Defend Free Speech on the Public Airwaves

NCAC urges its supporters to turn their attention to a developing controversy in Maine, where political pressures have silenced longtime radio host Robert Skoglund (a.k.a. "The humble Farmer") and compromised his future at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

Skoglund, who has been referred to as "the Garrison Keillor of New England," has produced his unique show on the public airwaves for nearly 30 years. These programs combine obscure jazz with his trademark "rants," flights of dry humor and wisdom that have earned Skoglund a die-hard following.

Last fall, however, one such rant earned him the ire of Maine Public Broadcasting's Vice President for Radio Services, Charles Beck. Skoglund's mistake? Paraphrasing the Encyclopedia Britannica entry on the rise of fascism in Italy, drawing subtle yet subversive parallels to present-day American politics that apparently angered the station's leadership.   

In a troubling letter, Beck instructed Skoglund to cease from endorsing "(his) own or others' political thoughts, ideas, expressions, writings or thinking…." Construed so broadly, "political" speech covers a vast range of civic ideas and issues. Mr. Skoglund has not used his show to promote any partisan platform or candidate; rather, this restriction bars him from even reflecting on matters of broad social significance – a staple of his radio persona.

The letter concluded with a clear threat of retaliation:"If we know or perceive that you are not in agreement with these requests … we will immediately cancel your program from our schedule." Such vague and broad constraints cast a predictable chill over their target; for several months now, Mr. Skoglund has altered his radio program to no longer include the characteristic "rants" for which he has come to be known by his loyal audience.

Such disregard for First Amendment values is astonishing, especially in an institution whose stated mission includes "fostering an informed and active citizenry" and "providing a forum for a broad spectrum of opinions and perspectives."

Skoglund's dilemma has recently been chronicled by The Christian Science Monitor and Village Soup. You can also learn more about him at his Web site, where – as a substitute for on-air commentary – he has lately taken to posting his "rants" for all to read.

One fan recently wrote of Skoglund, "His rants on the air have been an indication that we live in a democracy. Their silencing is a bellwether of its decline." True enough, while funding cuts and partisan pressures have rallied impassioned support of public broadcasting, local ordeals like Skoglund's often go unreported or unnoticed. That's why it is essential that MPBN hear from free speech supporters who refuse to accept the silencing of The humble Farmer.

We ask that you take a moment to contact MPBN and express your support for Robert Skoglund. You can also emphasize that while public broadcasting is committed to non-partisan, even-handed treatment of controversial issues, a blanket restriction on "political" speech violates First Amendment principles and deprives MPBN's audience of information and ideas about important civic issues.

See below for NCAC's letter to the MPBN Board of Trustees.

March 13, 2007

An open letter to the Board of Trustees, Maine Public Broadcasting Network

On behalf of the National Coalition Against Censorship, an alliance of over 50 national non-profit organizations committed to freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression, I write to alert you to troubling events within MPBN, and to ask that you take immediate action to safeguard free speech on Maine's public airwaves.

We are concerned that Vice President for Radio Services Charles L. Beck compromised core principles of free expression by placing unreasonable limitations on the speech of veteran MPBN radio host Robert Skoglund (a.k.a. "The humble Farmer"). As you can see from the enclosed letter of November 20, 2006, these limitations were backed by the threat of canceling Skoglund's show.

Several of Mr. Beck's seven "points of understanding" presume to forbid Mr. Skoglund from forms of speech that enjoy clear and firm protections under the First Amendment. Such actions cast a predictable chill over their target (and likely have a similar effect on others, through example). For several months now, Mr. Skoglund has altered his radio program to no longer include the characteristic "rants" for which he has come to be known by his loyal audience.

Skoglund has been hosting his program on MPBN for nearly three decades. He is a unique asset to your station – a "Maine original" and even, some might argue, a national treasure. As one fan writes, "His rants on the air have been an indication to me that we live in a democracy."    

The free (and often messy) exchange of ideas is essential to democracy; as Thomas Jefferson put it, "Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Public broadcasting is, in this sense, a trustee of American democracy, as MPBN's own mission attests: your aims include "fostering an informed and active citizenry" and "providing a forum for a broad spectrum of opinions and perspectives."

Therefore, we call on you, the trustees of Maine Public Broadcasting, to disavow the undemocratic directives issued by Mr. Beck, and to take responsible steps to affirm MPBN's commitment to free speech on the air. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of service.