Monthly Archives: February 2023

Radio WHYT -Westchester On the Level

Subjects to be discussed are defined via the following specific hyperlink code … for the February 27, 2023rd broadcast. It may be heard “live” and/or “on demand” by way of this specific hyperlink http://tobtr.com/12202141

Listeners are welcome to make inquiry or comment when staying on the topics discussed which are defined by the broadcast’s guest(s).

The CALL-IN number is 347-205-9201

All callers are asked to share their first name so that we may refer to those who call respectfully.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, WHITE PLAINS, NY, and YONKERS, NY — February 27, 2023 — Monday’s Westchester On the Level radio broadcast opens with White Plains CitizeNetReporter Publisher / Editor John Bailey attending from 10-10:30am ET.

1) New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli questioned how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) intended to close a $600 million debit in 2023.
2) Supervisor Paul Feiner is attracting businesses to Greenburgh like honeybees to nectar while other communities are floundering. How does he do it?
3) Even though Covid cases are down, the spring/summer months and school age kids returning back to school promises an increase in infections while less and less people do not use masks. Is there a solution?
4) Indian Point has applied to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to drain the one million gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River. Doing so would likely have a detrimental effect of all ocean creatures. Is there no better way to safeguard the environment? Was there never a plan for this eventuality? Does the DEC have a solution? Listen from 10-10:30am ET

Michael Edelman, Esq., National / International Political Analyst / Pundit shares his thoughts on the latest news that impact the national and international stage.
1) Trump vowed to return law and order to the American streets “your president of law and order,” President Donald Trump vowed Monday to return law and order to American streets by using using the military if widespread violence isn’t quelled.
2) East Palestine witnessed the derailment of a 50-car freight train carrying toxic materials on 3 February sending a potentially lethal chemicals spewed into the air, ground and water.The derailment of a 50-car freight train carrying toxic materials on 3 February shattered daily life in East Palestine and sent a pall of black smoke over the region. Potentially lethal chemicals spewed into the air, ground and water. Three weeks into the disaster, a new set of headlines has started to billow up from right-wing outlets and commentators. Now the tragedy of East Palestine has morphed into a racialized lament for the “forgotten” people abandoned by the uncaring “woke” Biden Administration.
4) Can the nation expect a split screen of the next presidential election discourse into next year?
5j January 6 Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) offered a resolution to issue a subpoena to hear from former President Trump regarding the events of January 6. From 10:30-11am ET

Ron Matten, Yonkers Republican speaks about the reapportioned district lines in Yonkers and how they may effect future electoral contests, if at all. From 11-11:30am ET

Hezi Aris, Yonkers Tribune Publisher/Editor will thereafter engage in hyperlocal and international news with commensurate analysis. From 11:30am-12Noon ET.

ANALYSIS: The public media merger has been trashed, but wider media reforms remain on the table this year.

In fact, another proposed reform, that of the role of the media regulators, appears to be increasingly urgent.

In recent weeks, Parliament has heard multiple pleas from media regulators of the need to update outdated law governing broadcasting and media.

The regulators deal with everything, from fighting fake news to terrorism, and they’re being asked to take on a new role. The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) is being tasked with leading the Government’s now flagship media policy, to one day fight companies such as Google and Facebook to pay for New Zealand news.

READ MORE:
* R16 or AO? MP’s question about Naked Attraction raises a point on media regulation
* NZME profit falls by a third to $23m, reports ‘soft start’ to new financial year
* Sudden departures from Magic Talk spark fears it’s ‘gone woke’. Can the talkback station be saved?

But how will it take on that role, given the regulators appear to be struggling with what’s already on their plates?

The Office of Film and Literature Classification had to explain to confused parliamentarians how the system works, when it with MPs last week. Chief Censor Caroline Flora​ was asked why nude dating show Naked Attraction wasn’t slapped with tougher restrictions, leading her to explain that because it wasn’t first released on DVD – but was instead on TV – that it was in the domain of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The bigger question, of why we have a system based on DVDs and terrestrial TVs, was only somewhat traversed during the select committee meeting.

