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March 10, 2010 |
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Backlog of Indecency Complaints Finally Tackled By FCC By Robert K. Powers, Vice President of Government Relations  According to recent media reports, it seems that the FCC is finally dealing with some of the backlog of an estimated 1.6 million indecency complaints. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowksi, along with FCC Commissioners, have made public statements committing to tackling the complaints, which have been largely untouched for more than two years. Part of the delay was waiting on Fox v. FCC to be resolved; it finally was decided, with the Supreme Court ruling for the FCC and against Fox. That decision allowed the indecency finding for "fleeting utterance of expletives during two live broadcasts of the Billboard Music Awards," with fines, to stand for the time being, though another appeal is pending, involving a huge fine against CBS over the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction." More information below in Legal Dispatches.
NRB has long supported protecting children from indecent media exposure, weighing in with both Congress and the FCC on anti-indecency measures, and through Board Resolutions. Groups like the Parents Television Council are also anticipating that new FCC efforts will indeed crack down on indecent TV. Several weeks ago, they urged their many supporters to contact Congress in a letter campaign asking for Congressional intervention at the FCC. Many are now hopeful that something is indeed being done to protect our nation’s children from indecent and obscene programming. An FCC website clearly defines broadcast indecency, and prohibits profane speech on broadcast radio and television between the hours of 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. each day. The FCC states that in making obscenity, indecency, and profane determinations, context is key, since “FCC staff must analyze what was actually aired, the meaning of what was aired, and the context in which it was aired.” Click here for more information, including information about how to file your own broadcast indecency or obscenity complaint. NRB will continue to speak out on this issue, and keep members up to date. [Kathleen A. Kirby and Samia Khan, "Court of appeals rehears oral arguements on remand from Supreme Court on FCC's fleeting profanity and fleeting nudity cases," Wiley Rein LLP, lexology.com, February 17, 2010.]  |
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Legal
Dispatches
 Changes in the Supreme Court...fact or fiction?
Member News
Sky Angel adds the NRB Network.
New daily talk show for the Salem Radio Network. Raising the cross in Kerrville, TX. Et Cetera
Spotlight on Campus Crusade for Christ - discipleship and evangelism since 1951.
Highlighting the 2nd edition of Mastering Audio.
Don't miss the NRB Research Symposium and Advisory Council meetings in Dallas this June!  | |||
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High Court Rumors and Long Range Shake-ups By Craig L. Parshall, Sr. VP & General Counsel Last week a rumor flew across the Internet. According to speculation, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts would be resigning very soon for personal reasons. The rumor, it turns out, was false. Fox News finally put that bit of misguided gossip to rest by asserting, based on sources close to the Chief Justice, that there was absolutely no truth to it. But the mere thought of that possibility fueled some fairly grim scenarios. The replacement now of any of the “conservative” Justices – Scalia, Alito, Roberts, Thomas – or even the more moderate Justice Kennedy, would work a dramatic shift in the Supreme Court. President Obama is empowered to nominate a Supreme Court successor, and the Senate (as long as it is held by the current Democrat majority) would most certainly confirm his choice. The President’s recent appointee, Justice Sotomayor, indicates the type of future Justice he would select during his Administration if given the chance. At an educational session during our recent NRB convention, I had no hesitation in stating that Justice Sotomayor will prove to be much more liberal than her predecessor, Justice Souter, on those issues that are of importance to NRB members. Her votes on two recent cases corroborate that fact. In the Citizens United case she joined the dissent, along with the liberal block of Justices