] Some of the biggest rallies this month have endorsed
] President Bush's strategy against Saddam Hussein, and the
] common thread linking most of them is Clear Channel
] Worldwide Inc., the nation's largest owner of radio
] stations.
]
] In a move that has raised eyebrows in some legal and
] journalistic circles, Clear Channel radio stations in
] Atlanta, Cleveland, San Antonio, Cincinnati and other
] cities have sponsored rallies attended by up to 20,000
] people. The events have served as a loud rebuttal to the
] more numerous but generally smaller anti-war rallies.
]
] The sponsorship of large rallies by Clear Channel
] stations is unique among major media companies, which
] have confined their activities in the war debate to
] reporting and occasionally commenting on the news. The
] San Antonio-based broadcaster owns more than 1,200
] stations in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
]
] While labor unions and special interest groups have
] organized and hosted rallies for decades, the involvement
] of a big publicly regulated broadcasting company breaks
] new ground in public demonstrations.
]
] "I think this is pretty extraordinary," said former
] Federal Communications Commissioner Glen Robinson, who
] teaches law at the University of Virginia. "I can't say
] that this violates any of a broadcaster's obligations,
] but it sounds like borderline manufacturing of the news."

Media Giant's Rally Sponsorship Raises Questions