Trying to censor blogger { KSFO fights back against attack on Melanie Morgan }

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/11/7 | Joe Garofoli

[SmithL]

Owner of conservative radio station KSFO demands liberal critic quit using audio clips -

A series of events involving a local liberal blogger, a San Francisco conservative radio station and the reaction of two of the larger corporate advertisers in the country -- Bank of America and MasterCard -- is revealing how slippery freedom of speech has become in the digital age.

The tale of Spocko, a self-described "fifth-tier" blogger who lives in San Francisco, exemplifies how one person with a computer and an Internet hookup can challenge the views of a major media corporation -- and what a media corporation will do to stop him.

For the past year, Spocko has been e-mailing advertisers of KSFO-AM with audio clips from its shows and asking sponsors to examine what they're supporting. Some sponsors have pulled their ads, after hearing clips like one of KSFO's Lee Rodgers suggesting that a protester be "stomped to death right there. Just stomp their bleeping guts out."

Now, bloggers and media freedom advocates are concerned about the legal reaction from Disney/ABC-owned KSFO. Shortly before Christmas, an ABC lawyer demanded that Spocko remove audio clips from his blog on the grounds that Spocko's posting of KSFO content was illegal. Digital freedom advocates counter that the clips constitute fair use and worry that critical voices could be silenced by corporations threatening legal action for violation of copyright law.

"That's inevitably been the modus operandi of the media companies in these types of situations," said Ronald Coleman, legal counsel for the Media Bloggers Association, which provides legal support to bloggers. "It doesn't matter the size of the blogger."

Spocko, who asked that his real name not be used because he fears retaliation,

[SmithL]

The Comicle can't stand the idea of a conservative voice in San Francisco.

[BenLurkin]

Did this host really say: a protester be "stomped to death right there. Just stomp their bleeping guts out." ?

That doesn't sound all that 'conservative'.

[SmithL]

Clips from hosts Lee Rodgers and Melanie Morgan (shown) were sent by the blogger to KSFO advertisers. Rodgers suggested that a protester be "stomped to death" and Morgan spoke of a bull's-eye over Nancy Pelosi's eyes.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"That's inevitably been the modus operandi of the media companies in these types of situations," said Ronald Coleman, legal counsel for the Media Bloggers Association, which provides legal support to bloggers. "It doesn't matter the size of the blogger."

It was okay, though, when the New York Times, et al, went after Jim Robinson.

[HarleyLady27]

"....and Morgan spoke of a bull's-eye over Nancy Pelosi's eyes...."

What's wrong with that? I agree.....

[martin_fierro]

ABC lawyer demanded that Spocko remove audio clips from his blog on the grounds that Spocko's posting of KSFO content was illegal. Digital freedom advocates counter that the clips constitute fair use and worry that critical voices could be silenced by corporations threatening legal action for violation of copyright law.

Not that we'd know anything about that around here, eh, WaPo?

[martin_fierro]

GMTA

[Registered]

The blogger should be allowed to use the clips, just as we excerpt and repost from news organizations. It sounds to me like the mouths of these two radio personalities ran away from common sense.

[blitzgig]

If KSFO wants to defend its radio hosts, it shouldn't try a ridiculous stunt of trying to prevent a blogger from using audio clips. It will simply make the left-wingers who are attacking Melanie appear sympathetic.

Besides, everybody should be able to use news clips, like we do here in this forum.

[SpaceBar]

A Barbara Simpson fan myself.

[Registered]

He probably wasn't. How many of us took the initiative like Spocko to record Baldwin's tirade and begin a campaign to kill any advertisers that supported the show?

[martin_fierro]

Ossifer Vic is teh phunny.

[super7man]

I agree.

Blogger should be able to use "clips".
Sponsors should decide what programs best represent their products.
If sponsors do pull their adds, I will not hear the ads and will not use their products.

Works for me.

[dogbyte12]

I have heard some of the comments he used. They are highly inflammatory. If a liberal host said these things regularly on the air about doing these things to conservatives, we would be boycotting too. I find alot of them funny though mind you. But, it's the free market.

I agree with this whack jobs right to inform corporations that KSFO airs flammatory rhetoric. These companies are free to continue or quit advertising. The station is free to program this way or not other than profanity, they can say whatever they feel like.

It's touchy here, about the whole fair use thing. If Mickey Mouse/Disney/ABC gets to shut somebody down for exerpts, it will happen to FR too. Let him have his say. He is one small guy with a computer. KSFO is public airwaves and they broadcast to alot of people. It's a fair fight.

[kevinm13]

If Spocko wants to eliminate conservative talk radio, he needs to be outed (probably in more ways than one). Lets get an ID on this person now.

Sending little sound bites of somebody who is on the radio for several hours a day is likely to get every radio personality saying something controversial. Putting all the comments into the proper context from which they were taken will reduce the level of controversy to a very small number of things said.

Good work to all at KSFO for their voices of truth.

[Registered]

If Spocko wants to eliminate conservative talk radio, he needs to be outed (probably in more ways than one). Lets get an ID on this person now.

I disagree. Take your witchhunt elsewhere.

[Right Cal Gal]

"That's inevitably been the modus operandi of the media companies in these types of situations," said Ronald Coleman, legal counsel for the Media Bloggers Association, which provides legal support to bloggers. "It doesn't matter the size of the blogger."

I doubt this jackass would be coming to the defense of HotAir, Little Green Footballs, PowerLine or Freep if the shoe was on the other foot.

And as far as I'm concerned, I plan to advise MasterCard that since I'm apparently "not their kind of people" I'll be happy to cut up my card right now.