Send Us Your Nominations

        The Awards Committee of the AFTRA Board of Directors is now accepting nominations for five new awards to be presented at our June membership meeting, June 14th.

The AFTRA Pittsburgh Awards were created to recognize important work inside and outside our union that has improved the lives of working AFTRAns .

Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:

Community Ally Award - Special recognition for an individual (s) or group outside of AFTRA furthering the cause of working members.

Top Broadcast Manager - Recognizing the manager who has worked to promote the welfare of his employees.

Top Freelance Producer - Given to the producer who has worked to create union jobs.

Top Elected Official - Given to the elected official who has worked for the betterment of union workers and their families.

AFTRA Lifetime Achievement Award - Given to the AFTRAn who has worked throughout her or his career for the advancement of our union and whose professional accomplishments have brought pride to all AFTRAns.

All AFTRA members in good standing are eligible to make nominations. The name(s) of the nominee and an explanation of why the nomination is being made should be forwarded to

The AFTRA Awards Committee
625 Stanwix Street, Suite 2007
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Or via email to nbarron@aftra.com The deadline for nominations is May 21, 2004

What's Indecent?

        Pittsburgh's most famous grandmother and former Mayor Sophie Masloff was standing behind him in a buffet line when she yelled out in that unforgettable screech: "Dooo Me!".

When he mimics her on air, do you find that a hilarious parody or something too indecent and worthy of a half-million dollar fine?

The great impersonation of Sophie came from none other than 'DVE morning show host and comic Jim Krenn who provided our April 19 membership meeting with an entertaining and thought-provoking evening.

Krenn used his great standup-comic talents to open up a serious discussion about the FCC's attempt to significantly chill artistic freedom with a new wave of censorship and pending legislation that could fine both stations and artists up to $500,000. As Krenn told our members: "we need the union more than ever when you talk about these fines and the government coming at us".

With Krenn in the room it wasn't an entirely serious evening. Krenn does a dead-on George Bush (W) impersonation, complete with Texas drawl and, well, strange sentence structure. Here's just one Krenn bit: "They found 50-thousand pounds of mustard gas in Turkey. I love both of those. I love mustard. I love turkey. I put them together I get gas and it's a dangerous thing. But you don't see me walking around saying 'pull my finger'".

Funny stuff? I think so. Offensive? Maybe to some. So far this wouldn't prompt Bush's man at the FCC chairman Michael Powell (son of the Secretary of State Colin Powell ) to pull the trigger on WDVE. But as Krenn told us "It's very dangerous. Can you be clever and risqué? It's still a gray area. What if the standards change more in a year or two?" AFTRA Pittsburgh Executive Director John Haer told the members that AFTRA's position is that the proposed regulations raise a constitutional issue of artistic freedom. While there's no question that stations can discipline an artist, it's another question as to whether the Government can fine an artist expression.

Krenn's appearance (along with his charming wife Hedy) at the membership meeting kicked off a new approach for AFTRAPittsburgh. We plan to feature guest appearances from some of our highly talented members at every membership meeting.

Krenn got things started nicely. He entertained us while reminding us why we need a union. ”

Are We A Political Union?

        AFTRA is unique among most US trade unions. We do not endorse and support political candidates. We don't raise "hard" (non-dues) money to elect or un-elect lawmakers. We carefully avoid identification of our Union with any political party or person running for public office.

These policies are a product of the fact that many of our broadcast members are news journalists whose job is to report current events. Newspersons interview policy makers, affected individuals, and the general public. Objectivity and non-partisanship are bedrock elements of journalistic integrity. Employees of news networks and stations are constantly cautioned by management that their job is to report, not make, the news.

That is not to say AFTRA members are not political. Indeed, many current or former members have run for and held office, although not when serving as newspersons. From Reagan to Schwarzenegger, Klink to Springer, actors and broadcasters do express strong views . Opinionated or point-of-view hosts are thriving on today's hard-edge talk shows. Political issues and ideas (mostly conservative) permeate radio and TV. While our members often voice these issues and ideas, they speak as individuals.

Do AFTRA members collectively need a voice? Consider the following:

In Harrisburg, legislators are considering a bill to provide tax credits to producers of entertainment programming who shoot and hire talent in the state. If passed, there will be more work for performers. Also in Harrisburg, legislators are now being asked to co-sponsor a bill to outlaw non-compete clauses in the individual contracts of broadcast non-management employees.

