New York City council members express alarm over Arbitron’s PPM plans

New York City council members express alarm over Arbitron’s PPM plans

(September 28th, 2007) Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Civil Rights Committee Chair Larry Seabrook and Majority Whip Inez Dickens held a press conference last week to express concern over Arbitron’s proposed methodology for media monitoring. Arbitron, an international media monitoring and research group that tracks consumer media habits across the country, plans to replace paper diaries with the Portable People Meter (PPM).

In light of possible deficiencies in the accuracy of numbers representing minority and ethnic listeners, the Council said it joins with the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) in asking Arbitron to revisit the proposed change. As part of a pilot program, Arbitron’s new measuring methods have been applied in Houston and Philadelphia, where its effects on local, minority-owned media have increased concern about the consequences on local radio stations, should the system be implemented in New York City.

Specifically, the Council and NABOB are alarmed about the recruitment, composition and administration of the sample panel, the attribution of sporadic exposure, and the absence of a metric that reflects listener engagement. Inaccurate representation of listeners has a negative affect on advertising revenues, and ultimately hamstrings the ability of smaller stations to stay afloat in a competitive media landscape.

“Minority-owned media has a strong history in New York City, and plays a critical role in our society,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “We cannot afford to have inaccurate listener-ship data rob these stations of the advertising dollars they need to survive. We ask that Arbitron meet with us prior to the implementation of the PPM system, to discuss what plans they have to ensure that their sample panel is reflective of the diversity of our City.”

“It is important that we send a message to Arbitron that the survival of Black, Latino and Asian radio is vital for the survival of our people,” said Council Member Larry Seabrook. “It is our most important vehicle for information and intellectual thought. So Arbitron, please listen to us.”

“As elected officials and community leaders, we are here today to request that Arbitron meet with the Council to discuss and address the potential negative impacts that PPM’s will have on black and minority owned radio stations,” said Council Member Inez Dickens. “Arbitron’s planned installation of electronic Portable People Meter's (PPM’s) is critical to the understanding of the historic relationship black radio has to the health and welfare of black folks. We cannot allow them to put a system in place that could jeopardize that necessary relationship.”

“Diversity of opinion is what makes New York great, and ethnic and minority-owned radio provides a unique forum to express those opinions,” said Robert Jackson, Co-Chair of the Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. “If we allow a new rating system to put the future of these stations in jeopardy, we risk eroding an important foundation of free speech in our City.”

“Minority-owned media is an essential link in keeping ethnic communities together, said Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo. “It is a means by which they can share their experiences and stay informed about the issues affecting them most. It is critical that we do everything we can to make sure that it remains a strong and healthy resource.”

Local and ethnic radio play an important role in the lives of New Yorkers. Not only do they provide a needed diversity of perspective, they are also a critical resource in providing community news and updates for many immigrant New Yorkers – updates often overlooked by the mainstream media.

The Council appreciates Arbitron’s efforts to increase accuracy and create better insights into how people consume media. Considering their reputation as a good corporate citizen, the Council trusts that they will be willing to work with the NABOB and other concerned parties to find a common resolution. In the end the goal is the same for all involved—a more accurate and reliable tool to measure New Yorkers’ listening habits.

“The issues surrounding the roll-out of the Arbitron PPM technology are ones of both civil rights and economic justice,” said Sanford Moore, a radio personality on KISS FM. “The air-waves are held as a public trust for the American people with licenses granted by the Federal government. Black radio and other minority radio and their audiences have struggled for decades to overcome the “separate and unequal” media paradigm erected by Madison Avenue. If the Arbitron PPM is allowed to go forward in its current form it will signal the death of minority radio as we have come to know and depend upon it.

“The Latino community adds our concerns to those of our African-American brothers and sisters on the potential negative impact that the introduction of portable people meters will have on the measurement of the Latino radio audience in New York City,” said Angelo Falcón, Co-Chair of the New York Chapter of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. “There are now more than 2 million Latinos in the city, making up 28 percent of its population. If reports from Philadelphia and Houston are a sign of things to come, Arbriton still has some work to do to assure that it does not undercount Latinos and Blacks. We stand ready to work with Arbriton to assure that their approach accurately measures all segments of the city's radio audience.”

“New York City needs Black radio. It is a key source of communicating information on critical issues like Sean Bell, Imus, or Jena 6. While we cannot slow the march of technological innovations such as the new PPM system, we can and must ensure that it measures what Black, Latin and other demographic groups listen to and want in a radio station,” said Darwin Davis, President of the New York Urban League.

