FOIA Sins
Friday, November 19, 2004 - 02:02 PM
The Federal Communications Committee is in the headlines again this week with its criticism of ABC over their “steamy” promotion for “Desperate Housewives” before Monday Night Football. Chairman Michael Powell said he found the news "disappointing" and the network issued an apology. The promo skit featured the bare back of a character facing a footballer and the FCC says it is reviewing complaints. But how representative are the complaints on the population as a whole? Blogger Jeff Jarvis put on a reporter's hat by filing a Freedom of Information Act for commission documents. His efforts uncovered details on another FCC action - the record $1.2 million fine for Fox over a “sexually suggestive” scene in "Married by America". Jarvis’s FOIA determined the 59 complaints the commission cited were written by just 3 people. “This is America's ‘moral values’ army: three strong,” he concluded. We’ll hear Jarvis story on Monday’s show. In the meantime, he urges others to follow his lead by filing their own FOIA request.
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