PressEthic

Earlier this week, Vermont Public Radio barred Union candidate Peter Diamondstone from taking part in a U.S. Senate debate, claiming concerns over whether the “perennial protest candidate might subject the station to severe penalties under new federal broadcast indecency laws.”

John P. Gregg, a staff writer for the Valley News wrote:

“John Van Hoesen, director of news for VPR, said the independent, nonprofit station made the decision after learning that Diamondstone had directed an expletive at two student questioners during a debate Tuesday night at Vermont Law School.”

In response, Diamondstone reportedly promised to keep his language clean if allowed to take part the radio debate.

Stations face huge fines from the Federal Communications Commission - as much as $325,000 if the expletive is broadcast during daytime hours.

Gregg reported:

"The FCC is very clear about this language that it considers indecent. Indecent language can result in fines of thousands and thousands of dollars, and possibly losing your license," Van Hoesen said. "It's not just a federal rule, it's a federal law."

Van Hoesen said VPR was also keeping an ear to its listeners' sensitivities in making the decision.

"VPR values what we consider to be polite and civil discourse. We believe that's what our listeners want," he said.

It’s a tough position for any radio station, large or small, to be put in. On one hand, radio’s public discourse could (ideally) pursue freedom of speech in political debate, but on the other, they’ve got to protect themselves. It’s strange how one or two uttered swear words can lose a radio station it’s license, especially compared to how right wing radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh’s insults to those with disabilities are allowed to fly by with little more than a half-hearted apology.