Stevens, Ginsburg and Breyer, indicating that federal election reform rules should have prohibited the broadcast of a film critical of Hillary Clinton during the national primaries. The majority ruled instead that the regulation was unconstitutional as it violated the First Amendment rights of the film producers. The decision in the second case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, gives some prognostication regarding how the Justices may rule if the Proposition 8 same-sex marriage case from California reaches the High Court. In that case, the four-Justice conservative plurality, joined by Justice Kennedy, ruled that a federal judge in San Francisco had violated federal rules when he planned to allow the same-sex marriage trial, over which he was presiding, to be filmed and broadcast over the Internet, disregarding the general rule against broadcasting of federal trials. Justice Sotomayor again dissented; again joining Justices Stevens, Ginsberg and Breyer. When we look at both the pending, and possible, appeals to the Supreme Court, the change of a single Justice could create a staggering difference in judicial outcomes that will have a long-lasting effect on American law. Here are just a few:
This is all very important from another perspective: the upcoming Congressional elections will tell us which party will govern the Senate. And the Senate, of course, is the legislative body that decides whether future Supreme Court appointments nominated by the President are confirmed, or are rejected. So, all in all, the recent Chief Justice Roberts rumor may have been false, but as a hypothetical, it was profoundly educational.  Member News The NRB Network Joins Sky Angel  The NRB Network can now be viewed on satellite-based Sky Angel, Channel 126. “Sky Angel is pleased to add channels to our faith-based lineup that unite kingdom builders everywhere,” says Tom Scott, President & COO of Sky Angel. “The NRB Network is a terrific complement to our Faith Package. Our subscribers will enjoy the variety of faith-building programs, movies, educational and news shows  offered 24 hours a day on NRB Network as they seek to provide the most complete lineup of inspiring and faith-building programming available anywhere in the world.” Troy Miller, President & COO of NRB Network, adds that Sky Angel’s “cutting-edge technology is consistent with our values and is an excellent way for [the NRB Network] to expand delivery of our unique programming to our target audience.” Click here for more information about the NRB Network, and here to learn more about Sky Angel and their unique programming options.Salem Announces New Talk Show
 The Salem Radio Network (SRN) announces the recent launch of a new, nationally syndicated, daily Christian talk show, The Janet Mefferd Show. Salem introduced Mefferd to NRB members on February 28th, during NRB’s annual Convention & Exposition. “This promises to be one of the most exciting developments in nationally syndicated Christian talk radio,” says Tom Tradup, Vice President of News & Talk Programming for SRN, “all with the solid news credentials Janet brings to the table, tempered by her perspective as a wife [and] mother…backed by the worldwide resources of SRN News.” Mefferd has worked in Christian radio for over 20 years, both as a national religion reporter for SRN News in Washington, as well as a broadcaster in Chicago, IL; Nome, AK; and Dallas, TX. Click here for more information.PHOTO ABOVE: Janet Mefferd, courtesy of the Salem Radio Network.
Raising The Cross
 The Coming King Foundation (TCKF) hopes to soon raise a large, 70-ton lighted cross on a hill in Kerrville, TX, after a protracted legal dispute with neighbors. A settlement was reached on March 1st, allowing for both the raising of the cross and privacy guarantees for neighboring land. “This agreement is respectful of everyone’s property rights and is better than a trial victory for either side,” said David Brock, co-counsel for TCKF. The cross will actually be raised as soon as sufficient funds are available. “We are confident that God pays for what He ordains,” said Max Greiner, Jr., President of The Coming King Foundation, discussing both the cross and the 23-acre Scripture Prayer Garden surrounding it. For more information about the prayer garden and the TCKF cross, click here. PHOTO ABOVE: The seventy-ton cross that The Coming King Foundation plans to raise over Kerrville, TX. Photograph courtsey of The Coming King Foundation.
 Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational organization committed to evangelism and discipleship. Founded by Bill and Vonette Bright in 1951, Campus Crusade has become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world, with more than 25,000 full-time staff members in 191 countries. The organization is comprised of 29 different ministries, including outreaches to college students, high school students, professors, athletes, families, military, business professionals, executives, ambassadors, politicians, and people living in the inner city. Campus Crusade also has specific ministries to reach varying ethnicities, including African American, Asian Americans, Latino and Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. Read more... Photo Above: Steve Douglass, President & Chairman of the Board, Campus Crusade for Christ. Photograph by Guy Gerrard/Worldwide Challenge, courtesy of Campus Crusade for Christ.  Mastering Audio, Second Edition: The art and the science  Written by an award-winning professional engineer, Mastering Audio provides a thorough introduction to the unique procedures and technical issues connected to mastering. It is suitable for all levels of expertise – both students and professionals – and provides a thorough discussion of audio philosophy and art. This second edition has also been updated to cover all the latest technologies. Read More… NRB Research Symposium in Dallas This Summer Advisory Council Meetings Coming in June
 The next generation’s impact on the realms of faith, technology, media usage, and giving will have a profound impact on how you run your ministries.Attend the 2010 NRB Research Symposium, June 29th – 30th in Dallas and hear from: HEIDI CAMPBELL, President, RealVision, LLC DR. ARNOLD COLE, CEO, Back to the Bible DR. PHIL COOKE, Founder and Creative Director, Cooke Pictures RICK DUNHAM, President and CEO, Dunham+Company JENNIFER EPPERSON, Station Manager, WRMB-FM DREW GOODMANSON, CEO, Monk Development; co-founder/pastor, Kaleo Church BOB LEPINE, Vice President of Content & Chief Creative Officer, FamilyLife DR. MICHAEL LINK, Chief Methodologist/VP Methodological Research, The Nielsen Company ALAN MASON, Vice President of Change, EMF Broadcasting KN MOY, Senior Vice President of Insight and Innovation, Masterworks MARK RAMSEY, President, Radio Intelligence US DR. PAM OVWIGHO, Director of Research, Back to the Bible ALLISON POND, Research Associate, The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life DIRK RINKER, President and CEO, Campbell Rinker RON SELLERS, President, Grey Matter Research DR. PAUL VIRTS, Senior Vice President for Media, Northwestern Media CHRIS WILSON, Founder and CEO, Wilson Research Strategies Click here for more information on the schedule or speakers. If you register before April 30th, you will receive Early Bird rates. You will also receive special reduced room rates at the Gaylord Texan when making your lodging reservations. NOTE: Only NRB members may register to attend the NRB Research Symposium. Sponsored by Back to the Bible.  Would you like to tell us how you think NRB can better serve the field of Christian communications – and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded professionals in your industry at the same time? Then come to the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, June 30th – July 1st, to participate in the NRB Advisory Council Meetings in your area of expertise: Radio, Television, Internet, Church Media, International, or Intercollegiate. As you serve on an NRB Advisory Council, you’ll provide action-oriented input on:• the NRB Convention’s educational sessions • your industry’s reception at the NRB Convention • the NRB print and electronic communiqués • NRB Media Awards categories and criteria • NRB research initiatives • NRB membership benefits Plus, you and your organization will benefit by: • interacting with gifted people in your industry • networking with a wide cross-section within Christian media • developing new leadership skills through growth opportunities At the annual Advisory Council Meetings, you can give input into how NRB’s committees should serve your industry, even if you’re not yet a member of NRB. After all, who can better tell us what you and your organization need…than you? Contact membership@nrb.org for more details. |
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 A compilation of timely news that's of critical importance to Christian communicators. Updated several times daily.
The President's blog considers the factors that influence our efforts to use electronic media for the cause of Christ.
 The Chairman's Page considers how we can re-focus ourselves and our actions back to our scriptural heritage. Read More...     Does Your Organization Deserve the least Legal Protection or the BEST?
 NRB’s new legal resource, The Guardian Group, is designed specifically with the NRB member organization in mind. We know in the past you’ve probably used a system to minimize legal liability and avoid costly mistakes, but these are extraordinary times, with unprecedented threats ahead. Membership in The Guardian Group will entitle you to breaking news and information about those threats, free representation on NRB-related legal cases and issues, and pro-active ways to avoid legal “land mines." Further details... National Religious Broadcasters 9510 Technology Dr. Manassas, VA 20110 p.703.330.7000 f. 703.330.7100 http://www.nrb.org ©2009 National Religious Broadcasters
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