NCTV board opts not to allow rebuttals
The policy stands.
Naperville's community-access television station will not delay programs of a controversial nature from airing until groups with opposing views produce a rebuttal program, the station's board of directors decided Wednesday.
In the past two months, NCTV came under fire from residents who were concerned about what they felt was hateful speech and propaganda in programs dealing with the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The first program aired in April. The second was held from airing until the board could discuss the matter further.
Board member Greg Shugar said he felt the discussion was meaningful and productive, even though it may not have produced the result some residents envisioned. He said he felt the decision was the right one.
"(The program) needs to air," he said. "It's too burdensome to try and come up with any policy to allow for future programs like this to only be followed by an immediate rebuttal."
Shugar made no apologies for the decision to hold the second program. He said the board wanted to carefully consider a difficult question.
Members of the board's executive committee — President Dave Miller, Vice President Tom Rehak and Shugar, as treasurer — met in the past few weeks to formulate a possible solution. Their initial proposal to the board would have required producers to mark a box indicating whether their program contained religious, political or ethnically sensitive material. Checking the box would subject the tape to review by NCTV staff members, who could decide to add a disclaimer to the tape cautioning viewers.
But Richard Furstenau, the board's City Council liaison, worried such provisions could delay the tape from airing. Typically, tapes air within seven days after they are submitted, according to NCTV.
The board voted the initial proposal down before deciding to keep NCTV's standard disclaimer message, indicating content is the sole responsibility of the producer and does not reflect the opinion of the station, its staff or its board.
The board did accept one point of the executive committee's proposal. The station will establish an ad-hoc committee to review federal and state programming guidelines and share whatever insights they glean with the board.
Discussion on the matter lasted nearly two hours and included comments from 21 of the more than 50 residents in attendance. Opinions were divided.
Jonathan Lewis argued controversial programming benefits the community.
"Diversity makes us stronger," he said. "It makes us better."
Brad Kolar, speaking on behalf of Rabbi Jeff Sultar of Congregation Beth Shalom, did not urge NCTV to keep controversial programs off the air, just to ensure timely access to all groups.
"Our commitment to democracy is served better through a balanced presentation of differing views," Kolar said. "When controversial material is brought to this station, it can be viewed as an opportunity to open up programming choice as a dialogue."
James Knightwright said it is not a public access station's job to judge content and warned of the consequences, legal and otherwise.
"Be careful as you take on this gatekeeper role to be sure you know the difference between controversial speech and injurious speech," he said.
Residents Kanan and Vivian Rosenstein, who suggested the policy change to the board in May, were disappointed in the outcome. They had suggestions of their own.
"Add the following disclaimer," they wrote in a statement shared with press. "Viewer beware: the program you are about to see may contain misrepresentations of fact, glaring errors, illogical conclusions, hate or propaganda, so please take careful notes because you may want to rebut this program. Also, please be assured that your rebuttal will air months removed from this broadcast."
Board member Jay Johnson reminded residents that the forum for rebuttal exists now, when residents take the classes NCTV offers to become certified producers.
06/19/03
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