What's good for Big Media is bad news for public by Kevin Howley
Source : Indianapolis Star
December 28, 2006
With barely a whisper from the national press corps, the Federal Communication Commission is considering measures that would allow further consolidation of the U.S. media system. If the FCC approves the changes, you can expect more of the same from Big Media: formulaic entertainment programming, public relations that passes for journalism, and all the advertisements you can eat.
Established in 1934 to regulate the nation's airwaves and ensure that broadcasters serve "the public interest," the FCC has historically promoted localism, encouraged viewpoint diversity and limited monopoly ownership of broadcasting. These are the cornerstones of a democratic media system.
In recent years, however, the FCC has become a captive agency. Rather than working on behalf of the American people, the FCC now does the bidding of a handful of powerful media industries. The result: a corrupt policymaking process that has led to unprecedented concentration of media ownership -- and enormous profits for corporate shareholders. But what's good for Big Media is bad news for the American people.
Consider what happened to radio 10 years ago. In the wake of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, a reform measure that reduced ownership limits of radio stations in local and national markets, the industry went into a merger-and-acquisition frenzy. Virtually overnight, radio was transformed from a vibrant, local medium for news, public affairs and cultural programming into a wasteland dominated by industry giants.
But radio is just the tip of the iceberg. Today, six companies -- Viacom, Disney, Time Warner, General Electric, Bertelsman, and News Corporation -- own 90 percent of all U.S. media holdings. This means that a handful of corporations determine what most Americans read in daily newspapers, see in movie theaters, watch on broadcast and cable television, and hear over the airwaves.
Now, at the urging of Big Media, the FCC is considering additional rule changes that would further reduce or completely eliminate the remaining laws regulating how many media outlets a single company can own in a single market. The FCC is also considering measures to remove cross-ownership restrictions, thereby enabling a TV station, for example, to own a newspaper in the same market.
From a purely economic perspective, this makes perfect sense. By reducing newsroom staffs and consolidating newsgathering routines, Big Media can save big money.
From a societal perspective, however, it is a recipe for disaster. After all, quality journalism -- that is, an independent press unafraid to "speak truth to power" -- is the lifeblood of democratic societies. In the absence of fair and accurate information, citizens are incapable of reasoned debate, let alone the capacity to make informed decisions on matters of public concern. That's why the FCC's decisions regarding media ownership are vital.
And yet, relatively few Americans know that the FCC is considering reducing or eliminating media ownership rules, or that the FCC is soliciting public comment on the proposed rule changes. Make no mistake about it, the news blackout on the FCC's policymaking is purposeful. The last thing Big Media wants is for the American public to get involved in policymaking decisions. But before you think you can't make a difference, think again.
In 2003, the last time Big Media and the FCC tried to eliminate ownership restrictions, millions of Americans wrote to the FCC and their congressional representatives and voiced their opposition to media consolidation. Here's a news flash: It worked. Public opinion forced the FCC to scrap its plan to relax media ownership regulations.
For a growing number of Americans -- organized labor, racial and ethnic minorities, students and teachers, working journalists and independent media producers -- the time has come to reclaim the nation's airwaves, support public media and demand greater public participation in communication policymaking.
The American people deserve a democratic media system, and such a system requires popular participation in policymaking processes. Citizens should take advantage of the opportunity to participate: The FCC is accepting public comment on media ownership until Jan. 16.
© Indianapolis Star
Established in 1934 to regulate the nation's airwaves and ensure that broadcasters serve "the public interest," the FCC has historically promoted localism, encouraged viewpoint diversity and limited monopoly ownership of broadcasting. These are the cornerstones of a democratic media system.
In recent years, however, the FCC has become a captive agency. Rather than working on behalf of the American people, the FCC now does the bidding of a handful of powerful media industries. The result: a corrupt policymaking process that has led to unprecedented concentration of media ownership -- and enormous profits for corporate shareholders. But what's good for Big Media is bad news for the American people.
Consider what happened to radio 10 years ago. In the wake of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, a reform measure that reduced ownership limits of radio stations in local and national markets, the industry went into a merger-and-acquisition frenzy. Virtually overnight, radio was transformed from a vibrant, local medium for news, public affairs and cultural programming into a wasteland dominated by industry giants.
But radio is just the tip of the iceberg. Today, six companies -- Viacom, Disney, Time Warner, General Electric, Bertelsman, and News Corporation -- own 90 percent of all U.S. media holdings. This means that a handful of corporations determine what most Americans read in daily newspapers, see in movie theaters, watch on broadcast and cable television, and hear over the airwaves.
Now, at the urging of Big Media, the FCC is considering additional rule changes that would further reduce or completely eliminate the remaining laws regulating how many media outlets a single company can own in a single market. The FCC is also considering measures to remove cross-ownership restrictions, thereby enabling a TV station, for example, to own a newspaper in the same market.
From a purely economic perspective, this makes perfect sense. By reducing newsroom staffs and consolidating newsgathering routines, Big Media can save big money.
From a societal perspective, however, it is a recipe for disaster. After all, quality journalism -- that is, an independent press unafraid to "speak truth to power" -- is the lifeblood of democratic societies. In the absence of fair and accurate information, citizens are incapable of reasoned debate, let alone the capacity to make informed decisions on matters of public concern. That's why the FCC's decisions regarding media ownership are vital.
And yet, relatively few Americans know that the FCC is considering reducing or eliminating media ownership rules, or that the FCC is soliciting public comment on the proposed rule changes. Make no mistake about it, the news blackout on the FCC's policymaking is purposeful. The last thing Big Media wants is for the American public to get involved in policymaking decisions. But before you think you can't make a difference, think again.
In 2003, the last time Big Media and the FCC tried to eliminate ownership restrictions, millions of Americans wrote to the FCC and their congressional representatives and voiced their opposition to media consolidation. Here's a news flash: It worked. Public opinion forced the FCC to scrap its plan to relax media ownership regulations.
For a growing number of Americans -- organized labor, racial and ethnic minorities, students and teachers, working journalists and independent media producers -- the time has come to reclaim the nation's airwaves, support public media and demand greater public participation in communication policymaking.
The American people deserve a democratic media system, and such a system requires popular participation in policymaking processes. Citizens should take advantage of the opportunity to participate: The FCC is accepting public comment on media ownership until Jan. 16.
© Indianapolis Star
