Fox News and Clear Channel Makin' Love

I wonder what kind of creature will spring from the union of these two giants?

The nation's largest radio, according to the Los Angeles Times, "Clear Channel, which last year [2003] reaped $8.9 billion in sales and $1.1 billion in profit, owns nearly 1,200 radio stations in the United States and almost 800,000 outdoor advertising signs worldwide. It controls about 100 U.S. venues for pop concerts and other entertainment."

AP reported yesterday, via NY Times, "Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation's largest radio station operator, has selected Fox News Radio to provide national news for most of its news and talk stations in deal expected to nearly double Fox's radio presence."

So I guess this means that Rupert Murdoch's conquest of the American media market is complete by having it's "Fair and Balanced" news broadcast through Clear Channel. Now, we all have our opinions of Fox News and Clear Channel. Before you start condemning Clear Channel for being evil and another step in the ever continuing march of corporate media consolidation, you should check out its Web site or more importantly, it's Know The Facts page.

Here are some facts Clear Channels wants you to know:

"MYTH: Clear Channel Radio stations are used as a platform for senior management’s political agendas and ideologies.

"FACT: Clear Channel Radio is not operated according to any political agenda or ideology. Local managers make their own decisions about programming and community events. Clear Channel Radio employs approximately 250 local General Managers, 750 local Sales Managers, and 900 local Program Directors. Managers are measured on their ability to drive listenership by intimately understanding what audiences want to hear and delivering that."

How do myths like that get started in the first place? You can also read Clear Channel's letter to Rolling Stone Magazine for its "serious lack of journalistic responsibility" in its Sept. 2004 story on Clear Channel, also available on CC's Web site.