Saying the American media is failing in its responsibility to report the news, members of the Helena Peace Seekers are hoping to influence what listeners and viewers of Montana Public Radio and Montana Public Television hear over the airwaves.

Will Boland and Michael Willing, members of the Helena Peace Seekers, have begun circulating a petition through the organization's mailing list that encourages its constituents to contact Montana's public radio and television stations and "demand the inclusion of 'Democracy Now' into their regular programming."

"The better informed the public is, the more well-functioning the democracy will be," Boland said on Tuesday, "Information is power. It means people make better decisions in their political life. You have to trust that if you believe in democracy."

Boland, who described himself as an activist and a "lone wolf" operating within the Peace Seekers organization, believes a portion of the political debate isn't being heard over Montana's public broadcast stations, be it television or radio.

What's currently offered by the three stations caters to the middle and right of the political spectrum, he said. As such, it lacks balance and neglects the left, which he said hinders the democratic process.

"Our point is, we're trying to get this on the air to provide that balance," Boland said. "That's how far away we are right now. 'Democracy Now' is a very legitimate news program with very valid viewpoints, right or wrong."

The program, "Democracy Now! The War and Peace Report," is hosted five days a week by Amy Goodman. It airs on more than 215 stations in the U.S. and Canada. Programs are also available on the Internet in their full 60-minute format.

The station describes its daily program as a "break from the U.S. corporate-sponsored media." The program also claims to host "real debates between people who substantially disagree."

Some, like Boland, have praised the program for bringing new voices to the airwaves. Others say it represents the views of radical and foreign journalists, and "ideological foes of capitalism."

"'Democracy Now' purports to be a news program, but it's more of a position program," said Michael Marsolek, the program manager for Montana Public Radio. "Airing it as news could diversely affect our efforts and reputation to offer fair and balanced news reporting. We've worked really hard to be fair and balanced in our news program."

Marsolek said members of the Peace Seekers have called his station. The callers, he said, have been congenial in their suggestions. Most, he said, understand why the station is currently passing on airing the program.

"I think people are just passionate about wanting an opinion they agree with to be heard by more people," Marsolek said. "I think the motivation is generally good, but we have to make compromises. I have to think about everyone in the listening area."

That listening area is large, reaching an estimated 60,000 people across a wide swath of western Montana, including both sides of the Continental Divide, where political positions are as diverse as the landscape.

While Marsolek agrees with Boland's point that some segments of some stories don't always get heard, he strongly disagreed with the Peace Seekers' petition, which suggests that American media outlets have failed in their effort to report the full spectrum of national and international news.

As a case in point, Marsolek said, both Yellowstone and Montana public radio broadcast news from the BBC World Service. What's more, he said, Montana Public Radio already offers several so-called position pieces, like "Alternative Radio" and "New Dimensions."

"We do carry a couple of obvious position programs that people could argue lean to one side or the other," Marsolek said. "We cover a diverse listening area across the state, and while we know there's a group of people who would really like to hear 'Democracy Now,' there's also a number of people who would not necessarily share that sentiment."

Ken Siebert, assistant general manager and the new media manager for Yellowstone Public Radio -- one of three stations targeted by the Helena Peace Seekers in their flier -- said the station welcomes feedback from its listening audience, regardless of their political motive.

"We certainly don't discourage those groups, and we don't turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to their suggestions," Siebert said. "For them to demand that 'Democracy Now' end up on our airwaves, it's certainly their right to do so. But we have other things we also must consider."

While the station is receptive to most ideas, Siebert said, it must also follow established protocols when deciding on programming. That requires station managers to consider current programming, marketing, budgetary constraints and the diversity of the station's listening audience.

Yellowstone Public Radio currently broadcasts from Buffalo, Wyo., in the south to Havre in the north. It's available as far west as Helena and as far east as Sidney, covering a large geographic area.

"That in itself presents its own challenges, because you're definitely serving different audiences," Siebert said. "Budgetary decisions come into play as well. We have to look at how precisely the cost of those programs fit into our schedule."

Siebert added that placing an hour-long program that airs five days a week into an already crowded -- and balanced -- schedule would "upset the apple cart."

It's a sentiment expressed by Aaron Pruitt, program director for Montana PBS. The station, which is funded in part by viewer contributions, has an editorial criteria it must follow before airing its programs.

Among them, Pruitt asked: Does a program come with an agenda? How is it funded? Is there a political action committee behind it?

"We have a criteria for programming to deterring how fair and balanced the program is," Pruitt said. "'Democracy Now' is an opinion program. Its entire concept is meant to take a far left-leaning approach."

Montana PBS already airs what Pruitt called professional and balanced news programs. Among them, he named "Front Line" and "News Hour."

Pruitt also noted that Goodman, the host of "Democracy Now," was recently arrested at the Republican National Convention, a move, he said, that questions her objectivity as a news anchor.

"We're traditionally accused of being left-leaning," Pruitt said, fending off Boland's criticism that the station caters to the middle and to the right. "When you start getting it from both sides -- from the left and from the right -- we start thinking we're doing something right."

Boland disagreed, suggesting that Montana PBS, Yellowstone Public Radio, and Montana Public Radio were trying to control the message received by their audience.

"The very fact that there's resistance from these stations should be a concern right away," Boland said. "The American electorate is a very bright bunch of people. I think they're hungry for information.

"That you'd be afraid to give them all the information from a legitimate news source is dangerous."

Martin Kidston: 447-4086 or mkidston@helenair.com