- Joined
- Mar 4, 2007
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- 1,070
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- Location
- Ontario, Canada
- Gender
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Our mainstream media and news sources cannot be trusted.
Along with monetary and electoral reform, we need media reform.
It could be argued that this is even more important than the other 2. Without an unbiased platform to inform the public of monetary and electoral reform, can it even be done on a major scale?
I think of it like this:
Electoral reform is us short circiuting their brain. Media reform is us taking away their voice. Monetary reform is us ripping out their heart.
Mega corporations have been consolidating media assets around the globe. Over 90% of American media is now owned by 6 corporations.
Movie production companies, movie studios, cinemas, theatres, tv stations, tv studios, tv production companies, tv networks, network affiliates, tv broadcasting companies, broadcasting towers, radio stations, radio broadcasting companies, telephone companies, cable companies, cell phone distributors, providers, and carriers, satellite providers, record labels, concert promotion companies, magazines, tabloids, advertising firms, newspapers, publishing companies, internet providers, broadband services, sports networks, sports teams, sports stadiums, vdeo rental companies, rights to music, theme parks, stock market indexes, stock market news companies, cruise ships, encylopedias, hotel chains, educational curriculum, companies that own the rights to produce merchandise for movies, sports figures, trading cards, etc, and so on...
While it appears that we have access to hundreds of channels, magazines, newspapers, etc, they are all owned by the same mega companies. Competition, localism, and diversity have virtually disappeared. Laws have been passed and/or reformed to allow this unprecedented consolidation to take place.
In conjunction with this, the laws that once governed the fairness and equality of our information have been tossed.
1987
The Fairness Doctrine is tossed under the Reagan/Bush administration. The FD required that both sides of an issue be covered fairly and equally.
IE - If Pro Abortionists get 30 minutes of air time, then Anti Abortionists must get 30 minutes air time, and vice versa.
Congress fought the move but Reagan vetoed. When it came up again in 91, Bush sr. threatened to veto, and it was dropped...
1996
The Telecommunications Act is passed. AKA deregulation. The Consumer Federation of America opposed. They were unable to acquire air time. (see Fairness Doctrine) The CFA raised enough money to buy a 30 second spot on CNN. They were denied.
This is when the major consolidation began, particularly in the radio industry. Entire markets were bought up.
IE - Clear Channel went from owning roughly 45 media companies to over 1,300 today. They dominate entire markets from coast to coast.
(note) When the Dixie Chicks disappeared after their anti Bush statement, Clear Channel owned over 1,200 radio stations and were the Chicks concert promoters...
2000
The Personal Attack Rule, and the Political Editorial Rule were tossed. Now the gloves, as they say, could be big fat liars...
The Personal Attack Rule stated that if someone was personally attacked on the air, they were to be notified, given a transcript of what was said, and offered the opportunity to respond or defend themselves.
The Political Editorial Rule stated that all presidential candidates be given equal time to 'sell' themselves. If Bush gets 30 minutes on a network than so do all the other candidates, and vice versa.
Not anymore
2003
The FCC votes to further relax cross ownership laws. What happened to radio in 96 was now happening to newspapers and tv.
FCC commissioner, Michael Copps, and a few congressmen strongly objected.
The FCC saw the largest public response in their history. Of nearly 750,000 responses, over 99.9% opposed.
Less than 4 months later, there was an uprising in the Senate, and the new FCC regulations were repealed. However, a 'rider' was later attached to an unrelated bill which passed virtually in secret. The consolidation continued...
2005 - Present
Network Neutrality is being chipped away at. The last outlet for real free speech in jeapordy. Private corporations will be handed the task of deciding the priority of internet traffic.
Sites like this will be phased out, search engines will be further censored, blogging, alternative news sites... all of it will have to pass through the corporate filters.
It is also interesting to note that amongst their media assets, these same companies either own or have close relations with oil companies, drug companies, defence contractors, etc, and are huge donators to electoral candidates. They are the most powerful lobbyists in DC, and the largest special interest group.
I urge everyone and anyone to check this stuff out. It is not theory, it is all conspiracy...
If we don't demand monetary, electoral, and media reform, the processes available to us to do anything about it will soon be gone.
