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 Rook's Radiography
Commentaries by John Rook
"CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Michael Powell in the media's pocketbook -The payoff BIG media won't report"
"Regulate Deregulation"
 "Radio's Deregulation"
"The FCC Hearing in Seattle"
 "An Open Letter to FCC Chairman Michael Powell"
"A Letter to Lowry Mays"
 "Vulgarity Sucks"

Read excerpts from the forthcoming book, "Passing Thru"
"Happy Birthday, Bob Hope"
"Don't Forget Me (Eddie Cochran)"
 "In Like Flynn"
 "A Slice of Pie"
 "Burt Lancaster"
 "Astronaut"
 "Elvis"
 "WLS-Art Roberts"

In 1971, Superjock Larry Lujack described John Rook as "the greatest program director of our time or any other time."  In a 2001 R&R article, former ABC executive Bob Henabery is quoted as saying that "Rook understood the importance of doing everything right. He was a masterful Top 40 programmer."

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John Nichols and Josh Silver: The Federal Communications Commission voted 3 to 2 to meet the demands of big communications corporations. Rigorously opposed by consumer, religious, labor, community and public interest groups across the country, FCC Chairman Michael Powell warped the decision-making process to deliver a result allowing conglomerates to buy up hundreds of newspapers, television and radio stations in communities across the United States. Competition, diversity and local content will be undermined in local markets and nationally. The FCC's decision was the product of a corrupt process that was awash in special-interest money, and that saw industries that are supposed to be regulated telling the regulators how to proceed (read) 

Martin Kaplan: You would think that the first thing the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) would do before rewriting the rules of media ownership in America, would be to find out how well the rules are working. But you'd be wrong. This data vacuum is especially alarming in local news.  (read)

Ted Turner jumps ship, warns against FCC deregulation (read) 

John Rook opens an "Insider Letter" to FCC commissioners from a major broadcast executive. His name, if revealed, would be well known to the broadcast industry (read)

 

 

"Some things [fellow commissioners] have said have crossed the line of civility and respectful discourse."  Michael Powell,  Chairman FCC

                                                                                                                  
Shame on those who raise their voices drowning out the ego of poor Michael Powell.
Interesting isn't it, how shielded they get when they actually think they are so damn important. Respect comes to those who earn it, not demand it. Sorry, but my Harry Truman-George Patton is showing. For those to young to know, both spoke the language of the streets and it wasn't rap then. 
 
In five years, not once did this Washington big shot offer respectful discourse to those of us questioning his deregulation of the media.  He treated us like nobody's, giving his time instead to those he feels more comfortable with - the financially fixed. Now his own arrogance has crossed the public's line of civility
and look who's calling the kettle black.
 
This chairman, known for his inability to work with and/or get along with others, continues to blame everyone else for his own shortcomings. His apple falls far from the tree of his seemly diplomatic father. Powell2 is a lightweight who could never have been considered for a big paying government job at the Department of Justice or the Federal Communications Commission were it not for affirmative action. He has no appreciation of those who don't march to the beat of his drum.       
 
His two rubber stamps, one who's wife works for the vice president and the other who hasn't done or said anything of value since becoming a commissioner, thankfully won't be at the FCC forever.

After all, delivering as they have, they expect at least some offers as board members at media companies. The three of them are doing exactly what their masters in the republican party have ordered them to do. Gingrich's republican rout collected millions for enacting Telecommunications 1996, with no public discourse. Now media barons expect to take possession of the remainder of what they bought and paid for.  
 
The regulatory agency charged with overseeing the media also serves as a "safe house" for those in between media jobs.  The evidence clearly shows conflicts of interest in government and chairman Powell pretends to be above it all. He hob nob's with the scoundrels he's supposed to be watching over.
 
Neither of the Powell's will explain how they saw no conflicts when the son approved the AOL-TIME Warner merger while his father collected lucrative payments as a board member of the merging companies.
 
The White House pretends to be outraged with the Enron's and the World Com's. The FCC says payola is illegal,  except when Bush's Clear Channel buddies need it to pay down debt. Or, when it finds its way into the pockets of our elected officials.
 
IT'S A DISGRACE !   Regardless of the vote today, exposure of dishonest employees paid a good wage with benefits most don't have, will continue with even more fervor. Chairman Powell spouts off like no employee should to their employer.
 
After 30 years of being a contributor and a member of the Republican party, I quit. 
 
My anger at chairman Powell equals my disappointment in myself. For years it's been said Republican's only favor the wealthy.  Democrats represented the disadvantaged, those who can't afford to pay for representation in their government.
 
Damn they were right!
 
John Rook
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