Urgent Action: FCC deregulation of media ownership

[Guest guest]

Global Renaissance Alliance <office

office

Mon, 05 May 2003 10:35:09 -0400

 

 

An urgent action from Peace Coalitions for April 28-May 5

 

The FCC is about to put vital control of media in this country in a very few

hands - and quickly needs to be stopped. Under " deregulation " rules proposed

by the Federal Communications Commission, the already dangerous monopoly of

TV and radio (and therefore of news, public thought and action) would

dramatically worsen. The five corporations that own TV networks would be

green-lighted to buy up each other. Local TV and radio stations would be

swallowed by larger companies. Local newspapers and broadcast outlets would

be allowed to purchase each other.

 

 

In a few years, Fox, General Electric and the radio giant Clear Channel -

the most ambitious players - would potentially have an iron grip on the way

the majority of the public gets its information. These companies have shown

no interest in the public good, only in protecting their bottom lines while

putting out news that is more deceiving than informing, when not actually

right-wing propaganda - witness the leadup to and coverage of the Iraq war.

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is preparing to hold crucial hearings on

the proposed FCC deregulation. FCC chair Michael Powell is promising a vote

on the new FCC regulations by June 2. The media giants have spent huge

amounts to buy support in Congress and have cleansed their news of any

critical reporting on the Bush administration. Breaking with the industry

line, mogul Barry Diller recently told Bill Moyers deregulation would

greatly increase oligarchic control of media. Join the new Media Challenge!

actions. Contact Congress and the FCC to stop this anti-democratic takeover.

Here's how to do it:

 

Media Challenge! Action 1 (essential):

 

+ Go to www.mediareform.net <http://www.mediareform.net>

+ Click to send your message to your Congressional Representatives and

the FCC demanding they retain current media ownership rules.

+ The automatic message will also demand that Congress direct the FCC to

extend its June 2 deadline and to release any proposed rule changes for

public debate before acting on them. It will further ask Congress to conduct

its own public hearings on any FCC rule changes.

 

 

Media Challenge! Action 2

 

Contact these members of the Senate Commerce Committee (essential,

especially McCain):

 

+ Senator John McCain, Phone: (202) 224-2235; Fax: (202) 228-2862;

john_mccain

+ Senator Frtiz Hollings, Phone: (202) 224-6121; fax: 202.224.4293;

http://hollings.senate.gov

+ Senator Barbara Boxer, Phone: (202) 224-3553 or (415) 403-0100; fax:

415.956.6701; boxer.senate.gov

Contact these FCC Commissioners:

+ Chairman Michael Powell, 202-418-1000, mpowell

+ Commissioner Kevin J. Martin: kjmweb

+ Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy: kabernat

 

 

Sample Letter or Comment to Congress folks and FCC:

 

Dear ___________(Senator or Commissioner):

Re: Upcoming FCC vote on media deregulation.

 

Further consolidation of the media in the name of " deregulation " must be

halted. The media companies have failed in their public trust to provide

unbiased information about most crucial issues, most notably the recent

coverage of the war in Iraq. As an American concerned about our democracy, I

call on you to challenge the media conglomerates, to open the broadcast

spectrum to a diverse range of journalists and opinions, and to reinstate

the Fairness Doctrine. Oppose media deregulation.

 

Media Challenge! Action 3 (helpful).

 

+ Call or write network news bosses (see contacts below).

+ Tell them you want prominent daily coverage of the upcoming FCC vote, the

most important media question in a decade.

+ Challenge them to report on their network's efforts to influence

Congress and the FCC via campaign donations.

