U.S. Sen Frank Lautenberg held a public forum two weeks ago to help the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decide whether to renew a broadcast license for Secaucus-based WWOR-TV Channel 9, which some residents have complained focuses too much on New York and not enough on New Jersey.
A coalition of nonprofit groups has been petitioning the FCC since earlier this year to reject the station’s impending license renewal, or put conditions on it.
Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee – the panel that has jurisdiction over telecommunication issues – got behind their effort when he set up a Nov. 26 public forum in Newark.
At the forum, station managers and members of the public offered vastly different assessments of WWOR’s commitment to the Garden State.
About 200 people attended the event.
“It was a very lively debate, very energetic,” said Parul Desai, a New Jersey native who is associate director of the Media Access Project based in Washington, D.C. “A lot of really great things were said. The community definitely cared about the station and its coverage.”
WWOR also appreciated the forum. “We were very pleased by the opportunity to participate,” said WWOR spokeswoman Audrey Pass. “We heard a lot of very good comments on both sides. We welcomed the opportunity to hear the criticisms, and we appreciated the opportunity to show the public what we do.” Until very recently, Channel 9 noted its nickname, “My9NY” on its website. According to Pass, the station is in the process of removing appearances of that nickname from its website.
The criticism
How much does WWOR cover New Jersey in its programming? It depends on whom one asks.
“You had a competitive governor race in New Jersey which got very little coverage on Channel 9,” complained Desai last week. “Meanwhile, you had a mayor’s race in New York City where everyone knew who was going to win. And yet that race received a lot of coverage in comparison.”
However, WWOR says that besides just looking at nightly newscasts, viewers should look at their weekend public affairs programming as well.
A citizens’ group called Voice for New Jersey has cited studies that they say show that Channel 9 only gives a limited number of hours per month focusing on New Jersey. But WWOR has their own numbers that they say contradict that.
If WWOR’s interest in New Jersey seems lacking, it may have something to do with how their relationship was forged – or forced – to begin with.
According to a press release from the Voice for New Jersey, “More than 20 years ago, the FCC determined that there had been consistent shortcomings in commercial VHF television service with respect to the needs of New Jersey citizens. As such, it imposed special service obligations on all broadcasters covering New Jersey. Further, in 1982, Congress enacted legislation, which effectively required the FCC to reallocate a VHF TV station (specifically WWOR) to New Jersey.”
The release notes that at the time, then-Sen. Bill Bradley said, “This station will not be a New Jersey station in name only. It will serve the people of New Jersey.”
The FCC actually does not have any guidelines or regulations on the amount of local coverage stations must have. However, it encourages network affiliates to take an active role in covering local politics and events. FCC spokesperson Mary Diamond said in March that while there is no set number of hours that stations must dedicate to local programming, they must keep a log of the amount of hours dedicating to the different types of programming, and make that information publicly available.
While the FCC may renew the license, the station’s critics hope the new license will come with stipulations.
Timeline for renewal
“WWOR’s license depends on how well it meets its obligations to New Jersey. It’s renewal time and the evidence is clear: WWOR has failed in its responsibility to serve the people of New Jersey,” Sen. Lautenberg said last week. “If [the FCC] renews the license, the FCC needs to get tough and include specific, measurable steps to ensure coverage of our state.”
WWOR’s license expired on June 1. By law it is permitted to continue operating, pending the FCC decision. An FCC spokesman said there is no date by which the decision will be made.
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