They changed their web site. They changed their slogan. But it’s the content that matters.
With its broadcast license on the line, Secaucus-based WWOR-TV has until mid-March to prove to the federal government that it is complying with a mandate to provide local news coverage to New Jersey residents.
WWOR-TV, located on Meadowlands Parkway, is still fighting to keep its broadcast license nearly four years after Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) held a public forum with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to determine whether the station is living up to its mandate to serve the needs of northern New Jersey.
The FCC has required WWOR-TV Channel 9 to “perform a higher degree of service to its Grade B coverage area than is normally required of a broadcast licensee. At renewal time, WWOR-TV will be judged by how it has met the obligation to serve the greater service needs of northern New Jersey.”
WWOR-TV has until March 17 to provide the FCC with documents.
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Since then, critics have charged that the station continues to be too-New York-centric in its news coverage, branding, and marketing. When the station’s license came up for renewal in 2007, these critics used the opportunity to flag what they saw as problems with the station’s coverage.
Although the station, which is now owned by FOX Television, disagreed with the criticism, it made several immediate changes. The station’s slogan, which had been “My 9 NY” was changed to “My 9 News.” And a photo of the New York skyline, which was prominent on the station’s web site home page and on-air backdrop, was changed to a photo of the George Washington Bridge.
The station also added more New Jersey coverage to its mix of 10 p.m. news stories.
In light of the ongoing criticism about the station’s coverage, the FCC allowed WWOR-TV to continue to operate, even though its license had expired, but postponed making a decision on its renewal. Since then, the FCC has continuously monitored WWOR-TV’s coverage of Garden State news.
FCC investigation underway
Now the FCC is investigating the station to determine whether it has misled the agency about the amount New Jersey coverage it does.
In a letter to FOX Television dated Feb. 17, the FCC wrote that “The Media Bureau is investigating allegations concerning the accuracy, completeness, and truthfulness of representations made by Fox Television Stations, Inc….licensee of WWOR-TV, Secaucus, New Jersey, in certain communications with the staff of the Federal Communications Commission.”
Citing materials submitted to the federal agency by the advocacy group Voice for New Jersey, the FCC letter continues, stating, “In letters dated November 27, 2009 and February 15, 2010…Voice for New Jersey alleges that, in communications with Commission staff members on August 26, 2009, Fox misrepresented the quantity of local New Jersey news and public affairs programming broadcast by WWOR-TV after July 2009, as well as the number of employees who worked at WWOR-TV’s Secaucus, New Jersey facility during that same period.”
Staff cut back
In the summer of 2009 WWOR-TV cut back its staff and made several changes to its news coverage. The station, for example, cut its nightly 10 p.m. news broadcast from 60 minutes to half an hour. Since the station does not air midday or evening broadcasts, critics charged that this gave New Jersey residents access to local televised news only once every 24 hours.
According to the FCC, the station may not have adequately reflected these changes in correspondences with the federal agency, giving the FCC the impression the station was doing more local coverage than it was.
WWOR-TV now has until March 17 to provide the FCC with a litany of documents regarding the station’s staff and coverage. Based on the wording of the agency’s letter to the station, it is clear the agency is trying to determine whether or not previous information provided by the station was accurate.
Among other information, the station is required to “state the last date on which the station regularly aired a one-hour nightly weekday newscast, the last date on which it regularly aired a nightly weekend newscast, and the last date on which it aired each of the named public affairs programs on a weekly basis, and (b) state the total weekly air time devoted to each such program.”
The FCC also wants WWOR-TV to state the last date on which there were at least 250 employees working from the station’s Secaucus studio.
Reactions
“We’re quite pleased the FCC is taking a hard look at WWOR and its coverage,” said Donna Sandorse, a member of Voice for New Jersey last week.
In response to the investigation, Claudia Russo, a spokesperson for WWOR-TV said, “We look forward to responding to the FCC’s inquiry, and we are confident that upon review of all facts and applicable law, the FCC will recognize that these unwarranted claims hold no merit.”
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.