BETWEEN THE LINES: MICRO BROADCASTERS COULD OFFER VARIETY IN RADIO PROGRAMS

The sounds of select radio broadcasters in America are reaching deaf ears, at least that's what a group of California protesters said last week. The group of micro broadcasters, people who operate small wattage, independent radio stations across the country, want people to hear a voice other than that of corporate America.

I have to agree with them although I generally agree with rules, order and the need for authority. Free speech is another issue entirely.

Maybe it's because I'm a journalist (others might call it something else) but I don't believe in censorship. The moment you begin censoring ideas, words, music and art that are deemed too immoral, too different, too unusual, then you open the door for the exact opposite to happen. With a swing of the pendulum, feelings could change and what was once deemed proper becomes improper.

The lesson is similar to what I was taught in college. Democracies need a "free marketplace of ideas" to survive. If all ideas can be peddled in the marketplace then society can select those it likes best. Every voice needs to be heard so that we can truly operate in a democratic society.

These broadcasters -- according to what I read in Time magazine -- say that as radio stations change ownership and formats, much of the local and community-oriented programming is lost in the shuffle.

Again, I agree. There aren't very many great radio stations around. We certainly don't have one in Southeast Missouri. The stations here play the same programming you would find in St. Louis, Memphis, or even Atlanta, for that matter. Nothing varies, except perhaps the order of songs played and local commercials.

Granted, I listen to these stations just as much as the next person. What other choice do I have?

I happen to be a very selective car radio listener. On a recent trip to Memphis, I scanned the FM dial continuously only to find very little worth listening to.

There were plenty of stations to choose from; however, they all seemed to be playing the same bad music. One was an on-air auction (I passed it up) and another was bluegrass, which isn't really a favorite of mine -- especially while traveling. I settled on a mix of country, top 40 and the oldies. It was a really "long" trip.

The point these broadcasters are trying to make is that people's tastes differ, so the music they listen to on the radio should as well.

At the recent National Association of Broadcasters conference, attorney Louis Hiken said, "People are totally offended by what's on the air." Particularly in the age of pre-packaged programming and commercials.

However, if people are really offended, then why aren't they turning off their radios?

The renegade broadcasters, which operate without prior FCC licensing approval, say there's no difference between what they do and the minting presses of the Founding Fathers.

Others say the issue is one of wealth and power not necessarily free speech. One broadcaster says the "FCC excludes all but the wealthy from having a choice."

I hope not.

Because I have no loyalties to any particular kind of music, I listen to everything from Top 40, radio talk and National Public Radio. I like variety, and what I listen to depends on my mood. On car trips, I like to play the radio loud, which works best when I'm alone.

In my family the rules for changing stations were simple. The driver gets to choose. Frequently, the power can be transferred to the front-seat passenger. As kids, my brother and I were forced to listen to country music whenever we rode with our dad. At one point, his radio dial broke and he truly was "locked on" to his favorite station. At least, that's what he told us.

If there had been more independent stations like the micro broadcasters suggest, maybe I'd have enjoyed the ride more.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.