Fw: Convention coverage and media reform

[Guest guest]

Convention coverage and media reform

-

Josh Silver

To:

Thursday, September 02, 2004 4:14 PM

Convention coverage and media reform

 

 

 

Dear Media Reformer,

 

With the GOP convention wrapping up today and Congress returning to

Washington next week, media reform advocates are gearing up for a busy season.

 

Media coverage of the election is a disaster. Corporate media are avoiding

substantial analysis and debate in favor of sensationalistic sound-bite

journalism, gossip and horserace-style speculation. Celebrity journalists mute

the tough questions and amplify partisan spin, and rarely point out the

inaccurate and misleading statements made by candidates and their proxies. As

outgoing head of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Juan Gonzales

quipped: " If (a government official) said the world was flat, today's corporate

media would dutifully report, 'Breaking News: There Appear to be Differing Views

on The World's Shape.' "

 

The facts are damning. Networks will carry a mere three hours of

convention coverage this week. During the 2000 election, we heard directly from

presidential candidates an average of only 9 seconds per night on the news. Four

years later, as election reporting declines, networks are raking in a record

$1.5 billion in political ad revenue - hardly an incentive to expand their

coverage. Campaign advertisements outnumber campaign news stories four to one.

 

Many conservative organizations and Republican members of Congress have

expressed strong support for media reform. Nonetheless, the GOP platform fails

to include any support for limits on media consolidation. Once again, Big Media

lobbyists are having their way with public policy through close ties with

elected officials.

 

Despite these dark days, media reform has more momentum than at any point

in our nation's history. In Washington and across the country, activists are

redoubling efforts to fight back:

 

1) Communities nationwide are fighting monopoly cable providers (like

Comcast and Time Warner) to ensure that cable and broadband services serve the

community and not just the bottom line, with increased public access and more

non-commercial channels.

2) Advocates are pressing Congress to force cable monopolies to carry new,

independent networks and to make access to cable more affordable through

measures like 'a la carte' programming that let viewers choose which channels

they pay for.

3) With last year's disastrous loosening of media ownership rules rejected

by the courts, activists are pushing for more public involvement in the FCC's

creation of new rules.

4) Legislation to license thousands of new low power FM radio stations is

working its way through Congress.

5) A growing coalition is demanding increased access to the public

airwaves for low-cost, high-speed, wireless broadband that would turn Internet

access into a public right instead of a luxury.

 

This is just a glimpse of what's going on in the fight for media reform.

Americans understand that our democracy will not survive without tougher

journalism, more diverse and independent voices, and a stronger noncommercial

media sector. It is up to you to keep the momentum going. The Free Press website

(www.freepress.net) is now even easier to use, containing resources and tools to

help you get more involved, raise awareness, and hold our elected officials and

the media accountable.

 

The time is now - to fight organized media corporations with organized

people - and create a media system that puts the public interest before profits.

 

Onward,

Josh Silver

Free Press

 

 

P.S. The city of Philadelphia is looking to launch a groundbreaking

municipal wireless program that would revolutionize Internet access there. The

story can be found on our newswire.

 

P.P.S. Our friends at Common Cause are working on a creative get out the

vote campaign that needs ground troops. Go to www.voteforamerica.org.

 

 

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