Flora also warned that with the rise of more sinister corners of the Internet, her small office – which was set up to deal with comic books and films – was dealing with an ever-increasing workload.

The BSA, which was set up to regulate television and radio, warned Parliament that it was already dealing with a massive workload while its funding was shrinking. It has less cash because most of its funding comes from a levy on broadcasters, and their revenue is shrinking too.

BSA boss Stacey Wood told a parliamentary select committee that complaints about the fairness of television news took up the majority of the BSA’s time. Most of those complaints weren’t upheld, she said, but said it was good that the authority was there to ensure Kiwis could trust the news they heard on TV and radio.

But what about the news they hear from other sources?

On Tuesday, the BSA said it was right that Newstalk ZB owner NZME apologised to teenage climate activist Izzy Cook after host Heather du Plessis-Allan “ridiculed” the 16-year-old on air.

While the BSA’s verdict largely supported how NZME handled the complaint, veteran broadcaster (and former BSA board member) Sean Plunket wasn’t impressed. Plunket, who runs his own online-only radio station, said he was “so glad” he didn’t fall under the BSA’s purview.

Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson used to say that merging RNZ and TVNZ would help increase trust in media, with the merged organisation expected to take a greater role in delivering online news.

While that plan has been binned, officials are still looking into whether Government regulators should play a role in online news. Currently, the Media Council, a self-regulated organisation for news, is the only watchdog for online news.

Cabinet is set to hear proposals in July.

National Party broadcasting spokesperson Melissa Lee says she would support reform. She says the current system has failed to adapt to the convergence of media, leaving companies like Netflix and Facebook in a grey zone between regulators.

Whatever Cabinet chooses, it’s clear the BSA in its current form will need a funding influx.

As the writing on the wall of the merger became clear last year, Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson announced a new policy to help ensure a future for local media.

He said the Government would create legislation to force Silicon Valley mega corporates to negotiate content deals with New Zealand publishers. In practice, this should mean that companies such as Facebook would pay local news organisations for the content which populates its newsfeeds.

According to Jackson’s plan, the BSA would be responsible for mediating any tricky negotiations between New Zealand news agencies and the multinational tech companies.

This would be a major expansion of the BSA, an organisation with just nine staff that has found itself hamstrung with 34-year-old legislation that ignores the existence of the internet.

Wood said her organisation was well-placed to facilitate negotiations, due to its existing relationships with publishers.

While those relationships exist, it’s also true that Jackson has effectively proposed sending in a 20th century regulator to fight a uniquely 21st century content war. And Parliament is yet to bring its media warrior into the digital-age.

Radio WHYT -Westchester On the Level

Subjects to be discussed are defined via the following specific hyperlink code … for the February 27, 2023rd broadcast. It may be heard “live” and/or “on demand” by way of this specific hyperlink http://tobtr.com/12202141

Listeners are welcome to make inquiry or comment when staying on the topics discussed which are defined by the broadcast’s guest(s).

The CALL-IN number is 347-205-9201

All callers are asked to share their first name so that we may refer to those who call respectfully.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, WHITE PLAINS, NY, and YONKERS, NY — February 27, 2023 — Monday’s Westchester On the Level radio broadcast opens with White Plains CitizeNetReporter Publisher / Editor John Bailey attending from 10-10:30am ET.

1) New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli questioned how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) intended to close a $600 million debit in 2023.
2) Supervisor Paul Feiner is attracting businesses to Greenburgh like honeybees to nectar while other communities are floundering. How does he do it?
3) Even though Covid cases are down, the spring/summer months and school age kids returning back to school promises an increase in infections while less and less people do not use masks. Is there a solution?
4) Indian Point has applied to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to drain the one million gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River. Doing so would likely have a detrimental effect of all ocean creatures. Is there no better way to safeguard the environment? Was there never a plan for this eventuality? Does the DEC have a solution? Listen from 10-10:30am ET

