media consolidation at Brave New Films

Media Consolidation Threatened Again!

2008-05-16T08:30:13Z

A town hall meeting on diversity and media ownership was held in New York City. Former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps and more than 300 activists and citizens came out to show their opposition to further media consolidation as the FCC reconsiders a number of broadcast rules - including whether a single company should be able to own both a newspaper and television station in the same market.

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John Edwards: “I am not particularly interested in seeing Rupert Murdoch own every newspaper in America.”

2008-01-12T20:46:10Z

Score one for John Edwards:

John Edwards isn’t shy about letting Rupert Murdoch know how he feels. When asked a question about media consolidation at a recent campaign stop, Edwards said:
“I am not particularly interested in seeing Rupert Murdoch own every newspaper in America.”
Nicely done, John. This answer responds directly to the heart of the question and points an incriminating finger at the industry’s worst offender.

But so many people whine and moan about how negative Edwards is becoming!

Edwards continues to solidify his position as the candidate most committed to media reform and supportive of efforts to rollback consolidation. He has spoken out on many occasions on the need for independence and diversity in the press and he has been a leading voice of opposition to the FCC’s policy of weakening regulations on ownership caps. He was also the first candidate to refuse to participate in Fox News-sponsored primary debates.

He's so mean! The pundits tell us that, so it must be true.

But every time Edwards takes a principled stand, the pundidiots can’t help but crack-wise at Edwards expense. In the item linked above, James Pindell of the Boston Globe follows the Edwards quote with this bit of irrelevancy:
“It should be noted that Edwards received nearly $800,000 in a book contract from one of Murdoch’s companies, HarperCollins.”
Why, pray tell, should that be noted? It is not a political contribution or evidence of electoral support. It is a payment for publishing rights to an author from a book publisher. It is the free market at work. And if anything is notable about it, it is that Edwards will act on his principles even if it is contrary to the interests of corporations who lay out big bucks to do business with him. In other words, they can’t buy him.

Attaboy, News Corpse, who goes on to compare Hillary's soft response to Edward's principled one, comparing their "independence and integrity".

Edwards:

“It’s time for all Democrats, including those running for president, to stand up and speak out against this [News Corp./Dow Jones] merger and other forms of media consolidation.”

Hillary:

“I’m not saying anything against any company in particular. I just want to see more competition, especially in the same markets.”

News Corpse:

That is the same characterization they make of him when he advocates for the poor - something the media apparently believes rich folks should never do. And for his trouble he is ganged up on by sanctimonious pundits that would rather point a finger at targets of their imagined hypocrisy than left a finger to help those less fortunate.
If you’re paying attention it’s easy to see who the phonies really are.

So pay attention.

Is Junk Media Making You Sick?

2008-05-05T09:31:47Z

Fantastic new video and campaign from our friends at Free Press and StopBigMedia.com:

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is rushing through plans to remove decades-old media ownership protections. And he's trying to do it without public scrutiny.
Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) have introduced groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that would hold the FCC accountable and put the people ahead of Big Media.
Send a letter to your Senators and tell everyone you know. Letters like this — millions of them — stopped media consolidation in 2003.

More from Josh Silver on the Huffington Post.

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FCC and media consolidation

2008-05-04T21:30:55Z

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Barack Obama: The FCC should care about minorities

2008-01-12T20:29:42Z

Barack Obama thinks that consolidation in media ownership is a bad thing, and he let the FCC know that today.

Minority owned and operated newspapers and radio stations play a critical role in the African American and Latino communities and bring minority issues to the forefront of our national discussion.

I am glad to see Obama be explicit here about the impact of media consolidation on minority communities. It is clear that the interests of minorities are not a particularly high priority in this administration, I hope that everyone's interests matter to the next President.

Whack A Murdoch

2008-05-10T15:29:33Z

It's America's favorite new game outside of Predict A GOP Arrest.

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AP: News Corp. “Highly Unlikely” to Proceed With Dow Jones Buy(!!!)

2008-05-09T10:59:34Z

Associated Press reported this potentially good news today:

As of late Sunday, some 28 percent of the Bancrofts supported the deal, the Journal reported on Monday, but a News Corp. spokesman told the paper that the company was "highly unlikely" to proceed with the deal at that level of support. A News Corp. spokesman confirmed the remarks.
The Bancroft family, which has controlled Dow Jones for more than a century, has been deeply divided over whether to sell to Murdoch, largely over concerns that his hands-on management style could affect the papers' coverage.

I’ll believe it when the deal is finally dead, but keep your fingers crossed anyway. I really can’t think of any good reason why Murdoch’s empire needs to get any bigger and more powerful. Not one.

John Edwards at Howard University Part 5

2008-05-13T09:29:53Z

John Edwards takes audience questions on YouTube internet and media matters and universal health care. Howard University, Washington DC, March 14, 2007

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Help Outfox Murdoch on WSJ Sale

2008-04-24T08:31:33Z

Mediachannel.org picked up a story from the Wall Street Journal saying that Christopher Bancroft, a key member of the Bancroft family that owns the WSJ, is trying desperately to block its sale to media planet devourer, Rupert Murdoch.

He [Bancroft] has expressed to others his belief the family’s responsibility as stewards of Dow Jones should trump any monetary gain the family could reap from Mr. Murdoch’s rich offer. He has met with Dow Jones employees who have opposed the deal. In his only public comment about the deal, he said selling to Mr. Murdoch would endanger The Wall Street Journal’s independence and journalistic integrity. “Why would I risk that?” he said.

Bancroft will be facing an uphill battle to buy up enough shares to have 51% of the total votes, but there’s something you can do to help. If you happen to rub elbows with any of the Bancrofts as you mingle with the liberal power elite, try to get a copy of Outfoxed into their hands or tell them about our work at foxattacks.com or our canine sisters over at newshounds.us. Even if Murdoch’s politics and tactics weren’t as stinky as they are, media consolidation is a threat to free speech and democracy. Murdoch’s empire is bigger than Disney. It doesn’t need to get any bigger.

Moyers on WSJ Sale: Murdoch “Accustomed to Using Journalism As His Personal Spittoon”

2008-03-22T21:54:30Z

So tell us what you really think, Bill! Moyers doesn’t hold back as he rips hell out of Murdoch, his plan to buy the Wall Street Journal, and Murdoch’s political influence over the politicians he buys (including the Clintons) in a commentary that will air tonight on PBS’ Bill Moyers Journal but is available now on YouTube here. A few of the highlights:

Murdoch has told the Bancrofts he’ll not meddle with reporting. But he’s accustomed to using journalism as a personal spittoon.

When it comes to money and power [Murdoch] is carnivorous — all appetite and no taste. He’ll eat anything in his path.

[Murdoch] hires lobbyists the way Imelda Marcos bought shoes, and stacks them in his cavernous closet, along with his conscience.

Our media and political system has turned into a mutual protection racket.

[Murdoch’s] worst offense with Fox News is not even its baldly partisan agenda. Far worse is the travesty he’s made of its journalism. Fox News huffs and puffs, pontificates and proclaims, but does little serious original reporting.

Ouch. But it needed to be said. If you think that the WSJ sale is just one company buying another, Moyers’ commentary is a must see. Too bad he doesn’t run for office. Gore/Moyers ’08, anyone?

Peter Hart on media consolidation

2008-05-09T11:01:53Z

Clip from the film "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism". Media analyst for FAIR Peter Hart discusses the effect of media consolidation on journalism.

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