FCC’S decision on media is un-American 3 comments

3 Jun 2003 @ 17:43, by Frank Astry FCC’S decision on media is un-American The main point of the Federal Communications Commission ruling allowing the further consolidation of media ownership is not the nepotism shown by the appointment of Cohn Powell,s son Michael to the chairmanship of the FCC. The main point Is not the raising of the percentage of ownership in one market to 45 percent from 35 percent. The main point is not the foreign ownership of the American media, The main point Is not that eight companies already control 80 percent of the media. No, the main point is that we utilize the information we get through the news media to form our politic opinions and then vote based on those opinions. To control our information is to control our votes It’s unAmerican It’s unconstitutional. It must be undone. The long-expected ruling permits TV networks to buy more of their local affiliates and lets a company own both a newspaper and TV station in all but tiny towns. In top markets, a broadcaster could own three TV stations. Analysts say broadcasters will cherry-pick good stations in key markets in coming months, but a buying frenzy isn't expected. Critics fear the 3-2 decision will further a trend that would let a few media titans control much of what people see, read and hear. But broadcasters say they must buy more stations to achieve cost efficiencies and better compete with cable and the Internet -- technologies barely imagined when most of the ownership rules were adopted. Critics fear massive consolidation that would supplant diverse viewpoints and local voices with homogenized national programming. Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat, called the ruling ''the latest, most radical step in a 20-year history of undermining the public interest.'' Ownership by a single company of the top TV station and dominant newspaper in a city would let it virtually control local news coverage, said Gene Kimmelman of Consumers Union. ''That means less competition for stories, lazier journalism and fewer independent voices essential to democracy,''

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Category: Broadcasting, Media 

4 Jun 2003 @ 15:29 by sharie : Who owns the computer programs...
that count the election votes?

Find out: [link]  

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