomerates. Arbitron released a study in 2010 that stated that 33 million Americans tune to Internet radio stations a week. Arbitron Inc. is a media and marketing research firm serving the media as well as advertisers and advertising agencies in the United States and has been tracking and documenting the increasing reach of Internet radio for years.
To dismiss Internet radio as a vital tool in building and maintaining alternative forms of media would be a tragic mistake. To say that we need to focus right now on setting up traditional terrestrial radio and television stations to reach our people is another mistake. The Internet is the future of media distribution and distribution costs are why so many newspapers have gone out of business or in danger of going out of business. Black Newspapers are doing so poorly that the Black publishers of the National Newspaper Publishing Association are pushing for Stimulus money from the U.S. government. For non-profits, educational institutions, churches and mosques, investing in Low-power FM stations to the Black community is a worthwhile pursuit, online a limited number of licenses will be available each year. However Lower-power FM strategies should part of a long term plan while the Internet presents opportunities now.
One the problems with traditional media services is that they have become a victim of advances in technology, the affordability of that technology and the market saturation of computers, cell phones and other hand held devices that allow people to instantly access information and entertainment via the Internet. With so many traditional mainstream media outlets flocking to the internet, a window of opportunity has opened up for those with a social entrepreneurial spirit willing to put in the time to build and network platforms targeting under-served communities. The Internet has level the playing field in terms of what it costs to distribute content if one understands how to aggregate content via social networking tools. The audience for Internet based media is going to increase even faster with automobile makers such as BMW already producing cars with built in devices to access the Internet. There are automobile parts and electronic franchises such as AutoZone offering Wi-Fi products that turn cars into Wi-Fi hot spots. Autonet Mobile describes itself as “a leading company that provides in car wireless broadband connectivity. The company is changing the way people connect to the Internet, one car at a time”. While their services may seem a bit expensive for those who want to use the service to access streaming audio and video, as with all new technology and services, the price is sure to become more affordable for the masses as new service providers arise. That is the nature of competition and technology.
Human rights advocate Malcolm X recognized the power of the media and he recognized the fact Black people needed to educate themselves in order to do something for ourselves instead of relying on others to do it for us. Malcolm also said, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today”. We can fight to have the FCC grant us more licenses and make it easier for so-called minorities to buy radio and television stations subsidized by the government and should do so. However, at the same time, we can start building media outlets on the Internet preparing for the future of media that is already upon us. While some are asking the question about whether Black Radio is worth saving, maybe the proper question is whether real Black Radio and other Black media platforms are worth building.
Scotty Reid is the founder and CEO of the non-profit NC based Black Talk Media Project
“Celebrating what would’ve been Dr Martin Luther King‘s 82cd birthday and in doing so we should all be mindful of the power of his words. We should be mindful of King’s words as we continue to dialogue about what sort of responsibility those who speak to the public have especially via broadcast medium.
In 1967, Dr. King delivered a rare and powerful speech in Atlanta to NATRA (National Association of Television and Radio Announcers). The members of this important African American organization were very appreciative as King laid out the indispensable role Black radio had played in shaping and furthering the Civil Rights struggle. King names off some of the key unsung radio heroes who he says there would not have been a Civil Rights movement had they not reflected the mood of the people and brought critical information to the masses.
King also talks about how radio is the most important and predominant medium in the Black community. It has far more reach and influence than television. He also talks about how the music these Black radio announcers played. King asserted that it helped united people.” - Davey D of Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner from the article “Martin Luther King: The Importance of Black Radio & Using Words as Weapons”
Let's be honest. For many of us, black radio died a long time ago. We aren't producing any more Marvin Gayes and Stevie Wonders. What passes today as classic Soul music is Jamie Fox's "Blame it on the Alcohol." It's not that the black community is not full of talented, would be musicians singing and rapping on street corners in every hood but black radio is too busy playing Soulja Boy every five minutes to give aspiring artists a fighting chance.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the strong legacy of black radio stations, as the companies were instrumental in not only giving us the latest hits but giving the community critical, need to know info during the 60's and 70's. Ms. Hughes should be especially honored for her innovative approach to black talk radio with WOL in Washington DC.
