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Put an end to big media’s threat to democracy in the US |
Despite the endless selection of TV channels, newspapers and magazines that we now have, it seems strange that most mainstream media content just keeps getting worse and worse.
Take for example the recent election coverage. Despite the fact that few generations have been faced with so many critical issues, most of the news coverage was focused on polls, campaign tactics and punditry rather than a real discussion of the substantive differences between candidates and the public interest implications of their policy positions.
Investigative reporting and insightful issue discourse are on the decline, and news coverage seems to be increasingly focused on celebrity gossip rather than profound societal issues. Even on the radio, in cities with vibrant music scenes and popular local artists, it’s hard to find anything on the dial besides the same Top 40 songs played over and over ad nauseam.
This decline in the quality of media content is largely attributable to the growing consolidation of media companies, and their ability to undermine and, in some cases, overrule the independence of local station programmers, content providers and editors. Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the number of major corporations that dominate television, movies, music, radio, cable, publishing and the Internet concentrated among eight huge conglomerates: General Electric, Time Warner, The Walt Disney Company, Vivendi Universal, News Corporation, Bertelsmann AG, CBS Corporation and Viacom.
Increasingly, these companies are shutting out independent and minority voices. Cable companies are only introducing new channels for programs that they own, and the major broadcast networks now own and produce 75 percent of their shows, up from 13 percent in 1990. So, while we have hundreds of choices in TV channels and thousands of media outlets, we have surprisingly little real diversity in our media options.
The media are increasingly becoming our public “town square” and when one company owns the town newspaper, the local TV and radio stations, the local cable company and maybe even the most visited websites on the Internet, that company owns the “town square.”
Media consolidation leads to less local news and less diversity in views. Localism and diversity are the cornerstones of a democratic media system, and we cannot afford to compromise them in any way. No matter what issues you’re concerned about, from water quality to school funding, the media have an enormous impact on the opinion of the public and policymakers alike. Inadequate media coverage will mean that these issues are less likely to draw legislators’ attention, and key community issues are more likely to go unaddressed.
Until now, long-standing media ownership rules have limited how many media outlets any one company may own. However, the Federal Communications Commission is about to start the process of rewriting these rules. Not surprisingly, big media companies and conglomerates are urging the FCC to reduce current ownership limits.
If the rules are weakened, more big media companies will be allowed to own both the largest newspaper and the largest television station in any city, and big broadcasters will be allowed to own nearly all of the TV stations in small or medium sized cities like Pensacola.
That’s bad news for democracy, for arts and culture, and for the free exchange of ideas. It is important that these ownership rules preserve competition, support localism and promote a diversity of opinions and viewpoints among all forms of media.
While the media industry is a powerful special interest lobby, consumers acting together have the power to make sure that ownership limitations are not loosened.
In 2003, the FCC voted to weaken the rules that limit how many outlets in any particular market a media giant can own. In response, the public submitted 3 million public comments asking the FCC to drop its plan.
Eventually, Congress and the federal courts stopped the rules. However, those same rule changes are now up for reconsideration.
The FCC needs to hear from the public again. Submit comments directly to the FCC by visiting www.floridapirg.org and clicking on the “how you can help” link. Make your voice heard before someone on Madison Avenue is the only one who decides who can be heard.
Brad Ashwell is the Legislative Advocate for the Florida Public Interest Research Group in Tallahassee.
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