"Depending on the topic of the day, I usually get anywhere from a handful of emails to dozens in response to The Poynter Report newsletter Last week, the number of responses were among the most I've ever received in a week. Pretty much every one was about Jimmy Kimmel's show being pulled off the air by ABC. And most - not all, but most - of those emails were a mixture of anger, frustration and, in some cases, hopelessness."
"And that's when a disturbing reality set in. A popular late-night host, in a country that so much believes in free speech that it's the very first amendment to our Constitution, was booted off the air for something he said. Kimmel didn't threaten anyone. He didn't incite violence. And yet his show is off the air - because of his monologue. And, one could easily argue, it's actually because President Donald Trump hasn't liked him for years."
Many readers responded to the newsletter, with last week's responses among the highest. Most messages focused on Jimmy Kimmel's show being pulled from ABC and expressed anger, frustration and hopelessness. The Federal Communications Commission chair suggested suspending Kimmel after comments in his monologue. Local affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair refused to air the program within hours. ABC subsequently announced the show would be suspended indefinitely. Kimmel did not threaten or incite violence in his monologue. Corporate ties between affiliates and Disney, along with the need for FCC approval of future mergers, contributed to concerns about political and corporate influence over broadcasting and free speech.
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