RVTV/SOU Censorship

suzia aufderheide, 04.11.2009 18:58

In the october 30, 2009 Ashland Daily Tidings is an article regarding a decision by SOU to censor and suspend RVTV producers who have been indicted on child pornography charges.
The supposed wrong-doing of the producers was not germane to the subject matter. It seems that the provost in charge believes that two wrongs can make a right?

All of my life i have been deeply offended by pornography and its implications of disrespect and disregard for human life and the preciousness and fragile nature of being. Distinguishing poor taste from first amendment rights is a whole other consideration. It is my right to speak, it is not my job to censor.

There are millions of websites with billions of pages, less than 1% of these pages are pornography.  Approximately, two thirds of all internet traffic is porn related.  We are not a healthy group by these standards.

The first amendment is health promotion at the most foundational level - the founding fathers were hip to this - we must be able to speak that which ails us.  however darkly sometimes.

RVTV, a p.e.g. (public, education and government) access television channel owned by the City of Ashland (paid for with franchise fees - that are mandated by law - and paid by Charter/Ashland television to the city of Ashland. These monies are passed thru to RVTV for the public, the government and the educational facilities to make television in partnership. Frankly, SOU is the operator of RVTV, NOT its owner! (fyi grants pass, jackson and josephine counties, medford and rvtd contribute funds to SOU for RVTV)

Southern Oregon University is a public institution - supported by tax dollars, your money.  Through these two revenue streams, franchise fees and tax dollars, you, the community pay for and support RVTV p.e.g. access television.

I called a friend of mine, who is a young felon, to make sure that he still had access to libraries, loans and the ballot box. And, felons do. As well they should, emotional healing needs access to tools of society particulary those that educate and promote democracy.

By the way, whatever happened to that old tenant of democracy that went something like "innocent until proven guilty" or not “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."

RVTV belongs to the community plain and simple. I hope that the community has enough starch to tell SOU that it is way out of line.

thank you
suzia aufderheide

p.s. Finally, according to the agreement between SOU and Ashland “SOU shall immediately report to the City upon becoming aware of any unexpected development or problems regarding programming....which may jeopardize the provisions of service under this agreement” Did SOU honor their covenant with the City in this case?

below please find the article from the october 30, 2009 Ashland Daily Tidings

SOU suspends gay men's show after indictments
Provost office pulls plug on RVTV's 'Wilde Life'

By John Darling

Because of the indictment of its producer and host, the Rogue Valley Television show "Wilde Life" — about "issues facing gay men" — has been suspended by Southern Oregon University.

The half-hour show was hosted by Scott Clay, 55, who was fired in August from his job as chief planner for the city of Jacksonville when child pornography was found in his workplace computer. He was indicted Aug. 25 on a first-degree count of encouraging child sexual abuse and a second-degree count of the same charge. Both are felonies.

The show was produced by Dennis Vickoren, 62, of Eagle Point, who was indicted Aug. 26 on 30 felony counts of encouraging child sexual abuse for allegedly disseminating, duplicating and possessing child pornography.

The show was suspended by SOU Associate Provost Paul Steinle because of the indictments and will stay off the air "until it's resolved in court," Steinle said.

RVTV is a public access station and allows anyone in Jackson and Josephine counties to produce shows after taking training sessions, said Nena Heitz, RVTV director and administrative manager. It operates under the auspices of the university, and its office and studio are on the university campus.

Although there are no set rules on barring indicted persons from RVTV's airwaves, Steinle said "it's good sense." Neither Clay nor Vickoren could be reached for comment.

Sylvia McDaniel, executive director of Portland Community Media, which operates under the state government, said she cannot suspend a show unless lawbreaking occurs in the studio or within the context of the show.

"We manage the programs, not people's personal lives," McDaniel said, in a phone interview.

"We also go by their behavior in our facility," she added. "Producing the show 'Cannabis Common Sense' doesn't give them the right to stand in my parking lot and smoke dope."

"My jurisdiction is what goes on my channels, not what someone does outside my jurisdiction," McDaniel added. "Their personal lives are none of my business. I don't pull a show if it has nothing to do with the show."

The SOU Provost's office gave instructions, Heitz said, that the show needed to be suspended "until the situation is resolved." RVTV contacted the Provost's office when the arrests were made, she said, adding that the show has continued to air since the indictments — and the station has received many calls on the issue, with "a tremendous amount of support for Dennis and Scott and for what they're doing."

"They (the callers) think they're doing a great job and they ask if it (the charges) is true and we say we don't know," Heitz said.

RVTV in general "allows free speech," but, she said, it's run by a public university in a small town and is "a lot more conservative in approach." By contrast, some public access TV is much more liberal, including a "Nude News" show in New Jersey.

"We allow free speech here," she said, with usual FCC prohibitions on hate speech, obscenity and incitement to riot. Producers also may not try to sell goods or services.

Heitz said the show by Clay and Vickoren violated none of these standards, adding, "I'm remaining neutral. I always considered Dennis and Scott to be friends. When you work with people here, you become friends. I won't judge them unless they're found guilty."

Heitz said a similar situation arose about five years ago, when a producer of a show on rock bands had to be taken off the air because he had child pornography in his computer.

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I wonder... 06.11.2009 - 15:56 Suzia, I thank you for your insight on this as when I first heard about it I honestly could not get past thinking about the charges as well as the children who might be involved in that accused crime. So your viewpoint is something I will think about. I wonder if there is someone else who would take on the role of host and would want to keep it going? Are there bodies who will do the work? I do think it is crucial that gay/lesbian voices are heard on RVTV. Vanessa Houk> e-mail:: sunriver@gmail.com Homepage:: http://