POWER
The FCC has gone too far

The media has a lot of power. It influences what we hear, see and think every day.
Fortunately, this is checked by regulation that prevents one big company from controlling too much of it.

At least, there’s supposed to be.

The Federal Communication Commission has recently scaled back its regulations, allowing a single voice to consume a larger share of the media spotlight.

In June, the FCC loosened up its strings, letting television networks own more local stations. It eliminated a ban on a company owning a television station and newspaper in the same market and increased how much one network can reach a national audience.
Media strives to serve the public interest. The companies that own them want to make money.

We understand a company’s need to make money, but when it affects how the news is reported, something’s wrong.

The Disney company owns the ABC network. When there’s controversy with Disney, can ABC report on it objectively? This has been questioned in the past, and we think the answer’s no.

There has been an uproar from all levels of society, from the Senate to the National Rifle Association to the National Organization of Women. It’s an appropriate uproar. The House and Senate are trying to overturn the FCC’s decision, but reports say it will only be vetoed by President George Bush.

Companies with ulterior motives shouldn’t be dictating how the news is reported. It does both the public and the journalism profession a disservice.