 |
 |
 |
|
August 17, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Chilling News from Canada
Laurel A. MacLeod, Director of Communications  Last week NRB’s Executive Staff had the privilege of meeting with and encouraging two Canadian broadcasters, Dr. Charles H. McVety, television host and President of the Canada Christian College, and Pastor Peter Marshall, Founder of Peter Marshall Media Ministries, along with Dr. McVety’s wife Jennifer. Both men brought sober warnings to NRB. Last December, the Regional Ontario Panel of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) examined Dr. McVety’s television program, Word TV, after receiving complaints that Dr. McVety’s program included “discriminatory comments on the basis of sexual orientation, [and] religion….” The CBSC Panel determined that it was acceptable for Dr. McVety to air general objections to homosexual practice, but that he violated the “Human Rights,” “Religious Programming,” “Negative Portrayal,” and “Full, Fair, and Proper Presentation” Clauses of the Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) when he made very specific statements about homosexual behavior, among other things. While many Americans don’t consider Canada to be very different from our own nation, the two countries are – in terms of religious broadcasting – literally worlds apart. "Dr. McVety has a clear view of how all threats to free speech inevitably become threats to the free exercise of religion, thereby constraining the Gospel of Christ in the free marketplace of ideas,” said Dr. Frank Wright, NRB President & CEO, after the meeting. What type of “threats” exist for Americans? It’s a well-known fact that Christian broadcasters in the U.S. must create a second tier of content when they broadcast programs in Canada, thanks in large part to the pervasive shroud of censorship exercised by the Canadian government. Canada’s equivalent of the FCC is the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), an independent public organization tasked with regulating and supervising all Canadian broadcast and telecommunications systems. While the CRTC claims that it does not regulate the “quality and content of television and radio programs,” but only “serve(s) the needs and interests of citizens, industries, interest groups and the government,” many broadcasters would disagree. The result is that Christian broadcasters in Canada are now being sanctioned for having a “hateful tone” on the airwaves. This is the same warning bell that NRB has been ringing for several years. When you combine the hate speech regulations already in force here in the United States, with the “localism” governing boards that the FCC has already suggested, you could see overt censorship in the near future. “The lesson for U.S. broadcasters and for the rest of the world,” says NRB Sr. Vice President and General Counsel Craig Parshall, “is that we cannot afford to fall asleep at the switch. We must advocate consistently, intelligently, and firmly for our rights on every platform – be it traditional over-the-air radio and television broadcasts, or the Internet, or its many new media platforms. If we don’t constantly advocate for our free speech rights, we will find ourselves severely censured, just like Canadian broadcasters.” |
|
|
Member News 
KCBI 90.9 FM promotes Sharon Geiger to Program Director.
Will Luke succeed in SUING THE DEVIL?
Et Cetera
Spotlighting Precept Ministries - teaching Biblical precepts for more than 40 years.
Purchase Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough from the NRB Store. |
|||
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Advertisement
 Brand new Christian movie, SUING THE DEVIL, opens in select US theaters on August 26. Starring: Rebecca St. James, Malcolm McDowell, Shannen Fields (Facing the Giants), Corbin Bernsen, Tom Sizemore, Bart Bronson, and Ros Gentle. www.suingthedevil.com.
Luke O'Brien, washed-up law student, decides to sue Satan for $8 trillion dollars. On the last day before Luke files a default judgement, Satan appears to defend himself. The entire world watches to see who will win the Spiritual Battle of the Century.
Geiger Promoted to Program Director PHOTO ABOVE: Court Scene with the devil (left, Malcolm McDowell) and Luke O'Brien (right, Bart Bronson) in the film SUING THE DEVIL. Photograph courtesy of Producer David Turrell and Writer/Director Tim Chey.
Member Spotlight: Precept Ministries International  One couple—Jack and Kay Arthur—with one passion—to establish people in God’s Word—has stayed true to their mission and God has used them in extraordinary ways! Over the past four decades, Precept Ministries International has grown from a few young people meeting in the Arthurs’ kitchen to an international organization, ministering to millions around the world.Inductive Bible Study materials are now available in nearly 70 languages. Hundreds of thousands of men, women, teens and children in close to 150 countries discover Truth for themselves using the Inductive Bible Study Method. Read more...   By Elmer L. Towns  Does fasting do anything but make you hungry? Those Believers who practice the discipline regularly – and even those who do on very specific occasions – all attest to the fact that fasting does, indeed, bring "spiritual breakthrough." In this direct, organized and simple book, Dr. Elmer Towns, Liberty University's School of Religion Co-Founder, details a number of specific Biblical fasts and the reasons each should be undertaken. Much more than just a "how to" book, however, this important book answers the "Why fast?" question with candor and theological soundness. Rather than complicating a subject about which many Christians have little understanding, Dr. Towns encourages every Believer to clearly understand – and then practice – this spiritual discipline. Purchase Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough today from the NRB Store. |
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.
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... 
Join a select group of leaders in supporting NRB’s efforts to preserve your rights in Washington, D.C.
National Religious Broadcasters
9510 Technology Dr. Manassas, VA 20110 p.703.330.7000 f. 703.330.7100 http://www.nrb.org
©2011 National Religious Broadcasters
All Rights Reserved |
KCBI Vice President and General Manager Mike Tirone has announced the promotion of Sharon Geiger to the position of Program Director for 90.9 FM, Dallas. “Sharon’s skill and experience will lead KCBI to greater heights,” says Tirone. “Her success is tied to her love for God. I’m thrilled that our Program Director is a prayer warrior at heart!” Geiger is a veteran broadcaster who began at KCBI in 1984. She has been a news reporter, announcer, and has also served in the Development and Promotions departments. In 1995, Geiger was named Assistant News Director, and moved into the morning news anchor position the following year. She was soon promoted to Senior News Director. Under Geiger’s guidance, the KCBI News Department has received a number of awards, and she has also directed several news programs that have become recognized, distinctive KCBI products. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at and help lead this exciting, God-honoring ministry,” says Geiger. “I’m excited to see what God has in store for this radio ministry, which has been proclaiming God’s Word in North Texas and beyond for 35 years.” 
On Friday, August 26th, the film SUING THE DEVIL will be in theaters for a limited release. Produced by NRB Exchange Member David Turrell of Christian Media Australia, SUING THE DEVIL offers an unusual premise: janitor-turned night law student Luke O’Brien takes the devil to court and sues him for $8 trillion. On the last day before a default judgment would be filed, the devil – played by Malcolm McDowell – actually shows up in court with a team of the world's 10 best trial lawyers in tow. The ensuing courtroom drama is “the trial of the century,” and the entire world watches it on Legal TV.
Comments:
Leave a Reply
