Reprinted from cached archives of the KRCC forum, no longer available on the KRCC website.

OCTOBER 2004 - MARIO’S MOUTHPIECE

Dear Friends
SOME LISTENERS DEMAND POLITICAL BIAS: The age old debate was in full rage this past month WE WANT DEMOCRACY NOW! Though not large in numbers, I’ve had a few dozen calls insisting that In this conservative community we need a counteracting voice for the progressive point of view. A few adding that NPR is too conservative, too mainstream, too corporate, and too safe. That’s a sample of how some of the calls and letters from listeners saw the issue. In their view DEMOCRACY NOW! is the answer, and yours truly is the problem keeping progressives off the air. They were less than thrilled with my response to their requests for consideration. Since this is an issue we seem to revisit every six months, I already had this reply at the ready:

Colorado College’s management group which supervises and manages the daily operations of KRCC has decided not to carry DEMOCRACY NOW, due to the program’s mission of advocacy journalism.

Out of respect for our audience, KRCC’s programming should, as fairly as possible, portray all sides in any discussion and not endorse a specific point of view, political candidate or religion. Colorado College, through KRCC, is committed to providing our diverse audience news programming with the highest professional standards of journalistic and editorial balance. KRCC must provide its listeners throughout southern Colorado and northern New Mexico with non-partisan and independent news (which we believe our current offerings accomplish).

KRCC currently provides 11.5 hours of news daily from three internationally acclaimed sources: National Public Radio, Public Radio International and the BBC. That is not an insignificant commitment to news KRCC leads the community in hours devoted to information programming. Additionally, with over 35,000 annual program hours available via the public radio satellite system, KRCC must make decisions to serve the largest possible public radio audience we simply cannot broadcast all that material. KRCC must be selective.

DEMOCRACY NOW is available via other means. At their website, www.democracynow.org, they broadcast via RealAudio/Video as well as offer free MP3 and OggVorbis downloads (typically available around Noon, MST). Recordings are also available for purchase. Democracy Now archives are available for free download at www.archive.org, too.

Across the U.S., you can see Democracy Now on:
- Link TV, channel 375 Direct TV and channel 9410 DISH network
M-F: 11AM - 12PM, 6 - 7PM EST
- Free Speech TV, channel 9415 Dish Network
M-F: 8-9AM, 12-1PM, 7-8PM and 12-1AM EST
- Around the world, you can hear Democracy Now on:
Radio for Peace International 15040 Hz or 7445 Hz (shortwave radio)
M-F: 11am-12pm, 5-6pm, 11pm-12am, 5-6am EST

Thanks for your interest in KRCC and for your suggestions.

Yes, I really do believe that KRCC’s goal should be fairness, respect for our audiencewhich constitutes almost equal parts democrat, independent and republican and to not advocate/lobby for or against political issues. Ideally KRCC should provide listeners with information, so they can make informed judgements about the issues of the day. I have and will continue to resist demands that KRCC reflect a specific point of view. Due to KRCC/Colorado College’s policies of non-discrimination in matters of sexual preference, age, race or religion - some listeners already think that KRCC is the bastion of liberalism, hedonism, and secularism. Others simply appreciate the range and depth of subject matter presented by NPR via KRCC and aren’t swayed by the critics. I’ll throw a few of the emails in for you to read.

Until next month,
Mario Valdes
KRCC Station Manager

Listener Emails

PART 1: I listen to KRCC daily and have listen to public radio for years. I am disturbed by what appears to be your Democratic Party bias, even in news reports and human interest stories.

At the very least your presentations that are biased could be preceded by announcing it as a political message, rather than disguising the story as a general interest story with no underlying political message.

Steven

MARIO REPLIES: I questioned this guy about what triggered his email to me (I suspect it was Terry Gross’s appearance on O’Reilly and really didn’t have anything to do with KRCC.) Mainly because we hadn’t done or said anything unusual that day.

PART 2: My husband wrote the original letter and quite frankly I don’t know would I listen to your radio station with any frequency because when I’m “forced to” to (i.e. being in the car with my husband)…I do find your station to be extremely left winged-biased. How you (as well as the rest of the main stream media with very few exceptions) manage to convince yourselves that you are in fact non partisan (nor do you offer “opinion as fact”) is beyond me! There’s a psychiatric term called “denial” which is the only explanation I can come up with. In fact I’m so fed up with the main stream media these days I read or listen my nice little “pueblo chieftain” and remain quite happy with the local news.

At least some of the right wing conservative talk show radios make no bones about the fact that they are conservatives and quite proud of it. Why would it be so difficult for you to likewise and at least be honest about where you stand? Just ask CBS and Dan rather this week where trying to convince the American people how “non-partisan” they are has gotten them? They had a story that they were hoping so badly to be true that they didn’t even bother to do minimal source checking nor listening to experts they hired regarding the story. It would be laughable if it weren’t so sad and unfortunately that’s where the main stream press also finds themselves these days!

