J
Jay_Surly
Guest
With the election season thankfully over with, and all but a very few races decided, a question arises concerning on-air personalities whose voices were integral components of the candidates’ campaign messages on radio and television.
Let’s say, for example, a prominent afternoon drive music radio personality whose voice is clearly recognizable, records commercials and television audio for a candidate running for office in the (Erie) county legislature: The political office is hotly contested and the commercials are strongly worded. The personality does not advocate the political candidate, nor does he endorse the candidate, but the script is clearly accusatory and the delivery is strong.
Does the air personality, by virtue of voicing the commercials, risk alienating listeners, thereby adversely affecting his ratings and the station’s ratings?
Many years ago, one of my college professors who had worked in a major market before finding refuge in the classroom offered that as an air personality, he made a good living doing commercials, but was restricted by contract from recording political commercials for candidates, no matter if it was a political commercial for the office of dog catcher or senate, within 100 miles of the station’s transmitter. Additionally, he was restricted from doing commercials that advocated political positions and ballot initiatives.
Does an air personality who voices political commercials stand to lose more than he/she gains by doing the commercials? Secondarily, do such policies and restriction pass legal muster?
Your thoughtful response and discussion are greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Janos Surlikevich
Let’s say, for example, a prominent afternoon drive music radio personality whose voice is clearly recognizable, records commercials and television audio for a candidate running for office in the (Erie) county legislature: The political office is hotly contested and the commercials are strongly worded. The personality does not advocate the political candidate, nor does he endorse the candidate, but the script is clearly accusatory and the delivery is strong.
Does the air personality, by virtue of voicing the commercials, risk alienating listeners, thereby adversely affecting his ratings and the station’s ratings?
Many years ago, one of my college professors who had worked in a major market before finding refuge in the classroom offered that as an air personality, he made a good living doing commercials, but was restricted by contract from recording political commercials for candidates, no matter if it was a political commercial for the office of dog catcher or senate, within 100 miles of the station’s transmitter. Additionally, he was restricted from doing commercials that advocated political positions and ballot initiatives.
Does an air personality who voices political commercials stand to lose more than he/she gains by doing the commercials? Secondarily, do such policies and restriction pass legal muster?
Your thoughtful response and discussion are greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Janos Surlikevich