MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Murdoch Wants Eased Media Ownership Rules
Markey Urges FCC to Keep Media Cap
Bill Moyers Examines Media Ownership Lobbying
Media Ownership Forum Audio Now Online
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
MURDOCH WANTS EASED MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee yesterday, News Corp. chief
Rupert Murdoch rejected the notion that relaxing media ownership regulations
would result in limited news coverage and less local content. "The only way
a free broadcaster can really stay in business against a hundred cable
channels is to identify with these local communities," Murdoch said. "It is
simply good business." When asked if he would go on a "buying spree" if the
FCC's rules were relaxed, Murdoch claimed that he had no plans to do so.
Consumers Union policy director Gene Kimmelman argued that regulators should
not make the rules based on the promises of those they regulate.
[SOURCE: The Kansas City Star; AUTHOR: David Ho, Associated Press]
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/5924752.htm
MARKEY URGES FCC TO KEEP MEDIA CAP
Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and 13 House colleagues yesterday
urged the FCC not to raise the cap on the number of stations a company can
own. Markey, who introduced a bill last week aimed at upholding the 35% cap,
feels that increasing the cap will stifle diversity and localism in news and
programming. "Congress set the cap at that level because elected
representatives in the House and Senate desired, in part, to ensure that
television programming decisions remained in the hands of local
broadcasters,'' the letter says. ''Maintaining this delicate balance in our
national media mix is healthy for competition and fosters diversity and
localism."
[SOURCE: The Boston Globe; AUTHOR: Peter J. Howe]
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/143/business/Markey_urges_FCC_to_keep_...
a_cap+.shtml
BILL MOYERS EXAMINES MEDIA OWNERSHIP LOBBYING
Tonight, May 23rd, at 9pm, NOW with Bill Moyers will investigate the
relationship between the media industry and the FCC as the Commission's vote
on media ownership draws near. Moyer will focus on a report by the Center
for Public Integrity analyzing the close ties between the FCC and the
industry ut regulates. Check local listings for stations in your area using
the link below.
[SOURCE: PBS]
http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html
For a related story, see:
FCC Travel Routinely Funded by Industry
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23613-2003May21.html
MEDIA OWNERSHIP FORUM AUDIO NOW ONLINE
Audio files from four public forums on media ownership are now available
online. Dr. W. Curtiss Priest of the Center for Information, Technology &
Society and Research Affiliate of the MIT Comparative Media Studies (CMS)
Program has compiled and posted the files to allow interested parties around
the country to hear "what people are really saying" about media
consolidation. Links to all of the events, along with a brief topic
overview, can be found at the link below.
[SOURCE: Linux Public Broadcasting Network]
http://www.lpbn.org/default.html
Congressional Caucus Targets Piracy
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-1007908.html?tag=fd_top
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