In Washington, there's a slew of bills that directly affect our members' work lives. New FCC regulations will permit even more ownership of local TV stations by the media giants. Other measures will permit individual announcers to be fined up to $500,000 for on-air indecent speech even if such speech is not clearly defined in advance. New overtime regulations will reduce the income of some broadcasters. Also before Congress is a bill to assist joint labor/management trust funds like the AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund. New amortization rules could ease the strain on the Fund caused by the stock market plunge of 2000-2002. If passed, maybe our Fund could avoid more benefit cuts.

Who speaks for working performers and announcers? Not the station owners. Not the Ad Agencies, the Independent Producers, not the Agents. They look to their own bottom lines first.

AFTRA is the only voice for on-air performers and announcers, and today our voice needs to be heard more loudly than ever.

We do not endorse candidates, but we absolutely must work with elected officials to support key legislation that helps our members and defeat bills that hurt our members. To be effective we must mobilize our members and the public to lobby for our issues. We must testify in person about how we are affected. And we should let our members know the records of politicians when it comes to our issues.

I think we're learning how to do this better on both the local and national level. Check out our new Web Sites. Lend a hand. Sure, we're unique. And when it comes to our members' work lives, we're political, too. ”

Clear Channel Jocks Nix Company's Voice-tracking Gambit

        AFTRA members at WDVE, WWSW, and WBGG recently delivered their boss a strong message-- a petition signed by all on-air staff. The signers vowed to fight the Company's demands to eliminate, by using voice tracking, contract protections for union jobs and benefits.

"We have witnessed the termination of local staff artists at company-owned stations WJJJ and WKST and their replacement by imported, voice-tracked programs from Austin, Chicago, and Philadelphia." say the announcers. Now Clear Channel wants a "blank check " to voice track any and all programs on WDVE and WWSW, a stand that "threatens quality standards and devalues the contributions of staff artists".

AFTRA has met with the Company more than 30 times in the last 22 months trying to resolve this and other issues. To date, however, the Company insists on the erosion of AFTRA contract rights as a condition of any settlement. But the jocks won't go there. "We will do whatever we can to persuade you (the Company) to change your position at the bargaining table," they say in the petition. "We consider it our responsibility to defend quality, live radio here in Pittsburgh, just as our AFTRA colleagues in New York, Washington, and Los Angeles defended live radio in their recently concluded negotiations."

Special thanks to members Sheri Seiter, Mike Frazer, Bill Cameron, and Sean McDowell for helping keep the AFTRA light shining at Clear Channel.

Molasses is to Winter as CBS/Viacom/Infinity is to...?

Contract talks continue at a snail's pace for KDKA-TV. In the last several months, the parties have exchanged package proposals through the Federal Mediator, and several key issues are still unresolved. The company is demanding a cut in the minimum wage scale and AFTRA wants economic improvements and jurisdiction over work produced at WNPA, Channel 19. The effects on bargaining of the recent exit of GM Gary Cozen are unclear.

Meanwhile, bargaining for a new agreement at the three Infinity FM radio stations, WBZZ, WZPT, and WDSY has stalled over company demands for, you guessed it, unlimited voice tracking rights. Union needs here include wage improvements and increased Company H & R contributions. Federal Mediator Pat Duff has entered the talks. When KDKA-AM's agreement opens with AFTRA this summer, will we have a trifecta of Infinity bargaining tables? Stay tuned.

Kudos to AFTRA members Paul Martino, Stoney Richards, and Barbara Boylan at these stations, who keep the AFTRA communications network going.

Around the Other Stations

AFTRA helped solve an overtime issue at SBN (Sheridan Broadcasting Network). At WAMO, Sheridan's local station, AFTRA is engaged in talks for new fees for remote broadcast programs. Station Reps Gerry Scott and Anji Corley make sure the union news gets around.

AFTRA clarified that a recent change in vacation policy at WTOV-TV in Steubenville had to first be negotiated with the Union. Management agreed.

When questions arose about auditions for vacant program slots at WEAE (ESPN Sports Radio 1250), talks with station management led to a workable agreement for both sides. Station Rep Joe Distio anchors the AFTRA desk there.

Members at WPXI-TV encountered a company questionnaire on payola/plugola requirements that seemed to tread on employee privacy rights. AFTRA circulated a memo to all staff artists explaining the regulations the company must follow and offering to serve as a go-between for any artist with privacy concerns.

Special congratulations to anchor Peggy Finnegan, winner of the 2004 Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting Television award given by the Pittsburgh Radio and Television Club. Peggy was introduced in abstentia at the awards dinner by co-anchor David Johnson. AFTRA, represented at the event by President Paul Martino and WPXI Station Rep Dee Thompson, gave our stellar members a standing ovation.

