Alan S. Chartock
Alan S. Chartock | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | CEO, WAMC |
| Spouse | Roselle Chartock |
Alan Seth Chartock (born July 25, 1941) is chief executive at WAMC, Inc. (aka WAMC Public Radio or WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network), a 501c3 tax-exempt, charitable, educational, non-commercial broadcaster with offices and main studio located in Albany, New York. WAMC is a National Public Radio affiliate. He is also a retired professor of political science and communications, formerly with the State University of New York (SUNY). He also is executive publisher and project director for the Legislative Gazette, a weekly, student-run newspaper covering New York State government. Prior to being hired by SUNY, Chartock worked in the state legislature for Manfred Ohrenstein, the powerful Manhattan Democrat whose tenure as state senate minority leader was plagued by scandal[1]. Chartock is a graduate of Hunter College (BA '63), received his MA from American University and Ph.D. from New York University. Chartock is married to Roselle K. Chartock, an author and professor of education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. The couple has two grown children, Jonas and Sarah.
Political views
Chartock says he is concerned about governmental restrictions on free speech [1]. He says he is dismayed by what he calls the proliferation of corporate run radio stations[citation needed], which he thinks express extreme right-wing views without giving opposing viewpoints[citation needed].
Views of WAMC news and political commentary
Criticism of Chartock's Programming
NPR's official news policy states that its affiliate stations should be 'fair, unbiased, accurate, honest, and respectful of the people that are covered', principles that some senior NPR officials think are not always followed with Chartock's reporting at WAMC. [2]
For example, Jonathan Kern, the NPR official who leads NPR's anti-bias workshops, expressed concern with what he views as political bias in WAMC's non-syndicated news stating that "Our code of ethics says, if you’re in the news division, you do not express opinions on the air, and I think that’s a good measure for any station." [3] In another case, an NPR producer visiting the WAMC listening area expressed surprise regarding the "outspoken political commentary" of WAMC news coverage. It was Mr. Chartock's political commentary that most caught the attention of the NPR producer, who labeled it left-of-center "ranting" that, as a news professional dedicated to center-of-the-road balance at NPR, really "freaked [him] out". [3]
Support for Chartock's programming
Stephen Yasko, manager of WTMD (89.7 FM), an NPR member station in Towson that plays mostly adult-alternative music states that quality-control challenges NPR’s decentralized nature might create are outweighed by the advantage of unique local programming.
“Public radio stations reflect the values and texture of the communities they serve,” says Yasko, who has also worked in the NPR member services department. “If NPR or any national organization had too much control or input into every station’s local personality, then you would lose the very thing that makes us what we are. So if Alan Chartock is what Albany and upstate New York created and what works for them, that’s a beautiful thing, no matter what some outsiders might say.” [3]
See also
References
- Books written by Chartock
- Chartock, Alan S. (1995). Me and Mario Cuomo: conversations in candor. New York: Barricade Books. ISBN 1569800626.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - Chartock, Alan S. (1974). The Midtown Project. New York: (Publisher unknown). (ISBN number unknown).
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - Chartock, Alan S. (1970). Strengthening the Wisconsin Legislature (An Eagleton study and report). New Jersey: Published for the Eagleton Institute of Politics by Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0813506123.
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- Chartock, Alan S. (1995). Me and Mario Cuomo: conversations in candor. New York: Barricade Books. ISBN 1569800626.
External links
- Alan S. Chartock's Web site
- Alan S. Chartock's biography
- Alan S. Chartock's Blog
- WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network -- A tax-exempt, educational broadcaster for which Alan S. Chartock is presently chief executive
- WAMC Northeast PIRATE Network -- A Web site containing articles and exposés critical of Chartock and his management of radio station WAMC.