Where's the REAL outrage about media ownership?
 

<b>sorry, this is fucked UP! Not sure if any of you even care but having two or three media corporations controlling all the national/international media voices is a bad thing.

Where's the outrage about THIS issue? This is what people should be concerned with...

Something Im thinking these conglomerates would love to do is privatize the 'net into authorized "channels". Youd end up paying a service charge to the broadband providers if you want your content on THEIR bandwidth.

Just remember, Rupert Murdoch isnt even American yet so many people out there are slaves to his Fox News and other trash...How is that patriotic?</b>

Media Ownership Rule Changes Protested
By GARY GENTILE
The Associated Press
Thursday, May 29, 2003; 8:19 PM


LOS ANGELES - Protesters in more than a dozen cities urged federal regulators Thursday to reject changes that would allow large media companies to own television and radio stations and newspapers in the same cities.

The demonstrations were staged just four days before the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to consider eliminating a 28-year ban on cross-ownership of local media.

Another proposal would raise an existing market cap that prevents any one company from owning a combination of TV stations that reach more than 35 percent of U.S. households.

In Los Angeles, about 60 people marched outside Clear Channel talk radio station KFI with signs reading, "No Choice, No Voice: Reclaim Our Airwaves."

"We're frozen out," said Karen Pomer, a member of the group Code Pink, which organized the protest and also rallied for peace during the war in Iraq. "All of this is benefiting conservative voices."

Protests were planned at Clear Channel stations in 14 cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco.

Protesters say Clear Channel stifles diverse points of view by programming local stations with national shows.

A Clear Channel spokesman said the media coverage of the protests is evidence that diverse viewpoints are not ignored.

"Americans today have more diverse choices for entertainment, news and information than ever before," said Andrew Levin, Clear Channel's senior vice president for government affairs. "Radio is the only medium I know where the customer can switch providers at 60 mph."

The San Antonio-based group has become a favorite target for those who oppose deregulation. The company now owns 1,200 stations nationwide, including nine in Los Angeles.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell has said the regulatory changes are needed to reflect a market altered by cable TV, satellite broadcasts and the Internet. If the FCC fails to act, outdated rules will be swept away by court challenges, he said.

A protest in New York was organized by United for Peace and Justice NY, an antiwar group. About 150 people picketed outside station WWPR and carried signs that read, "Farewell Free Speech, We'll Miss You" and "The Airwaves Belong to the People, not Clear Channel."

Protester Sherry Bender, 45, a physical therapist, said democracy was at risk with consolidation.

"We'll have only one parent company preprogramming everything we read and see and hear across the United States, and it will be one-sided," she said.

Relaxing restrictions on media ownership is opposed by the two Democrats on the FCC and backed by the three Republicans, including Powell. The FCC hearing was set for Monday in Washington.

Opposition to relaxed rules has brought together a wide variety of groups, from celebrities such as actor Richard Dreyfuss to the National Rifle Association.

Proponents include large media companies such as Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., which owns television stations, the Fox network and newspapers including the New York Post. Murdoch is also seeking regulatory approval for his purchase of a controlling share of the satellite television service DirecTV.

Murdoch has been the target of ads taken by Common Cause and other organizations. A full-page ad that ran recently in The New York Times shows a photo of a scowling Murdoch with the headline: "This man wants to control the news in America. The FCC wants to help him."

This has been on several channels all today.

i didnt bother to read that:glugglug

because you cant read. perhaps while youre looking for a job you could learn the hobby.

Didn't bother to read it either - I knew it was fucked years ago ...:1orglaugh

Oh, its been all over most papers too. But yes, nothing new here.

I'm surprised at the apathy on this.

What is Freedom of Speech worth, if you cannot be heard?

Valid point... sadly in the US very few give a shit about this.. they ain't got a clue as to what happens in the next state. It's called lethargy. Kinda makes a mockery out of the purported "freedoms" in the US. Sad shit!

you fucking morons.

this has been an issue for YEARS.

just becuase you aren't getting much discussion on a subject does not mean that those of us that really matter in the adult industry aren't aware of it.

I don't know how old you are, but I'm part of the "Y Bother" generation.

Name me the movie and i'll be pretty happy. modF, keep out of this. lol

Who are you?

Spoken by a true nobody.

Some of you people should move to the USA. You might as well being that you think about it all the time. Are your countries just really boring or what?

As the world?s most powerful nation, both economically and militarily we outside the US have a vested interest in how you are run.

We know the king is a joke, who has no power. But what happens if those with power decide to put him or some like him into office. Be it on a local council or the White House?