Michael Edelman, Esq., National / International Political Analyst / Pundit shares his thoughts on the latest news that impact the national and international stage.
1) Trump vowed to return law and order to the American streets “your president of law and order,” President Donald Trump vowed Monday to return law and order to American streets by using using the military if widespread violence isn’t quelled.
2) East Palestine witnessed the derailment of a 50-car freight train carrying toxic materials on 3 February sending a potentially lethal chemicals spewed into the air, ground and water.The derailment of a 50-car freight train carrying toxic materials on 3 February shattered daily life in East Palestine and sent a pall of black smoke over the region. Potentially lethal chemicals spewed into the air, ground and water. Three weeks into the disaster, a new set of headlines has started to billow up from right-wing outlets and commentators. Now the tragedy of East Palestine has morphed into a racialized lament for the “forgotten” people abandoned by the uncaring “woke” Biden Administration.
4) Can the nation expect a split screen of the next presidential election discourse into next year?
5j January 6 Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) offered a resolution to issue a subpoena to hear from former President Trump regarding the events of January 6. From 10:30-11am ET

Ron Matten, Yonkers Republican speaks about the reapportioned district lines in Yonkers and how they may effect future electoral contests, if at all. From 11-11:30am ET

Hezi Aris, Yonkers Tribune Publisher/Editor will thereafter engage in hyperlocal and international news with commensurate analysis. From 11:30am-12Noon ET.

ANALYSIS: The public media merger has been trashed, but wider media reforms remain on the table this year.

In fact, another proposed reform, that of the role of the media regulators, appears to be increasingly urgent.

In recent weeks, Parliament has heard multiple pleas from media regulators of the need to update outdated law governing broadcasting and media.

The regulators deal with everything, from fighting fake news to terrorism, and they’re being asked to take on a new role. The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) is being tasked with leading the Government’s now flagship media policy, to one day fight companies such as Google and Facebook to pay for New Zealand news.

READ MORE:
* R16 or AO? MP’s question about Naked Attraction raises a point on media regulation
* NZME profit falls by a third to $23m, reports ‘soft start’ to new financial year
* Sudden departures from Magic Talk spark fears it’s ‘gone woke’. Can the talkback station be saved?

But how will it take on that role, given the regulators appear to be struggling with what’s already on their plates?

The Office of Film and Literature Classification had to explain to confused parliamentarians how the system works, when it with MPs last week. Chief Censor Caroline Flora​ was asked why nude dating show Naked Attraction wasn’t slapped with tougher restrictions, leading her to explain that because it wasn’t first released on DVD – but was instead on TV – that it was in the domain of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The bigger question, of why we have a system based on DVDs and terrestrial TVs, was only somewhat traversed during the select committee meeting.

Flora also warned that with the rise of more sinister corners of the Internet, her small office – which was set up to deal with comic books and films – was dealing with an ever-increasing workload.

The BSA, which was set up to regulate television and radio, warned Parliament that it was already dealing with a massive workload while its funding was shrinking. It has less cash because most of its funding comes from a levy on broadcasters, and their revenue is shrinking too.

BSA boss Stacey Wood told a parliamentary select committee that complaints about the fairness of television news took up the majority of the BSA’s time. Most of those complaints weren’t upheld, she said, but said it was good that the authority was there to ensure Kiwis could trust the news they heard on TV and radio.

But what about the news they hear from other sources?

On Tuesday, the BSA said it was right that Newstalk ZB owner NZME apologised to teenage climate activist Izzy Cook after host Heather du Plessis-Allan “ridiculed” the 16-year-old on air.

While the BSA’s verdict largely supported how NZME handled the complaint, veteran broadcaster (and former BSA board member) Sean Plunket wasn’t impressed. Plunket, who runs his own online-only radio station, said he was “so glad” he didn’t fall under the BSA’s purview.

Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson used to say that merging RNZ and TVNZ would help increase trust in media, with the merged organisation expected to take a greater role in delivering online news.