Apologies again for the length.
Peace
Along with monetary and electoral reform, we need media reform.
It could be argued that this is even more important than the other 2. Without an unbiased platform to inform the public of monetary and electoral reform, can it even be done on a major scale?
I think of it like this:
Electoral reform is us short circiuting their brain. Media reform is us taking away their voice. Monetary reform is us ripping out their heart.
Mega corporations have been consolidating media assets around the globe. Over 90% of American media is now owned by 6 corporations.
- Bertelsmann Media Worldwide
- GE
- News Corporation
- Time Warner
- National Amusements
- Disney
Movie production companies, movie studios, cinemas, theatres, tv stations, tv studios, tv production companies, tv networks, network affiliates, tv broadcasting companies, broadcasting towers, radio stations, radio broadcasting companies, telephone companies, cable companies, cell phone distributors, providers, and carriers, satellite providers, record labels, concert promotion companies, magazines, tabloids, advertising firms, newspapers, publishing companies, internet providers, broadband services, sports networks, sports teams, sports stadiums, vdeo rental companies, rights to music, theme parks, stock market indexes, stock market news companies, cruise ships, encylopedias, hotel chains, educational curriculum, companies that own the rights to produce merchandise for movies, sports figures, trading cards, etc, and so on...
While it appears that we have access to hundreds of channels, magazines, newspapers, etc, they are all owned by the same mega companies. Competition, localism, and diversity have virtually disappeared. Laws have been passed and/or reformed to allow this unprecedented consolidation to take place.
In conjunction with this, the laws that once governed the fairness and equality of our information have been tossed.
1987
The Fairness Doctrine is tossed under the Reagan/Bush administration. The FD required that both sides of an issue be covered fairly and equally.
IE - If Pro Abortionists get 30 minutes of air time, then Anti Abortionists must get 30 minutes air time, and vice versa.
Congress fought the move but Reagan vetoed. When it came up again in 91, Bush sr. threatened to veto, and it was dropped...
1996
The Telecommunications Act is passed. AKA deregulation. The Consumer Federation of America opposed. They were unable to acquire air time. (see Fairness Doctrine) The CFA raised enough money to buy a 30 second spot on CNN. They were denied.
This is when the major consolidation began, particularly in the radio industry. Entire markets were bought up.
IE - Clear Channel went from owning roughly 45 media companies to over 1,300 today. They dominate entire markets from coast to coast.
(note) When the Dixie Chicks disappeared after their anti Bush statement, Clear Channel owned over 1,200 radio stations and were the Chicks concert promoters...
2000
The Personal Attack Rule, and the Political Editorial Rule were tossed. Now the gloves, as they say, could be big fat liars...
The Personal Attack Rule stated that if someone was personally attacked on the air, they were to be notified, given a transcript of what was said, and offered the opportunity to respond or defend themselves.
The Political Editorial Rule stated that all presidential candidates be given equal time to 'sell' themselves. If Bush gets 30 minutes on a network than so do all the other candidates, and vice versa.
Not anymore
2003
The FCC votes to further relax cross ownership laws. What happened to radio in 96 was now happening to newspapers and tv.
FCC commissioner, Michael Copps, and a few congressmen strongly objected.
The FCC saw the largest public response in their history. Of nearly 750,000 responses, over 99.9% opposed.
Less than 4 months later, there was an uprising in the Senate, and the new FCC regulations were repealed. However, a 'rider' was later attached to an unrelated bill which passed virtually in secret. The consolidation continued...
2005 - Present
Network Neutrality is being chipped away at. The last outlet for real free speech in jeapordy. Private corporations will be handed the task of deciding the priority of internet traffic.
Sites like this will be phased out, search engines will be further censored, blogging, alternative news sites... all of it will have to pass through the corporate filters.
It is also interesting to note that amongst their media assets, these same companies either own or have close relations with oil companies, drug companies, defence contractors, etc, and are huge donators to electoral candidates. They are the most powerful lobbyists in DC, and the largest special interest group.
I urge everyone and anyone to check this stuff out. It is not theory, it is all conspiracy...
If we don't demand monetary, electoral, and media reform, the processes available to us to do anything about it will soon be gone.
Apologies again for the length.
Peace