Luxemburg, Lithuania, Nepal we do not judge by the rules we judge the US.

Yup. It's been a hotly contested issue especially since the advent of radio. RCA vs. the United States. This was a big struggle in the 1920's and the 1930's. There were more once television came around. It's obvious this has been a big issue for a long time since the FCC was created in the 1930s.

It's a huge issue and not simple in any way. Anti-trust, anti-monopoly laws restrict the freedoms of corporations. What is the proper balance between the freedoms of businesses to operate and the rights of people to be able to receive information? There are various communications acts which attempt to find the proper balance. Of course, no one is ever completely happy. There are various interest groups in both camps and the rules of the game are always changing as a result.

Freedom of one kind can only be had at the cost of other freedoms. The beat goes on ...

I am far more concerned about media monopolies than I am about who happens to be p-resident at the moment. Look at what Clear Channel's been able to do to the state of popular music in America. It's pathetic. I know there are small bastions of indy music out there, but how many people have access to them, or know where to find them, or know that they should want to find them?

Sorry; may seem like I'm on an off-topic segue, but I grew up in the 80's, and non-mainstream radio and music fed a lot of my ideas. NPR did the trick for a while, but then they got too liberal, or I got too old, or something. At any rate, I sorely miss indy radio. *pout*

Clueless Charly you may be interested in how the USA is run...but as usual you are wrong...I do have power in how the USA is run.

How is pop music in 2003 any worse than pop music in 1983? It sucked then and it sucks now.

1983
1. Every Breath You Take - Police
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Flashdance... What A Feeling - Irene Cara
4. Down Under - Men At Work
5. Beat It - Michael Jackson
6. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
7. Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. Baby Come To Me - Patti Austin & James Ingram
9. Maniac - Michael Sembello
10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
11. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
12. You And I - Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle
13. Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
14. Shame On The Moon - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
15. She Works Hard For The Money - Donna Summer
16. Never Gonna Let You Go - Sergio Mendes
17. Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
18. Let's Dance - David Bowie
19. Twilight Zone - Golden Earring
20. I Know There's Something Going On - Frida

2003
1. Staind, 14 Shades Of Grey
2. Deftones, Deftones
3. Kelly Clarkson, Thankful
4. Evanescence, Fallen
5. 50 Cent, Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
6. Soundtrack, The Matrix Reloaded: The Album
7. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me
8. Soundtrack, The Lizzie McGuire Movie
9. David Banner, Mississippi: The Album
10. Cher, The Very Best Of Cher
11. Soundtrack, American Idol Season
12. Ricky Martin, Almas Del Silencio
13. Linkin Park, Meteora
14. Jo Dee Messina, Greatest Hits
15. Jack Johnson, On And On
16. The Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley, Body Kiss
17. Weird Al Yankovic, Poodle Hat
18. Celine Dion, One Heart
19. Sean Paul, Dutty Rock
20. Various Artists, Now 12

I have over 500 TV channels and the internet, I don't think they can control them all. I also have power on how the united states is ran. I can going to use my power to help put the Bush administartion back in power next election. Bet you guys really like that:winkwink:

<i><small>EDIT: I already have the shakes, time to make a drink</small></i>

no mention of Jew controlled media in that article. poor anti-Semites must be disappointed. maybe we can find some dirt on Murdoch, like he's an eighth Jewish! what about Clear Channel?
Gotta be Jews no? Surely the anti-Semite intellectuals here would know this.

Hi Colin, assuming you're responding to my post, I probably misspoke. I've never been particulary fond of "popular" music; it just seems there were more alternatives in the '80s. Of course, I was younger then and inclined to seek out the alternatives; maybe they are there now...but I don't think they're as easily found. Or maybe I'm just lazy.

I don't have enough information to form a proper conspiracy theory about how Clear Channel, et al, have slowly but surely edged out small indy radio stations, but it's my theory and I'm stickin' with it. :)

Agreed.

Your introspection is always interesting. :)

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

I suppose now Bob Hope is getting too old to entertain the troops you will be going in his place.

You're a funny guy. :thumbsup

The thing is to stay vigilant and make sure the law makers are kept under control.

The threat of "Big Brother" does not come from Goverment or Corperations, it comes from apathy. Both of them would like to control, it's up to the people to make sure they do not.

Placing me on the same level as Bob Hope is quite an honor...thank you...and may I live as long...he is a centurion now. You on the other hand are still just poor old Clueless Charly.

I use my power to influence very judiciously...but thank you for your input.