Clear Channel’s plan to revise all of its radio air personality contracts to include provisions that the DJs share in the financial penalties for any indecency violations isn’t sitting well with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
In a statement on its Web site, AFTRA says, “It’s completely inappropriate and unprecedented for a broadcast company to shift the burden of complying with FCC regulations onto the backs of its employees. To the extent that individual employees may make on-the-spot errors that run afoul of FCC regs or company policy, that employee’s existing personal-services agreement already provides recourse for the company.”
“What’s truly indecent about this situation,” the statement says, “is how big media is trying to absolve itself of complying with FCC regulations by making its employees pay fines that are only levied because of management’s programming decisions.”