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Wabash Ave. Suite 210 Chicago, IL 60604 t. 312-408-1881 f. 312-408-1867 info@targetmarketnews.com	New York City council members express alarm over Arbitron’s PPM plans (September 28th, 2007) Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Civil Rights Committee Chair Larry Seabrook and Majority Whip Inez Dickens held a press conference last week to express concern over Arbitron’s proposed methodology for media monitoring. Arbitron, an international media monitoring and research group that tracks consumer media habits across the country, plans to replace paper diaries with the Portable People Meter (PPM). In light of possible deficiencies in the accuracy of numbers representing minority and ethnic listeners, the Council said it joins with the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) in asking Arbitron to revisit the proposed change. As part of a pilot program, Arbitron’s new measuring methods have been applied in Houston and Philadelphia, where its effects on local, minority-owned media have increased concern about the consequences on local radio stations, should the system be implemented in New York City. Specifically, the Council and NABOB are alarmed about the recruitment, composition and administration of the sample panel, the attribution of sporadic exposure, and the absence of a metric that reflects listener engagement. Inaccurate representation of listeners has a negative affect on advertising revenues, and ultimately hamstrings the ability of smaller stations to stay afloat in a competitive media landscape. “Minority-owned media has a strong history in New York City, and plays a critical role in our society,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “We cannot afford to have inaccurate listener-ship data rob these stations of the advertising dollars they need to survive. We ask that Arbitron meet with us prior to the implementation of the PPM system, to discuss what plans they have to ensure that their sample panel is reflective of the diversity of our City.” “It is important that we send a message to Arbitron that the survival of Black, Latino and Asian radio is vital for the survival of our people,” said Council Member Larry Seabrook. “It is our most important vehicle for information and intellectual thought. So Arbitron, please listen to us.” “As elected officials and community leaders, we are here today to request that Arbitron meet with the Council to discuss and address the potential negative impacts that PPM’s will have on black and minority owned radio stations,” said Council Member Inez Dickens. “Arbitron’s planned installation of electronic Portable People Meter's (PPM’s) is critical to the understanding of the historic relationship black radio has to the health and welfare of black folks. We cannot allow them to put a system in place that could jeopardize that necessary relationship.” “Diversity of opinion is what makes New York great, and ethnic and minority-owned radio provides a unique forum to express those opinions,” said Robert Jackson, Co-Chair of the Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus. “If we allow a new rating system to put the future of these stations in jeopardy, we risk eroding an important foundation of free speech in our City.” “Minority-owned media is an essential link in keeping ethnic communities together, said Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo. “It is a means by which they can share their experiences and stay informed about the issues affecting them most. It is critical that we do everything we can to make sure that it remains a strong and healthy resource.” Local and ethnic radio play an important role in the lives of New Yorkers. Not only do they provide a needed diversity of perspective, they are also a critical resource in providing community news and updates for many immigrant New Yorkers – updates often overlooked by the mainstream media. The Council appreciates Arbitron’s efforts to increase accuracy and create better insights into how people consume media. Considering their reputation as a good corporate citizen, the Council trusts that they will be willing to work with the NABOB and other concerned parties to find a common resolution. In the end the goal is the same for all involved—a more accurate and reliable tool to measure New Yorkers’ listening habits. “The issues surrounding the roll-out of the Arbitron PPM technology are ones of both civil rights and economic justice,” said Sanford Moore, a radio personality on KISS FM. “The air-waves are held as a public trust for the American people with licenses granted by the Federal government. Black radio and other minority radio and their audiences have struggled for decades to overcome the “separate and unequal” media paradigm erected by Madison Avenue. If the Arbitron PPM is allowed to go forward in its current form it will signal the death of minority radio as we have come to know and depend upon it. “The Latino community adds our concerns to those of our African-American brothers and sisters on the potential negative impact that the introduction of portable people meters will have on the measurement of the Latino radio audience in New York City,” said Angelo Falcón, Co-Chair of the New York Chapter of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. “There are now more than 2 million Latinos in the city, making up 28 percent of its population. If reports from Philadelphia and Houston are a sign of things to come, Arbriton still has some work to do to assure that it does not undercount Latinos and Blacks. We stand ready to work with Arbriton to assure that their approach accurately measures all segments of the city's radio audience.” “New York City needs Black radio. It is a key source of communicating information on critical issues like Sean Bell, Imus, or Jena 6. While we cannot slow the march of technological innovations such as the new PPM system, we can and must ensure that it measures what Black, Latin and other demographic groups listen to and want in a radio station,” said Darwin Davis, President of the New York Urban League. Go to Target Market News homepage	13th Edition Now Available New Buying Power report shows more spending by black consumers on 'necessities' Thanks to economic gains in the past two years, black households across the U.S., especially middle-class families, are increasing their purchases of lifestyle and leisure items. According to the newest edition of “The Buying Power of Black America,” there are indications that black households are feeling more confident about making purchases that... Story continued... _________________________________________________________________________________________ The African-American Book Publishing Authority Now in its ninth year of publication, Black Issues Book Review is the only nationally distributed magazine devoted exclusively to covering the latest news and reviews on black books. BIBR also provides up-to-date news on forthcoming author signings, book fairs and book clubs. Want this issue? Get it with your new subscription. Click Here A TARGET MARKET NEWS PUBLICATION _________________________ SUBSCRIBE TODAY! The trade publication for in-depth coverage of Black Consumer Marketing and Media news