"Localism." The definition, the concept, and its importance.

THE DEFINITION

"Localism," with regard to Public Broadcasting, is a word which has been tossed around for years by the FCC like a cat chasing its own tail. A working definition seems to elude them. Its importance to the FCC as a goal to be achieved, however, is plainly evident if one takes a look at the FCC's long history of symposiums, surveys, speeches, and papers written on the topic.

In the FCC's defense, however, the Communications Act of 19-whatever sort of addresses "localism," but any clear definition attempt seems to have been left just "hanging in the breeze" with no real clear-cut definition or guidelines for achieving it. It's as though the authors of the Communications Act walked right up to the doorstep, but never opened the door.

So the FCC, in their many attempts to define "localism," have invited everyone from time-to-time to jump in; join them; contribute; and try to assist them in defining the concept.

That's all well and good. But the results have been a "sea of ambiguity."

My personal opinion of the cause behind the problem is that the FCC has tried too hard to come up with a working definition for the term "localism," where "one size would fit all." The problem with that approach is that demographics are so radically varied across the entire country. What defines a Public TV or FM radio station's "local community" in the wide open spaces out west, compared to stations surrounded by denser populations elsewhere such as New York, or even, Palm Beach County, Florida?

Ahhhh. "The local community." Now there's a clue. Localism, i.e. ...the "Local Community???"

Well, gee! Doesn't it kinda sound as though the two words should go hand-in-hand???

Localism - Local Community -Localism - Local Community. I'm not sure, but I THINK we could be onto something here.

NEXT TIME:  "The Concept."  Stay tuned. ~JMR  :)