Infinity Issues First ‘Social Responsibility Report’

How socially responsible is Infinity Broadcasting?
The company wants to tell you. It has issued what it calls a Social Responsibility Report “highlighting its efforts in community outreach, programming and commitment to local artists.”
The report was issued as its sister CBS network also listed efforts at CBS Entertainment, CBS News, CBS Sports, the Viacom Television Stations Group and UPN.
CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said in the statement that “we’ve always believed that being a corporate citizen and giving back to the communities we serve is not just good for business, but part of what it means to be a broadcaster.” But this is the first time Infinity has issued such a summary, and only the second year for CBS.
The move comes at a time when big groups have been criticized for a lack of localism, and some radio industry executives have responded by calling for owners to do a better job of promoting what radio already does.
The Infinity list includes PSAs; coverage of the war in Iraq; local broadcasts of parades and fundraisers; local public interest programming like disaster prep and food drives; and programs highlighting music and performances in radio markets; and the “Infinity Radio Connect” series of national interviews.