Nationwide

NPR yanks host Bob Edwards

April 30 was Bob Edwards' last day as the signature voice for National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," the nation's most popular morning program with 13 million listeners. Edwards, 56, who happens to be First Vice President of AFTRA, would have preferred to continue. This was his 25th year.

But NPR brass decided they wanted a change. They were not prepared, however, for the avalanche of listener reaction. The volume of negative e-mails necessitated the hiring of three new temps at NPR headquarters, according to knowledgeable sources. More than 25,000 names vowing to withhold NPR annual contributions now appear on the website savebobedwards.com online petition.

The groundswell of support seems to have bouyed Edwards' bargaining position. NPR execs earlier reported Edwards would become a senior correspondant, an announcement Edwards called "premature." Recently, Bob and his Washington, D.C. AFTRA Rep met with management to discuss his changed duties. On May 1, Bob embarks on a 7-week book tour to promote his latest book, "Edward R. Morrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism." After that, we'll hear just how his familiar coffee and cigarette baritone will bring us the news.

No Overtime For Broadcasters?

President Bush's Department of Labor recently issued their final regulations on overtime provisions. These regulations, when proposed last summer, caused a firestorm of opposition because they "clarified and modernized" some 8.2 million workers out of overtime eligibility, including many broadcast journalists and announcers. The rules were strong-armed through Congress by powerful Republican leaders. The final regulations are somewhat modified but still provides ample grounds for station management to deny overtime when not bargained as part of a collective bargaining agreement. AFTRA and the all the AFL-CIO strongly condemn these changes as harmful to workers.

As we go to press, the Senate has rejected the new regulations.

Stay tuned for further developments.

Advertel on Do Not Work List

        Pittsburgh-based ads-on-hold company, Advertel, Inc., has been placed on AFTRA's national Do Not Work List as a result of numerous violations of its signatory agreement to our National Code of Fair Practice for Non-Broadcast Industrial/Educational Recorded Material.

Advertel, represented by its President, Paul Berran, lost an arbitration AFTRA Pittsburgh pursued on behalf of two members. In addition to other violations, the arbitrator found that Advertel:

Paid talent far less than the contract requires;

Failed to make any Health and Retirement contributions on behalf of members;

Operated under a long-expired waiver agreement.

What does this mean to you?

It means that you cannot work for Advertel. It also means that friends of yours who are members of Equity and/or SAG but not AFTRA cannot work for Advertel either. If you or your friends do work for any company on the National Do Not Work List you will be disciplined and may even be voted out of one or all of the unions. It seems harsh but is abundantly reasonable given that AFTRAns and members of our sister unions have worked too long and too hard to guarantee you the protections and benefits of working under a union contract to see those protections jeopardized by our own.

And be aware: AFTRA members are prohibited from performing in non-Equity touring productions for the very same reasons. If it isn't Equity, it isn't 'Broadway"

National Legislation and FCC rules hit you where it hurts

In response to Bono uttering the F word at the Golden Globes, Janet Jackson experiencing a wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl half time show and Howard Stern just being Howard Stern, scary things are happening that will significantly affect AFTRA members.

First, legislation seeking to fine individual performers and announcers $500,000 for initial "indecent" acts passed the House of Representatives within days of introduction. Senate legislation (SB 2056) codifying similar fines, was also introduced and at press time is still pending. Until recently, AFTRA was alone in speaking out against this ill-conceived, election year threat to artistic freedom. AFTRA has petitioned the U.S. Senate asserting that licensees rather than individual performers and announcers should ultimately be held responsible for programming decisions.

AFTRA's letter writing campaign continues via the Get Active section of the AFTRA National website. Make your voice heard; it couldn't be easier.

Second, the FCC's Golden Globe Awards decision puts broadcast licensees on notice that the Commission will punish broadcasters for "isolated or fleeting" expletives even if they are accidental or unintentional. The decision expands the scope of the FCC's definition of actionable indecency and adds the broad and vague term "profanity" to the types of speech the government will restrict. The term "profanity" is interpreted to include both "blasphemous" speech as well as words considered offensive because they are "vulgar" or "coarse." So not only does this new approach establish religion in violation of the First Amendment, it sets a standard with no limitations.

And on the statewide front....

HB 147 has moved out of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate leadership plans to move it before the June 30th recess as part of the final 2004-2005 budget package. This bill allows for a tax credit of 15% for eligible productions including feature film, television series or television shows of 15 minutes or longer. At least 50% of below-the-line hires must be PA residents, at least 50% of the total production budget must be spent in PA and 50% of filming must be done in PA.