But this ain't the early 80's and the days of radio hosts like Petey Green have long been replaced by the Lil Waynes of the world.
I find it very disappointing that while the Right wing media moguls are up in arms over the FCC's new diversity committee that could possibly break their vice grip on the air waves, black folks are concerned about whether or not they can get their hourly Beyonce fix.- Min. Paul Scott from the article “Should We Save Black Radio?”
Much has been written about the state of Black radio today. We all know the problems but there are few with viable solutions. After three years of research, three years of trial and error, the Black Talk Media Project believes it has found the keys to creating something that has never been attempted before using tools that were not available until recent years. It time to stop complaining about corporate controlled media and the exploitation of the Black Community and begin creating a network by the people for the people. We hope that independent Black radio hosts, producers and media platform owners will join our call for collaboration in creating not one, not two, but many online Black radio stations to serve the needs of the millions of Black people online.
Scotty Reid, the President of the Black Talk Media Project produced this one-hour podcast discussing the need for a truly independent Black radio network and how it can be achieved.
Be a part of the upcoming Black radio conference to take place in the next few days. To be included on this private conference call, send an email to blacktalkradiobaby@gmail.com. Twenty-two media producers have answered the call thus far and this is the last public invitation so send your contact information now.
In an Access Hollywood poll asking if the MTV (Viacom) series “Skins” should be canceled, three out four respondents believe the program should be cancelled.
The chewing gum maker Wrigley is the latest company to pull advertisement from the cable television program. The other companies who pulled their sponsorship of the program are General Motors and Taco Bell.
Skins is based on a popular series that airs in the United Kingdom and the Parents Television Council said in a press release on January 20,2011, that the program
“Included all manner of foul language, illegal drug use, illegal activity as well as thoroughly pervasive sexual content.”
The Parents Television Council called for a Federal Investigation charging that the program is child pornography. They sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and several members of the Congressional Judiciary Committee calling for action.
An excerpt from the PTC letter reads:
Many of the actors appearing in the show are below the age of 18. It is clear that Viacom has knowingly produced material that may well be in violation of any or all of the following federal statutes:
“18 U.S.C. § 1466A (2008) Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children
18 U.S.C. § 2251 (2008) Sexual Exploitation of Children
18 U.S.C. § 2252 (2008) Relating to Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors
18 U.S.C. § 2252A (2008) Relating to Material Constituting or Containing Child Pornography
“Since it is not necessary for Viacom or MTV to distribute the material in order to be in violation of the law, we call upon your committees to immediately investigate Viacom and MTV for the production of this material. Furthermore, we urge you in the strongest possible terms to compel the Attorney General to mount an investigation by the Department of Justice into whether the production of ‘Skins’ has violated federal law meant to protect minors from exploitation.”
This latest action by the Parents Television Council follows their report titled “Tinseltown’s New Target: A study of Teen Female Sexualization on Primetime TV” released in December of 2010. PTC says the “study is based on a content analysis of the most popular primetime broadcast shows among 12 to 17-year-olds during the 2009-2010 TV season.”
2007 Report: Sexualization of Girls is Linked to Common Mental Health Problems in Girls and Women--Eating Disorders, Low Self-Esteem, and Depression; An APA Task Force Reports
Psychologists call for replacing sexualized images of girls in media and advertising with positive ones
WASHINGTON--A report of the American Psychological Association (APA) released today found evidence that the proliferation of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harmful to girls' self-image and healthy development.
To complete the report, the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls studied published research on the content and effects of virtually every form of media, including television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet. They also examined recent advertising campaigns and merchandising of products aimed toward girls.
Sexualization was defined by the task force as occurring when a person's value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified, e.g., made into a thing for another's sexual use.
