Thursday, February 13, 2003

Silencing the dinnertime intrusions AP reports that the House voted 418-7 to establish a national do-not-call list. 418-7. This in spite of tremendous lobbying by the DMA and telemarketing industry. Telemarketers say the registry will devastate their business, endangering millions of jobs and sending ripples through the economy. The Direct Marketing Association, an industry group, filed a lawsuit against the FTC last month on grounds the registry unlawfully restricts free speech. Free speech my ass. The Supreme Court has already ruled (in the junk fax case) that the First Amendment does not apply to such intrusions. Consumer groups and many lawmakers say the registry has overwhelming support from the public who are fed up with unwanted telemarketing calls. Shock. But don't be shocked if this bill never makes it past the Senate without substantial emasculation. The battle against aural spammers ain't over yet. 12:42:48 PM    Oh yeah? [] Radio stations licking chops for war Cory Doctorow links to a leaked memo from Clearchannel stations KFBK and KSTE in California which spills the beans on corporate marketeers and their efforts to turn the looming conflict into a ratings grab for the stations. This unintentionally hilarious statement takes the cake: If long form coverage is not warranted by the situation, then carry ABC status. Anchor those in studio plus other locally produced coverage. Start with four per hour minimum. Always err on the side of overkill. Actually, there is no such thing as overkill in a situation like this. Ideally, long form coverage is the way to go using a combination of local anchors/hosts and network updates and cutaways. Which pretty much sums up what's wrong with today's media. Certainly the major networks, as their 9-11 coverage proved, subscribe to the same theory of "overkill", though perhaps using a more fortunate choice of words. And just so we don't forget what this potential war is all about: The initial hours of coverage are critical. People who have never listened to our stations will be tuning in out of curiosity, desperation, panic and a hunger for information. RIGHT NOW, convert them to P-1's, or at least make them a future cumer. We must make sure we meet their expectations, otherwise they're gone forever and they ain't coming back. Don't forget KGBY, KHYL and KSTE. They'll need help and information as well. They will help with KFBK cross-promotion also. The idea of "branding" a disaster is repulsive, but it's common practice. Don't forget, when appropriate use language like 'a Newstalk 1530 KFBK exclusive' 'a story you are only hearing on KFBK' or 'a story you heard first on KFBK'. Make sure we own being FIRST. D-FW local station WBAP is among the worst at this type of hype. Frequent station promos, in portentous tones and with solemn background music, tout the station's impending coverage in tones usually associated with the newest episode of "ER". Perhaps the most egregious example after 9-11 was when WBAP opened every segment with "As America Strikes Back". Inanities such as "Next on WBAP, as America Strikes Back", or "And now the news on WBAP, as America Strikes Back." Similarly, the Clearchannel stations have their marketing strategy all mapped out: Our Coverage will be called America's War with Iraq. In writing copy please call our coverage, 'LIVE In-Depth Team Coverage of America's War with Iraq.' Indeed, there is increasingly no distinction on the networks between promos for the latest reality show and, er, a true reality show. Such breathless promos trivialize news events in the quest for ratings. It's insulting when done in a local context over smaller stories. It's sickening when done to promote coverage of a war that hasn't even begun. 9:22:14 AM    Oh yeah? []