HB 83 amends an act already on the books that gives movie producers sales tax exemptions for rented equipment. The amended bill expands the language to include all "commercial production" including commercials and industrials and it expands the tax exemption to "eligible direct uses" including transportation expenses, catering expenses and set-up of temporary office facilities

This bill really helps our local producers but is stalled in the Finance Committee. Your help is needed, right now to get both bills moving together.

Contact these State Senators:

Let them know you support HB 147 and 83 and want to see them both part of the tax package.

David Brightbill 717-787-5708 dbrightbill@pasen.gov

Jane Earll 717-787-8927 jearll@pasen.gov

John Pippy 717-787-1779; 412-262-2260 jpippy@pasen.gov

Mary Jo White 717-787-9684 mwhite@pasen.gov

Robert Robbins 717-787-1322 rrobbins@pasen.gov

Robert Thompson 717-787-5709 rthompson@pasen.gov

TIME'S RUNNING OUT! SIGN-UP FOR YOUR TALENT GUIDE WEB PAGE!

Be sure to read Mark Roberts's article about the talent guide website and how to get your voice demo and headshot on it. Producers have been asking for it and our goal is to have 300 members represented. Even if you don't typically do freelance work (this means you, broadcasters) you have nothing to lose-and much to gain-by your presence.

Let's Try to Make This Easy.  AFTRA Website 101

        I ’m the first to admit it. There are geek aspects to my personality. I’ve been playing with computers since the late sixties, when they were still steam operated, I think. So, occasionally, I forget that to most of you, computers fall into three categories.

• You don’t trust them, but you believe one should know one’s enemy.
• You understand what they can do, but God knows how they do it.
• D’oh!

There’s another category: Those who really know, understand and fully embrace them. But that’s a small group, and I probably know each of you personally. It’s to everyone else that this article is addressed.

AFTRA’s websites. What’s there and how do I find it?

There is one website that will lead you everywhere, www.aftrapgh.com. That’s the Pittsburgh Local’s official website. You’ll find breaking news, information about the Local and its staff, Board and officers. It’s updated regularly, sometimes daily, and you should check it often. The website also has a printable Production Report online, in case you and the producer both forgot to bring one. And local rates, in case you forgot to memorize them. Also, archives of our local newsletters, links to the national archives, and more stuff than I have space to talk about.

You’ll also find links to the other three sites you need to know about:

• www.thetalentguide.com - the Pittsburgh online Talent Guide.
• www.aftra.org – our National’s website.
• and www.aftrahr.com - the Health & Retirement website.

The Talent Guide Website – a potent promotional tool.

If you aren’t either a freelancer or a broadcaster, you can skip this section.

Hey, it’s FREE! The AFTRA Local Board voted to provide every single member who applies with a FREE web page, including brief résumé details, a picture, and a sixty-second audio demo. You provide the picture and the mp3 audio, and it costs you nothing. A second audio demo costs a little. You can post video mpgs for a little more.

It wouldn’t be right to say you’re nuts if you’re not on it, but I’ve made mistakes before. Many members have taken advantage of this offer, and more importantly, some agencies are casting from this website; more are looking at it as their first step in the process. This is an offer that no AFTRA member should overlook.

Bottom line: People get jobs from this site. If you’re a freelancer, and you’re not on the website, you’re really not looking for work. If you’re a broadcaster, you need to be here, too. It’s a subtle way to have your face and voice out there. If you’re not so subtle, we can put your aircheck online, too. The more faces and voices we put on the site, the more valuable it is to our employers.

We’ve tried to make it user friendly. Members can register for the website right now online at www.thetalentguide.com/enroll.htm, or call the office for an application. If you don’t have a picture or a demo, get your name and résumé info online now, add the rest later.

The National Websites

The next stop is www.aftrahr.com, the website for the Health and Retirement plan. This site includes links that allow you to find out about what your benefits are, and how to get them. Learn if your physician, hospital or clinic is a plan participant, and what to do if they’re not. How to qualify and how to apply for benefits. This is an important place to visit.

Don’t forget the Big Guy – www.aftra.org. Everything else is here. National rates, definitions, contacts and lots more. Information specific to broadcasters, actors, voiceovers, dancers, stunt people. Dues, news and a nice section on the history of AFRA and AFTRA . EEO facts and initiatives, legislative news, National Staff and National Board info; more than you care to know and everything you need.

Face it, the internet is the fastest, most efficient way for the union to get information to its members. Use the websites. If you don’t have a computer, use a friend’s, or go to a library or internet café. Members can also come to the office and use our computer, if they like. Just call first. I might be playing with the website.