You Don't Have to Be a Laid-Off Trib Reporter to be Sick of Media Consolidation
The FCC is again threatening to loosen media ownership rules—allowing a few massive corporations to swallow up even more local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations. On Monday, April 30th, the FCC is coming to Tampa for a rare public hearing on media ownership.
In wake of all the layoffs at The Tampa Tribune, the FCC couldn't come at a better time.
This may be the only time the FCC will be in Tampa. The hearing will feature an open mic for you to speak personally to three of the five FCC commissioners about media consolidation.
Here are the details:
WHAT: FCC Hearing on Media Ownership
WHEN: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday, April 30th
WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center , Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall, 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place , Tampa, FL
For details or driving directions, click here.
If you want help preparing your testimony, there are workshops in Tampa on Thursday and next Saturday. For details, click the link above. Or just come on April 30th and speak from the heart.
posted by kate @ 8:37 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Kate, I work with the NAB on the media ownership issue and would like to offer a few thoughts if I may.
As these rules only apply to broadcasters, this isn't about the media, but about our broadcasters. The "consolidation" argument is great exxagerated as nationwide, there are more than 11,000 full power commercial radio stations controlled by at least 3,155 different owners and 1,284 full power commercial TV stations controlled by at least 333 different owners. In addition, there are 2,790 full power public radio stations and 381 full power public TV stations.
The ownership rules haven't been updated in decades and don't reflect the drastic changes that today give us more choices than ever to get our news and information. Luckily, the internet has exploded to give us citizen journalism, social networking, blogging, podcasting, etc. plus cable and satellite TV has greatly expanded. Faced with these outdated rules and competition, individual local broadcasters cannot compete for advertising revenue they need to provide free programming. These realities must be considered as the FCC moves formward in this process.
Thanks.
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