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Michigan 48106 A Xerox éducation Company MASTERS THESIS M-4413 MEZO, Welcome Ann, THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BROADCASTING. The American University, M.A., 1972 Mass Communications University Microfilms, A XEROXCompany , Ann Arbor, Michigan © 1973 ''VelcoiTic? j'ljm Me 7 0 ALL R iarrs rlservkd THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS CENTER; ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BROADCASTING by Welcome Ann Mezo Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of the American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Communications Signatures of Committee: Chairman^ Dean of the ColKege Date : Date f V THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY 1972 FEB 26 1973 The American University Washington, D. C. Vé/l PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have i nd i St i net print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 I. Background of the Study.................................................................................... 1 II. Purpose of the Study.............................................................................................3 III. Methodology of the S tu d y...................................................................................4 IV. Significance of the S tu d y....................................................... 5 CHAPTER I I - ORGANIZATION OF THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS CENTER . 8 I. The Founding......................................................................................................................8 II. Funding and Personnel ..... ............................................................ 10 III. Purpose.....................................................................................................................13 IV. Future Plans ............................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER I I I - ACCESS FOR RACIAL MINORITIES AND THE DISAVANTAGED . 19 I. Early Cases.................................................................................................... 19 P r o c e d u r e ................................................................................................................20 Washington Blacks Challenge WMAL-TV License Renewal . 22 Back Alley Theatre Complaint of Programming Discrimination 25 KRON-TV Charged with Monopolistic Practices ............................. 26 II. Blacks Challenge License Renewals of All Atlanta Stations. 28 III. Million Dollar Settlement Negotiated for Minority Programming . ................................................................................................38 IV. Rural Blacks Charge News Discrimination ....................................... 47 V. Alabama E ducational T e le v is io n Commission ....................................... 50 VI. Citizens Enforce Top-Fifty Markets Policy .................................. 57 VII. Other Cases ................................... 60 Format Changes ......................................................................................................... 61 i l l PAGE Syracuse Blacks Seek FM License ................................................................ 61 Columbus, Ohio, License Renewal Challenges ...................................... 62 Journalism Professors Challenge WISC-TV ........................................... 63 Chicago Citizens Negotiate with Network Stations....................... 63 CHAPTER IV - ACCESS FOR CONTROVERSIAL ISSU E S..............................................................64 I, U.S. Senators Ask for Prime Time to Oppose Administration V i e w s ...............................................................................................................................64 IX. Quaker Peace Committee Seeks Free Broadcast Time for Views 65 III. Business Executives Attempt to Purchase Broadcast Time for Political M essage. ................................................................................ 69 CHAPTER V - ACCESS TO REGULATORY PROCESSES...................................................................78 I. Primer on A scertainm ent o f Community Problems ................................. 78 II. Renewal of Licenses by Comparative Hearings ................................... 84 III. Reimbursement of Expenses for Challengers..........................................96 IV. Other Activities of the Center ......................................................100 Participation In Office of Management and Budget Hearing . 100 CATV P a n e l ....................................................................................................................... 101 Summer Study Group ................................................................................................. 102 ACT ......................................................................................................................................103 CHAPTER VI “ SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS............................................................................... 104 I. Summary...................................................................................104 Major A ch iev em e n ts ................................................................................................... 104 M inority Programming .............................................................................. 105 Educational Television ........................................................................ 106 Top-Fifty Markets Policy ................................................................... 107 Right of R ep ly.............................................................................................. 108 iv PAGE Access to Advertising T im e ...............................................................109 Access to Ownership...................................................................................110 Right to Reimbursement of E xpenses........................................... I l l Waiver-Negotiate Strategy ................................................................. 112 Minor Achievements ..................................................................................................113 R acial D iscrim ination in Programming . .............................. 113 Rural Black Challenge .........................................................................113 Ascertainment of Community Needs ............................................. 113 O ffice of Management and Budget Meeting.............................. 114 Aid to C itizens .............................................................................................114 II. Conclusions................................................................................................................ 115 P r o b le m s.......................................................................................................................... 115 Progress . ...................................................... 117 BIBLIOGRAPHY.........................................................................................................................................120 APPENDIX...................................................................................................................................................128 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION I . BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY In the early days of television Congress recognized that there could be only a limited number of stations