Examples of the sexualization of girls in all forms of media including visual media and other forms of media such as music lyrics abound. And, according to the report, have likely increased in number as "new media" have been created and access to media has become omnipresent. The influence and attitudes of parents, siblings, and friends can also add to the pressures of sexualization.
"The consequences of the sexualization of girls in media today are very real and are likely to be a negative influence on girls' healthy development," says Eileen L. Zurbriggen, PhD, chair of the APA Task Force and associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualization has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development."
Research evidence shows that the sexualization of girls negatively affects girls and young women across a variety of health domains:
Cognitive and Emotional Consequences: Sexualization and objectification undermine a person's confidence in and comfort with her own body, leading to emotional and self-image problems, such as shame and anxiety.
Mental and Physical Health: Research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problems diagnosed in girls and women--eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression or depressed mood.
Sexual Development: Research suggests that the sexualization of girls has negative consequences on girls' ability to develop a healthy sexual self-image.
According to the task force report, parents can play a major role in contributing to the sexualization of their daughters or can play a protective and educative role. The APA report calls on parents, school officials, and all health professionals to be alert for the potential impact of sexualization on girls and young women. Schools, the APA says, should teach media literacy skills to all students and should include information on the negative effects of the sexualization of girls in media literacy and sex education programs. Read more...
Media Matters posted an interesting piece on recent statements made by a member of the United Kingdom's House of Commons. A British MP by the name of Tom Watson expressed concern about the Anti-Semitic comments frequently made by Fox News commentator Glenn Beck.
Anyone who knows the history of propaganda would know that it is an integral tool in the advancement of White Supremacist ideology used throughout the ages to justify practices such as slavery in the United States and was a primary tool used by Hitler's Nazi Party to demonize Jews to gain public support for policies which led to the Jewish Holocaust in Germany.
Malcolm X once spoke about how news media propagandizes the American people to support the American government's foreign policy.
Considering how Fox News commentators have frequently demonized Black people it is puzzling that the NAACP would seek to partner with News Corp, the parent company of Fox News, to broadcast the NAACP Image Awards on Fox. It was not that long ago that Benjamin Jealous was calling out the racist elements within the Tea Party which was heavily promoted by Fox News with many of their television host also hosting Tea Party Events.
British MP Tom Watson states that much of the content broadcast by Fox News, specifically on Glenn Beck's show, along with other Fox New's programs broadcast in the UK, is prohibited by applicable broadcasting rules. The governing body in the United States, the FCC, has long been criticized for not doing its job in enforcing rules concerning obscene and indecent content on the public airwaves. The FCC does not have any authority over cable programming but does have authority over what is broadcast on public radio frequencies. Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and other right wing ideologues have been the subject of debate about whether or not their extreme rhetoric is promoting the sort of violence that the world witnessed which recently took place in Tucson, Arizona.
Many psychologist have performed studies linking media consumption to behavior in individuals. Many in the Black community have said that gangster rap and its violent lyrics are contributing to the senseless violence played out everyday in Urban communities. Right Wing commentators such as Michelle Malkin have attacked the lyrical content of rap music in the past in light of the Tucson massacre, is making excuses for the violent rhetoric of the right wing programs.
If the attempted assassination of a U.S. Congress woman, if the frequent murders that happen all across the United States are not enough to force the FCC to start enforcing rules pertaining to decency in broadcasting over the airwaves, then our society will continue on its downward spiral into depravity.
Verizon is challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s controversial net neutrality order, becoming the first company to try to stop the agency from requiring Internet companies to treat all Web traffic equally.
The company on Thursday filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which has previously ruled that the FCC does not have the authority to adopt such sweeping regulations.
“Today’s filing is the result of a careful review of the FCC’s order,” Michael Glover, a Verizon lawyer, said in a statement.
“We are deeply concerned by the FCC’s assertion of broad authority for sweeping new regulation of broadband networks and the Internet itself,” he said. “We believe this assertion of authority goes well beyond any authority provided by Congress, and creates uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers.” Read more...
