PDA

View Full Version : Senate Voted Tonight to Stop Big Media




CurtisLow
05-15-2008, 07:27 PM
(E-mail)

Dear CurtisLow,

Just moments ago, by a near-unanimous vote, the Senate stood up to Big Media. They voted to throw out the FCC decision to let the largest media companies swallow up even more local media.

This is simply an astounding victory, and it would not have happened without the massive grassroots effort by you and thousands of others who called their senators, sent more than a quarter million letters, posted thousands of pictures and stories on StopBigMedia.com, and testified at public hearings held by the FCC.

It was your dedication that made today's Senate win possible.

Today was a huge step forward, but there is still much to do. The fight against the FCC now moves to the House, where our elected representatives need to hear from us.

President Bush has promised that he will try to veto this bill. But tonight the Senate and the American people have spoken with one voice. This historic vote sends a clear message that the only people who support more media consolidation are Big Media lobbyists and the White House.

We are in this struggle to bring more minority ownership, diverse perspectives and independent voices to the media. We need to make media consolidation an election-year issue. And we need to start talking about how to break up the giant conglomerates.

Corporate news today -- with its propaganda pundits, horse-race election coverage, and celebrity gossip -- undermines our democracy. We must continue to speak out and demand that the public airwaves be used to actually serve the public.

In just three weeks, thousands of people will be gathering together in Minnesota to build the movement for better media. You can join them at the National Conference for Media Reform, just visit www.freepress.net/conference.

For today, know that you played a key role in the fight for better media for all.

Thank you,

Josh Silver
Executive Director
Free Press Action Fund

AutoDas
05-15-2008, 10:12 PM
Uh?

I can't help but laugh when socialists use "Big Business."

TER
05-15-2008, 10:16 PM
I think I heard the Liberty Bell just ring.

Fox McCloud
05-15-2008, 11:08 PM
ehh...not really something a Libertarian should be rejoicing over....sure, the big media really sucks, but preventing the markets from working is not a good thing either.

The problem lies with the FCC itself (it needs to be abolished).

I'd be willing to be quite a bit that Ron Paul, despite not liking the current media, will vote against this bill for Libertarian reasons.

TER
05-15-2008, 11:14 PM
You make an interesting point... If the acquisition of local media outlets becomes restricted, it would hinder the growth of newer ones, thereby allowing the current ones (hello, Mr. Murdoch) to maintain control and advantage.

Zippyjuan
05-16-2008, 12:12 AM
The thing with media outlets- especially TV and radio- is that there are limited numbers of them available in any given area. If one company controls most or all of them, then only one side of a story can be told. It is not a free market where you can start up your own tv or radio station anytime or place you want. Without the proposed restrictions, Murdock can more easily squeeze out the growth of new stations since he has the big bucks to buy them. The restriction would be on those who already have a certain number of stations like Murdock- not those who want to get one. You end up with less competition and choice without it- not more.