Imus, The Sequel: Marketplace Censorship

Published Apr 24 2007, 04:55 PM by Wendy Kaminer

        Free speech advocates who railed against Imus’s dismissal, warning that it would embolden the censorious forces of political correctness, will soon be saying “I told you so.” This week, two New York City shock jocks were suspended indefinitely by CBS after an inflammatory prank call to a Chinese restaurant, following protests by the Organization of Chinese Americans. According to an AP report, the group’s New York City president complained that if CBS failed to fire the DJ’s, “it will be a double standard.”

        When private pressure groups begin enjoying the power to dictate programming, with little public debate, free speech advocates are right to worry that fear of giving offense to any and every anti-defamation group will dull and diminish our discourse. I share these concerns, (notwithstanding the ways in which discourse is also diminished by the nasty stupidities of people who speak fluent epithet.) But the challenges posed by private pressure groups are complex. We are not simply engaged in a conflict between brave, thick-skinned advocates of free speech on one side and over-sensitive guardians of civility or political correctness on the other.

        Public opinion generally rules what is aired or published by mainstream media. Fear of giving offense, or simply not engaging the interest of one or more targeted groups of consumers, are the rules of the road.   Free speech advocates who generally ignore these rules, perking up to condemn them in high profile cases, when shock jocks are fired, are a bit like people who only become aware of red lights when they or their friends are caught running them.

        Of course, I’m not suggesting that they shouldn’t stress the troubling implications of firing people like Imus for giving offense.   I‘m not even suggesting that they shouldn’t crow “I told you so,” as more firings, suspensions or self-censorship follow. I am asking them to broaden and de-simplify their analysis to consider the larger and much more problematic context of marketplace censorship that determines what we see and hear every day.

        The Internet alleviates the problem by providing venues for unfettered speech, but elsewhere, programming is still a zero sum game. Risk averse, bottom-line oriented media executives always aim to please their targeted consumers, (the better to please their advertisers) and, in general, the larger their targets, the more carefully they’ll cleave to the middle of the road. Why are they better protectors of a healthy, diverse marketplace of ideas than various collections of consumers who use their own First Amendment rights to express their preferences directly, (either to get shows off the air or keep them on) instead of passively hoping to be recruited by focus groups? That is not rhetorical question.

Filed Under: censorship, First Amendment, free speech

Can You Hear Me Now?

Lunatics Are Always on the Loose

1 Comments

Sandy Price said:

The problem with firing Imus is not that he was offensive but he chose the wrong group to insult. I've been a listener to Imus in the Morning for many years. I've been a victim on his blasts of insulting comments for years but I tune in for his book reviews and political interviews. I miss him and will continue to support his multi-charities because he is a great American. A loud-mouth for certain, but his actions are needed in America more than his words. I can only hope he will return either on cable television or Satellite radio. Thank you for the commentary, I enjoyed it.

April 25, 2007 2:25 PM

Follow the Phoenix

All Blogs

Phlog (1,514)
Talking Politics (1,600)
On The Download (2,245)
Laser Orgy (85)
Dont Quote Me (561)
Outside The Frame (326)

Filed Under: censorship, First Amendment, free speech

Boston Phoenix
Free speech for me, but not for thee
Published 1/29/2010 by HARVEY SILVERGLATE
Freedom Watch

Boston Phoenix
Critical Mass
Published 11/20/2009 by KYLE SMEALLIE AND HARVEY SILVERGLATE
Over the years, UMass Amherst has proven to be a reliable hotbed for political hypocrisy and squelching of free speech

more by Wendy Kaminer

Second Lady | August 30, 2008

Hillary's Harpies | August 27, 2008

No We Can't | July 10, 2008

Anti-Noose Laws | May 19, 2008

It's a Crime to Lie to MYSpace? | May 16, 2008

See all articles by: Wendy Kaminer

Latest Comments

More Bad Signs For GOP Women - The NRCC has got to get a clue! This is exactly why the GOP constantly loses the female vote among independents...

By Leah Wright on 02-09-2010 in Talking Politics

The Kells in Allston is closing - Thank God. A Tavern in the Square, though? Christ.

By Z on 02-09-2010 in Phlog

Thugs and goons: Howie Carr explains--updated! - Carr got it from the comments omg. Who's less credible carr, barnicle or beck? Remember when journalists...

By neil on 02-09-2010 in Dont Quote Me

Q&A #10 -- Mighty Malone? - Joe Malone is a solid character who connects with the average citizen. No one ever accused him of any...

By smallfish on 02-09-2010 in Talking Politics

More Bad Signs For GOP Women - And other than their leader-for-show whom most of them bemoan, how about American citizens of color in...

By wp on 02-08-2010 in Talking Politics

Latest Comments from Free For All

Imus, The Sequel: Marketplace Censorship

1 Comments

Sandy Price said:

Leave a Comment