A longtime opponent of Clear Channel’s KFI(AM) Los...
A longtime opponent of Clear Channel’s KFI(AM) Los Angeles wants the FCC to deny the station’s license renewal or hold a hearing on the broadcaster’s application. The National Hispanic Media Coalition said the station is a “hate radio hot spot”…
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that continues to air what NHMC called hate speech against immigrants and other racial minorities, women and those who aren’t heterosexuals. The center, which unsuccessfully sought an FCC proceeding in previous years on media hate speech, cited in Friday’s petition to deny KFI’s renewal agency records the group got through a Freedom of Information Act request showing more than 240 consumers complained about the outlet in 2008-2011. NHMC also cited content analysis by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center of recordings and transcripts of the John and Ken Show, which the group has long contended fostered violence against immigrants who have entered the country illegally. The group cited NTIA’s 1993 definition of hate speech as words that threaten to incite imminent unlawful acts that may be criminalized without violating the First Amendment or that may lead to hate or prejudice that fosters hate crimes. “Unfortunately, ‘more speech’ is not a viable solution to KFI’s hate and demagoguery because extensive media consolidation in Los Angeles makes it almost impossible for market forces to mitigate the harm caused by KFI,” said the petition. “Against this rich, multicultural backdrop” of the No. 1 Latino and Asian-American market in the U.S., “KFI regularly airs offensive and dehumanizing speech against nearly every segment of the diverse community,” said the filing. A Clear Channel spokeswoman had no comment. The FCC over the years hasn’t renewed some radio licenses, though none recently, said public-interest lawyer Andrew Schwartzman, who has been involved in other petitions to deny broadcaster license renewals. He said he could recall several such failures by the agency to renew licenses that were content related.