In the midst of Washington’s political scandals, you might not
have heard about an extraordinary moment in U.S. media history.
Here’s a quick update:
On Tuesday , Oct 10, in Los Angeles, people came out in overwhelming
numbers to tell the Federal Communications Commission that
Americans want to turn back the tide of media consolidation.
For eight hours, artists, writers, producers, directors, actors,
small business owners and local citizens told all five
commissioners about the devastating impact of media
consolidation.
Nearly 1,000 people packed auditoriums in downtown L.A. and El
Segundo; and all but one of the dozens who came forward
testified against further media consolidation. (Listen to the
testimony: http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=fccaudio )
The question now is whether FCC Chairman Kevin Martin will
actually listen to the public.
The Truth About Media Consolidation
Evidence continues to mount showing the serious problems caused
by media consolidation. Free Press recently released a
groundbreaking study showing the shockingly low number of TV
stations owned by women and people of color. Upon reading the
report, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps called the FCC’s failure
to promote diversity in our media a “national disgrace.” (Read
the study: http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=shutout )
This followed news that the FCC had suppressed two studies that
revealed the negative impact of media consolidation — including
one that showed media concentration was disastrous for local
news coverage.
Turning up the Volume Against Big Media
Chairman Martin has pledged to hold five more public hearings
before the FCC votes on any media ownership rules changes. If
Martin holds to this promise and hears out the public, he will
learn that a vast majority of Americans do not want concentrated
media. They want local owners, local coverage, and media that
represent our diverse communities.
We’re working to make certain these hearings are publicized and
packed to the rafters. But after five more hearings like the one
in Los Angeles, it would be unthinkable for the FCC to turn a
deaf ear to the public and allow the Clear Channels, Disneys,
Sinclairs and News Corporations to gobble up even more local
media.
Stopping Stevens, Saving the Internet
On other fronts, the 2006 Telecommunications Act has been
stalled in the Senate thanks to the massive outcry over Net
Neutrality — anchored by our SavetheInternet.com coalition. But
the battle is far from over. We’re preparing for a “lame duck”
session of Congress after the November 7 elections, when we
could face a dark-of-the-night effort to eliminate Net
Neutrality. (Check out this excellent article at Salon.com that
sums up the Net Neutrality campaign and what’s next:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/ )
Next week we’ll likely need all hands on deck if the FCC moves
to approve the biggest telecommunications merger in history. We
must demand that they make Net Neutrality a permanent
requirement of the $67 billion merger of AT&T and BellSouth.
Reforming Media, Transforming Democracy
Media policies made in the public’s name must not be made
without the public’s informed consent — whether the issue is
media ownership, Net Neutrality, public broadcasting or the
massive merger of AT&T and BellSouth.
That’s why your active involvement is so important. The more all
policies reflect public debate, the more likely the media system
they shape will serve the people, not just powerful
corporations.
Saul Alinsky famously wrote that the only way to beat organized
money is with organized people. Well, organized people just
landed a haymaker in Los Angeles. If we keep up the fight, the
era of corrupt media policymaking will come to an end.
Onward,
Robert McChesney
President
Free Press
www.freepress.net
P.S. To support our work, please give to the Free Press Action
Fund. Your contribution will help amplify the public’s voice in
Washington, D.C., and beyond — placing the needs of our
democracy before corporate interests:
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“Our German forbearers in the 1930s sat around, blamed their rulers, said ‘maybe everything’s going to be alright.’ That is something we cannot do. I do not want my grandchildren asking me years from now, ‘why didn’t you do something to stop all this?” –Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst of 27 years, referring to the actions and crimes of the Bush Administration
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