John — Will the FCC Help Big Media Get Even Bigger?
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Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
Media analysis, critiques and activism
ACTION ALERT:
Will the FCC Help Big Media Get Even Bigger?
May 20, 2003
A majority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intends to
ratify a sweeping plan to weaken or eliminate rules that limit the size
and power of media companies. Among other things, the FCC’s three
Republican commissioners hope to revoke the newspaper-broadcast
cross-ownership rule, which prevents a company from owning a newspaper and
a TV station in the same market, and to significantly increase the number
of TV stations one company can own.
While FCC chair Michael Powell has the votes to pass the plan, the
decision to vote on the matter by June 2 could still be challenged to
allow for more public education and debate. Several senators have asked
for a delay in the process, and a measure to that end was introduced on
May 9 in the House of Representatives (Reuters, 5/13/03). The two
Democratic FCC commissioners, Michael Copps and Kenneth Adelstein, also
oppose the deregulation, and requested on May 13 that the Commission
postpone its planned vote. Powell rejected their request.
The FCC’s rulemaking process is, by design, difficult to follow, but the
potential impact of what the New York Times called (3/14/03) “the most
important set of rules changes in decades” is alarmingly clear.
Broadcasting & Cable reported (5/15/03) that the FCC’s current proposals
would allow a single company to own as many as three TV stations in any of
the five biggest markets (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and
Philadelphia), and permit ownership of two TV stations– as well as a
major newspaper– “in nearly all of the largest 100 markets.” In large
radio markets, according to B&C, the changes would allow a company to own
eight radio and two TV stations.
Imagine living in a community where one large, multinational conglomerate
controlled eight radio stations, two major TV stations and the leading
daily newspaper. Given the damage that media consolidation has already
done to the quality and diversity of media offerings, such a scenario–
repeated in communities across the country– has worrying implications.
For people relying on network television for news, however, it would be
tough to know much about the changes in the works. ABC World News Tonight
aired a May 15 report on FCC deregulation– divided into “pro” and “con”
segments– and a May 18 report on radio deregulation. At CBS and NBC,
there have been no mentions of the sweeping proposals on any of the
nightly newscasts, and only three brief early-morning reports elsewhere on
the network schedule (ABC World News This Morning, 9/9/02, 2/27/03; CBS
Morning News, 5/13/03).
These networks are all owned by companies that stand to profit from the
FCC’s plan to re-shape the media landscape. Their scant coverage of these
issues– ranging from very little at ABC to none at all at NBC– reflects
a glaring conflict of interest.
Despite the near-blackout on broadcast media, the FCC has received an
enormous, perhaps unprecedented amount of public feedback on the ownership
rules. According to Editor & Publisher magazine (5/5/03), commissioner
Michael Copps says that the FCC has received over 18,000 comments from
individuals, which overwhelmingly opposed relaxation of ownership
restrictions. According to the group Free Press, comments from the public
are running at least 10 to 1 against the FCC’s plan to allow large media
companies to get even bigger. If media corporations and the FCC’s
Republican commissioners get their way, the FCC’s vote will disregard this
overwhelming public opposition.
ACTION: Encourage the nightly newscasts to do substantive reporting on the
FCC deregulation controversy, including the congressional attempts to
postpone the vote. Remind them of their ethical duty to disclose the
interests of their parent companies.
You also might want to commend ABC for reporting on the issue.
CBS Evening News
Phone: 212-975-3691
mailto:evening@cbsnews.com
NBC Nightly News
Phone: 212-664-4971
mailto:nightly@nbc.com
ABC World News Tonight
Phone: 212-456-4040
mailto:PeterJennings@abcnews.com
CAPITOL HILL & THE FCC:
It’s also important for citizens to speak out for diverse, democratic
media by contacting the FCC and elected officials. There are a number of
websites designed to make this easier. See:
http://www.mediareform.net