The short answer: more power.
The longer answer: a ruling that would allow them to own all the media outlets in a city. Currently, they can't own the newspaper, the TV stations, and the radio stations all in one town. That makes life complicated for them - they just can't... own everything. Which must be quite frustrating.
Check out this video from a November 2nd, Bill Moyers broadcast. Despite the public response to the media consolidation proposal, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin still wants to push it through:
However, public outcry, and concern on Capitol Hill has led to this:
Two key House lawmakers announced Monday that they were investigating the Federal Communications Commission, accusing its chairman of "possible abuse of power" and a failure to operate fairly and openly in handling proposed cable TV and media ownership regulations.
--As reported by Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, December 4, 2007.
Add your voice to this public debate by visiting:
Reclaim the Media, where you can send an email to Congress.
Or visit Stop Big Media and Free Press.
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications.Tonight on their action network at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT) you can join Jason Ross, of the "Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Kate Purdy (me), of "Cold Case," and Marty Kaplan, director of the Norman Lear Center at University of Southern California, for a live online discussion on how media consolidation has hurt writers, silenced independent voices, and eroded quality entertainment.
4 comments:
It's not just the owning of local media (tv, radio, newpapers, et al) in one city, it's the owning of media outlets in the region, state, and nationally by one syndicate that's the core issue as well. I've signed this petition already and have opposed the FCC whenever it entertains the idea of giving licenses to owners which allow them to own multiple media outlets or to dominate a market area or region.
It seems posting has slowed down on this and Nikki's site. What does that mean? Are people losing interest? I hope not.
It means what's said has been said. Talk is cheap, it's time for action AMPTP!
It's also a function of the forced registration. It's a result of keeping paid and random trolls from posting at will. It's a result of forcing the public at large to register to comment. It's censorship having its ugly side-effects.
That's fine though. We say what needs to be said. Unlike the American Media at times. Whoops, that's who we're battling here.
Complications ensue...
Just FYI - that video was a follow-up to the November 2 piece that broadcast on November 16. The Olympia Snowe piece was on November 8 and the voiceover made refgerence to the Congressional complaint "last week". I'd put it on my own blog a couple weeks ago.
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