Kim

MARIO REPLIES: I’ve never heard from the original writer ever again. Guess the lady of the house said it all.

PART 1: Mario: I would like KRCC to pick up the Amy Goodman show Democracy Now. We need a progressive voice in Colorado Springs.

MARIO REPLIES: so I send the form letter and get the backhand slap.

PART 2: The main stream media which includes NPR does not portray all sides. We get the same line from the White House and their Corporate sponsors. Maybe the progressive community in Colorado, which includes a large percentage of your listeners should withhold their support this October.

MARIO REPLIES: Perhaps they should, that would really teach me a lesson or would yielding to financial threats just prove that I’m a whore and we’re just bickering about the price?

Hi Mario,
I’m thinking that I’m probably not going to donate this year and I thought I’d at least let you know why. I’ve afraid KRCC leans way too far right for my taste. You seem to bend over backwards to avoid confrontation. Problem is, right now the far right is running the country and they have no such compunctions. They are willing to lie and deceive to push what - to me - is a terrifying agenda, and no one seems to care.

We have no real local newspaper either - just this joke called “The Gazette.” The Denver Post - which I do read - tends to feature prominently any article that gives the Bush Administration political mileage and buries what doesn’t on page 15. Public radio *could* fill the small gap with non-corporate voices but for whatever reason it chooses not to. I even have to hear the Diane Rehm show over the net.

How far are we going to go over this cliff before anyone decides to say something? I have kids and I wonder how they’re going to live when the corporations finally run everything and the rest of us automatons are grist for their mills, with air we can’t breath and water we can’t drink.

I’m afraid Pacifica and Democracy Now have taken your place in my heart, even though it means internet streams prerecorded on my MP3 player. Hey, if the local radio stations can’t supply you with the information we need thank god we finally have options. I’ll get my local news and event schedules from the CS Independent.

Anyway, best of luck. I thought I’d throw in my $.02 even though you probably have twice as many people who think you’re far left. I’m afraid I see guys like that all the time and as long as we have the kind of media we do in this country they probably will dominate and this tiny spectrum of thought is all we’ll ever have. The thing is I know from talking to these guys that they’re completely misinformed and I think you probably know this too. Please be a voice for the voiceless and ignore the ignorant blustering because there isn’t any other around here.

Thanks for listening, - Mike

P.S. My wife and I make almost $200,000 so we actually kind of benefit from the current system. Small comfort when you consider the mess we’re leaving our kids.

MARIO REPLIES: A guy’s got to do what a guy’s got to do. But I feel badly for his kids. Mom and Dad make around 200K, and they’re still making me feel like hell.

Dear Mr. Valdes,
I want to thank Colorado College for sponsoring last night’s presentation by Pacifica Broadcasting’s Amy Goodman. I was very impressed with her values - that in a democracy we require a round-table discussion of all points of view - including dissent. I would love to see KRCC carry her radio show, “Democracy Now”, because it provides an independent look at the news - a view that we’re not getting from the corporate media. My sense is that there are many listeners in our area who would appreciate this show. Shove Chapel was pretty full last night!

Thank you for your consideration,
Rebecca

PART 1: Hello, Please consider having the Democracy Now program on KRCC. One of your latest taglines indicates all viewpoints are represented. This show would further strengthen KRCC’s commitment in thus area. Plus there are many people in this area that would listen to the program

Thanks,
Michael

PART 2: Hi Mario, Thanks for your canned response. I am not sure your statement below represents your charter you have on your website. I have copied it here:

“Radio station KRCC is owned by the Colorado College and is operated by the college as an extension of its activities in higher education and public service. Colorado College charges KRCC to offer programming which reflects, to its campus and community audiences, the college’s commitment to the liberal arts and concern for a diversity of ideas and people. - Colorado College, President’s Cabinet, 1981

I am not sure how advocacy journalism is not considered providing a diversity of ideas and people to your audience. You are right. Your programming is middle of the road. Don’t take a stand one way or the other and maybe you will get more money that way! Also, I thought colleges were an environment that fostered diversity of thought. Please explain to me how your current programming does that. I don’t think BBC, NPR and PRI provide much diversity.

Here’s a thought: You could have diversity of ideas by having a show like Democracy Now and then have another show with an opposite viewpoint. This would foster debate and get people to think on their own instead of having someone decide for them.

Yes, it true I can listen to democracy now on the web as I can most of the other programming you have to offer. So I guess it’s time to turn off the radio and listen to what I want to on the web.

That’s what’s still great about this country we all have freedom to make choices.

MARIO REPLIES: You know, it gets exhausting replying to people this zealous. All I can say is watch out what you wish for, you may regret advocating for bias.