 

 

ABC NEWS CHIEF David Westin. 212.456.6200. fax: 212.456.4292,

ABC NEWS DIRECTOR Mimi Gurbst. 212 456 4050 fax.212 456 2795

ABC SWITCHBOARD (ASK FOR NEWSROOM) 212.456-7777. NEWSROOM fax

212.456.2795

MSNBC NEWS CHIEF Mark Effron. 201.583.5101. fax: 201.583.5199,

mark.effron MSNBC NEWS DIRECTOR Alison Hawley. 201 583 5155,

fax. 201 583 5512

MSNBC SWITCHBOARD (ASK FOR NEWSROOM) 201.583.5000, fax: 201.583.5590

NBC NEWS CHIEF Neil Shapiro. 212.664.4773. fax: 212.664.2264,

neal.shapiro

NBC NEWS DIRECTOR Thomas Ferraro 201 583 5231 fax 201 583 5222

NBC SWITCHBOARD (ASK FOR NEWSROOM) 212.664.4444. fax: 201.583.5453

CBS NEWS CHIEF Andrew Hayward. 212.975.7825. fax: 212.975.7429.

mg3

NEWS DIRECTOR Marty Gill 212 975 6121 fax. 212 9754114

CBS SWITCHBOARD (ASK FOR NEWSROOM) 212.975.4321 fax: 212.975.1893

CNN NEWS CHIEF Eason Jordan. 404.827.5111. fax: 404.827.4215.

eason.jordan

CNN NEWS DIRECTOR Kim Bondy. 404 827 1500. fax. 404 827 1099

CNN NEWSROOM 404.827.1500 . 404.827.1500. cnnfutures,

PBS FACTUAL PROGRAMMING CHIEF Sandy Heberer 703.739.5036

PBS NEWS CHIEF, SANDY SOWERS 703-998-2150 newshour

PBS SWITCHBOARD (ASK FOR NEWSROOM) 703.998.2600.

FOX NEWS CHIEF: John Moody. 212.301.8560. fax: 212.398.8726.

john.moody NEWS DIRECTOR

Kathleen Ardleigh 212 3013186 fax. 212-301-5067

FOX SWITCHBOARD (ASK

FOR NEWSROOM) 212.575.4670. fax: 212.301.8274

 

MEDIA CHALLENGE! is co-sponsored by: Projects4Peace, ICUJP (Interfaith

Communities United for Justice and Peace), Neighbors for Peace and Justice,

Coalition for World Peace, Global Guardianship Initiative, Code, Pink for

Peace, Peace on the Beach, Peace Warriors, LA International A.N.S.W.E.R.,

Not in Our Name, Global Women1s Strike and Southern Cal. Americans for

Democratic Action, Americans Against War With Iraq

 

For more information about Media Challenge! and what the news networks are

not telling you go to projects4peace.org and click on Media.

 

Feeling empowered? Wanna do more on this issue? GO TO:

http://www.mediareform.net/takeaction.php?issue=1

 

 

______________________________

 

GLobal Renaissance Alliance

PO Box 3259

Center Line MI 48015

 

www.renaissancealliance.org

office

 

______________________________

 

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[Guest guest]

-

<vizual

Monday, May 05, 2003 10:04 PM

[s-A] Urgent Action: FCC " deregulation " of media ownership

 

> Global Renaissance Alliance <office

> office

> Mon, 05 May 2003 10:35:09 -0400

 

Rupert wants a new toy and people get bent out of shape.

 

OK, so how does this relate to health and *where is that mentioned in the

post*?

 

Or is the list going to degenerate into political debates outside the realm

of health issues?

 

Khepri

[Guest guest]

Hi Khepri & everyone...

 

Thank you Khepri... I appreciate your vigilence to keep this site

from spinning off to unrelated topics...

 

But I think this posting may not fall under that category... Those

who control our (health as well as all other types of)information,

control our mind and therefore our decisions and ultimately our

lives. I saw this fitting in perfectly with the quote I offered

about tryanny, and closing off all options...

 

Be Well,

Misty

http://www..com

 

, " Khepri "

<khepri@p...> wrote:

>

> -

> <vizual@b...>

> Monday, May 05, 2003 10:04 PM

> [s-A] Urgent Action: FCC " deregulation " of media ownership

>

> > Global Renaissance Alliance <office@r...>

> > office@r...

> > Mon, 05 May 2003 10:35:09 -0400

>

> Rupert wants a new toy and people get bent out of shape.

>

> OK, so how does this relate to health and *where is that mentioned

in the

> post*?

>

> Or is the list going to degenerate into political debates outside

the realm

> of health issues?

>

> Khepri