While that plan has been binned, officials are still looking into whether Government regulators should play a role in online news. Currently, the Media Council, a self-regulated organisation for news, is the only watchdog for online news.

Cabinet is set to hear proposals in July.

National Party broadcasting spokesperson Melissa Lee says she would support reform. She says the current system has failed to adapt to the convergence of media, leaving companies like Netflix and Facebook in a grey zone between regulators.

Whatever Cabinet chooses, it’s clear the BSA in its current form will need a funding influx.

As the writing on the wall of the merger became clear last year, Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson announced a new policy to help ensure a future for local media.

He said the Government would create legislation to force Silicon Valley mega corporates to negotiate content deals with New Zealand publishers. In practice, this should mean that companies such as Facebook would pay local news organisations for the content which populates its newsfeeds.

According to Jackson’s plan, the BSA would be responsible for mediating any tricky negotiations between New Zealand news agencies and the multinational tech companies.

This would be a major expansion of the BSA, an organisation with just nine staff that has found itself hamstrung with 34-year-old legislation that ignores the existence of the internet.

Wood said her organisation was well-placed to facilitate negotiations, due to its existing relationships with publishers.

While those relationships exist, it’s also true that Jackson has effectively proposed sending in a 20th century regulator to fight a uniquely 21st century content war. And Parliament is yet to bring its media warrior into the digital-age.

Radio WHYT -Westchester On the Level

Subjects to be discussed are defined via the following specific hyperlink code … for the February 27, 2023rd broadcast. It may be heard “live” and/or “on demand” by way of this specific hyperlink http://tobtr.com/12202141

Listeners are welcome to make inquiry or comment when staying on the topics discussed which are defined by the broadcast’s guest(s).

The CALL-IN number is 347-205-9201

All callers are asked to share their first name so that we may refer to those who call respectfully.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, WHITE PLAINS, NY, and YONKERS, NY — February 27, 2023 — Monday’s Westchester On the Level radio broadcast opens with White Plains CitizeNetReporter Publisher / Editor John Bailey attending from 10-10:30am ET.

1) New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli questioned how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) intended to close a $600 million debit in 2023.
2) Supervisor Paul Feiner is attracting businesses to Greenburgh like honeybees to nectar while other communities are floundering. How does he do it?
3) Even though Covid cases are down, the spring/summer months and school age kids returning back to school promises an increase in infections while less and less people do not use masks. Is there a solution?
4) Indian Point has applied to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to drain the one million gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River. Doing so would likely have a detrimental effect of all ocean creatures. Is there no better way to safeguard the environment? Was there never a plan for this eventuality? Does the DEC have a solution? Listen from 10-10:30am ET

Michael Edelman, Esq., National / International Political Analyst / Pundit shares his thoughts on the latest news that impact the national and international stage.
1) Trump vowed to return law and order to the American streets “your president of law and order,” President Donald Trump vowed Monday to return law and order to American streets by using using the military if widespread violence isn’t quelled.
2) East Palestine witnessed the derailment of a 50-car freight train carrying toxic materials on 3 February sending a potentially lethal chemicals spewed into the air, ground and water.The derailment of a 50-car freight train carrying toxic materials on 3 February shattered daily life in East Palestine and sent a pall of black smoke over the region. Potentially lethal chemicals spewed into the air, ground and water. Three weeks into the disaster, a new set of headlines has started to billow up from right-wing outlets and commentators. Now the tragedy of East Palestine has morphed into a racialized lament for the “forgotten” people abandoned by the uncaring “woke” Biden Administration.
4) Can the nation expect a split screen of the next presidential election discourse into next year?
5j January 6 Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) offered a resolution to issue a subpoena to hear from former President Trump regarding the events of January 6. From 10:30-11am ET

Ron Matten, Yonkers Republican speaks about the reapportioned district lines in Yonkers and how they may effect future electoral contests, if at all. From 11-11:30am ET

Hezi Aris, Yonkers Tribune Publisher/Editor will thereafter engage in hyperlocal and international news with commensurate analysis. From 11:30am-12Noon ET.