It is extremely rare for all five of the Federal Communications Commissioners--as opposed to the two Democrats, who appear frequently--to host a genuine public hearing. And the next, just-announced venue is Harrisburg--this Friday!
The hearing is one of only five or so promised by the FCC on proposals to loosen[!] already weakened media consolidation limits. At the last event in LA, over a 1000 people showed up, and nearly everyone spoke in opposition to the giveaway to big media companies.
The "Stop Big Media Coalition" has a terrific site with basics about the FCC and the proposed rule changes. (Stop Big Media is organized by Free Press, the indefatigable nonprofit media reform organization, which takes no corporate money.)
I'll be there. Please consider making the trip too: it would be great to have a large Lehigh Valley showing.
Here are the details:
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
Sunoco Performance Theater
222 Market Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Welcome/Opening Remarks 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Panel Discussion 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Public Comment 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Break 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Public Comment
5 comments:
Know, of course that "Stop Big Media" is not an unbiased observer. Neither am I, I work for the NAB in DC.
But I would caution against the snap-judgment that loosened ownership rules are necessarily bad.
Consider that the more stations and papers a company can own, the more stations and papers can continue to exist. It also allows for a diverse number of formats.
And need I even point out that the proliferation of the Internet has made those big media companies overall less important.
Overall, I recommend taking Stop Big Media with a grain of salt.
Corporate Media, including the Tribune Co., are part of the problem just as they've always been. they are a part of the govt., just as they've always been.
they are still relevant.
Moshki, I didn't say they were irrelevant. I did say they were LESS relevant.
Where do you get your political news? From a combination of the corporate news and independent news/blogs, I bet.
Stop Big Media for example is a fan of the fairness doctrine, which is the government telling the media what it can and cannot put on the air. If you ever want a recipe for censorship, that's it.
dagnabbit: I'm thrilled that you disclosed your employer, the National Association of Broadcasters--instead of using some astroturf group as cover. The NAB, of course, is the industry-funded trade group whose mission is to advance the interests of the broadcasters. Those opposed to loosening media consolidation rules are all nonprofits and citizens who are acting solely out of concern for the public interest.
Right-wing Talk Radio has only ever gotten two issues right (immigration and the Duke rape case).
When the dullest man in America, Al Franken, is Rush Limbaugh's heralded 'competition', we most certainly do need a Fairness Doctrine.
If anyone can listen from Gunther thru Savage-Weiner without wanting
to commit suicide, then he's "a better man than I, Gunga Din."
Post a Comment