3 Democratic Philadelphia City Councilmembers Support Renewal Of Fox’s WTXF O&O There
Three Democratic Philadelphia City Councilmembers have weighed in at the FCC in support of the license renewal application for Fox Corp.’s WTXF Philadelphia.
The comments are in response to a move by the Media and Democracy Project to deny renewal on the grounds that Fox’s Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch violated the character requirements expected from public trustees granted a broadcast license through commentary and reporting by Fox News that promoted former President Donald Trump’s false claims that he lost the presidency in 2020 because of a rigged election.
In comments filed at the FCC, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson said: “Revoking their broadcast license would not only damage an important partnership that serves as a link between City Council and the people of Philadelphia, but it would also tear down a long-standing journalistic institution dedicated to the betterment of our city.”
Councilmember Anthony Phillips wrote: “We do our best to inform the public of our commitment to solving the problems that matter to them, but we can’t do it alone. With the help of Fox 29, we are able to bring awareness to our constituents that we remain vigilant in our efforts to keep our community safe.”
And Councilmember Sharon Vaughn added: “I plead with the FCC to do the right thing and renew Fox 29’s broadcast license so that the network can continue to provide the type of community coverage that our city’s most important causes desperately need.”
The support follows similar letters from local elected leaders including U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), former Undersecretary of the Army and former Democratic Congressman Patrick J. Murphy (Pa.); Democratic Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, Democratic State Representative Anthony Bellmon, and Camden, N.J., Mayor Victor Carstarphen.
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Among those filing in support of revoking the license are Former Republican FCC Chairman Al Sikes; Jamie Kellner, founding Fox Broadcasting president; Preston Padden, former Fox executive and Murdoch lobbyist; Bill Reyner, former counsel to Murdoch/Fox; and Bill Kristol, former editor of conservative, Murdoch-owned The Weekly Standard.
Comments (2)
[email protected] says:
October 26, 2023 at 11:37 pm
Good that a lot of Dems in PA supporting for renewal of the Fox O&O in Philly. I don’t believe Fox’s license should be revoked since it was on the cable side not on the broadcast side MAD just wants donations for the cause which they don’t have a case along with former FCC chairmen, Preston, & Bill Kristol wasting the FCC time. As they have better things to do than a group making lies about WTXF Fox29 in Philly.
AIMTV says:
October 27, 2023 at 3:23 pm
I abhor lies and disinformation, and FNC has been a plague on this nation by spreading disinformation and even Russian propaganda for going on two decades now. As a nation, we are now suffering the repercussions of the foundation of their disinformation industrial complex. Thankfully, local stations are run very differently than their national cable news channel. It may seem like misplaced “punishment.” But the fact is, there indeed is an FCC character requirement. Mr. Paddon’s case that the Murdochs fail that smell test could be legitimate legally when viewed under that narrow scope in light of the 2020 election’s willful disinformation campaign. Whether it will or not is doubtful, especially when bought-and-paid-for local politicians are willing to sell their souls to grease the wheels for billionaire media owners. It’s almost comforting to see that craven power and banal greed are still old-fashionedly bipartisan.