Kerry Opposes Media Consolidation Trend

[Nambe]

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry said on Thursday he opposes the push for media consolidation and would pursue a policy aimed at broad and diverse ownership of media outlets.

"I'm against the ongoing push for media consolidation," Kerry told a conference of minority journalists. "It is contrary to the interests of the country."

Kerry also said he would support greater diversity in employment in the media sector by naming fair-minded members to the Federal Communications Commission.

"As president, I will expand opportunities for people of color in the media by appointing FCC commissioners committed to enforcing equal employment and insuring that small and minority-owned broadcasters are not consolidated into extinction," Kerry said.

The Republican-dominated, five-member FCC last year loosened rules to allow a company in many instances to own a newspaper, a television station and some radio outlets in the same market. ..

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[RedEarth]

1. Good news...I hadn't heard Kerry speak to this issue.

[otohara]

5. He Was Asked Today

at the conference of Journalists of Color -

[RedEarth]

6. I thnk media consolidation is one of the most important issue facing

our country....glad to see Kerry speak out about this.

[otohara]

9. He Voted YES to Telecommunications Act of 96

Only these 5 senators voted against it:

Russell Feingold (D, WI)
Patrick Leahy (D, VT)
Paul Wellstone (D, MN)
Paul Simon (D, IL)
John McCain (R, AZ)


So as happy as I am to see Sen. Kerry speak out against further consolidation, as far as I'm concerned the 96 bill did the damage we are living with today - Our democratic senators caved into lobbyists and GOP - they did not invision the mess it would create.

[derby378]

2. And Nader says there's no difference between Dems and Reps

Bush helped to bring our differences into sharp focus - even though some of ClearChannel's folks have been showing signs of wanting to improve, I'd rather not have to rely on them for news and entertainment. But if they control all the radio and TV stations in my neighborhood, that leaves me with Air America, NPR, and (shudder) CNN for any diversity in viewpoint.

[cprise]

12. Words are cheap

And Kerry just help push through a "free" trade agreement with Australia that opens that countries' media markets to the US conglomerates.

[wildeyed]

13. Does this mean we

will export our own crappy media to Australia? I am sure they are so pleased. On the other hand, it might just be pay back. After all they did give the world Rupert Murdoch.

[cprise]

17. Murdoch is based in the US

He is a US citizen now.

What will likely happen is that Disney and CNN and even G.E. will buy up the Australian media brands and run them with the same brand names to retail a 'local feel'.

This is media consolidation on a global scale. Kerry is speaking his BS about media regulation now because the trade agreement just passed and the conglomerates will take the direct contradiction between action and words as a message that he'll do their bidding regardless.

[wildeyed]

25. What else

was included in the trade agreement?

[Cheswick2.0]

15. Indeed words are cheap and Nader's are cheaper than most

I'd believe Kerry before Nader anyday.

[cprise]

18. We weren't discussing Nader

We were discussing Kerry, a politician you'd better keep on a short leash. If we don't, then corporate power will.

Don't kid yourself. He's not "our guy".

[Nambe]

19. Australia hasn't accepted it yet.

The battle is on the front page as we speak. The government pays for medicine and the agreement would really mess up their medical system. Howard and his henchmen are fighting to get it through, of course.

[wildeyed]

24. Do you have a link

to anything about this? My sis lives in Australia so I like to follow their news a bit.

[cprise]

27. No excuse for Kerry

Yep... its the tip of the blade that US corporations are going to stick into Aussie's universal health. Once a good portion of their media are bought up, they won't know wet from whistle; the misinformation will be intense.

They would also have to open up their "education markets", so public education will be attacked as well.

[schultzee]

3. Dean spoke out about this and remember what the media did!

Kerry should have kept his mouth shut about this at least until after he is elected! Darn!

[indigo11153]

21. Right

The Media did do this to Dean. Right after he brought up this issue as I remember. Now I am really worried.

[liveoaktx]

4. He got rousing applause from this at the conference

If you didn't catch his speech, look for it on Cspan. He was truly great!

[depakid]

7. I hope kerry holds a grudge

The corporate media isn't going to give him any breaks, so it seems to me that a little payback is in order... not only would it be good for his own party, but it would be a tremendously popular move, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of comments to the FCC last year....

[CBHagman]

8. Yes, this is good news.

Not only did I want Kerry to come out in favor of a more diverse and less consolidated media, but it helps that this mention comes in the middle of a presidential race. Too many people don't really know that the media is run, for the most part, by a handful of huge corporations.

Oh, and Kerry's to-do list after November should include the entry "Collect resignation letter from Michael Powell" near the top...

[Zorra]

10. I'm liking JK more and more, and I already like him a lot.

He is speaking out on many issues that are critical to reclaiming and maintaining our democracy.

To Soon to be President Kerry:

[LauraK]

11. "OutFoxed" release probably encouraged his timing.

Right wingers don't own the movie makers and it will be a good tool for us until the media mess is fixed.

[indigo11153]

14. I am worried

I heard Kerry speak on CNN. Right as he started to talk about this issue they pulled away from live coverage. Then they did a story about how corporate leaders don't support Kerry. I am concerned that the corporate media will never let Kerry get his message out.
The people that get their news from the local paper and local broadcast don't know anything about JK. I also expect the media to sandbag JK as they did Gore. Jefferson didn't believe we could have a democracy without a freepress. How do we fight this!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

16. JK has to break up ALL media conglomerates!

[RedEarth]

20. I think your worries are valid...

Bill Moyers did a show on this several months ago and his guests said this was one of the primary issues people should be concerned about. Needless to say, we don't hear about it in the news, since the corporate giants don't want to cut their own monopolies. I suppose the only way to fight it is by contacting the our elected officials and let them know how concerned we are.

[indigo11153]

22. Did Bill discuss

what happens to our elected officials when they speak out? I think of Gore, Dean. heck Welstone is dead!

[w4rma]

28. Big media went after Gov. Dean immediately after he said similar things.

This is a huge issue, but it worries me greatly. The folks who run the corporations that own big media have ALOT of power and they want to keep expanding their personal power.

[matcom]

23. YES YES YES YES YES YES

Reason

#1

to vote for him!

PERIOD!!!

THIS IS THE #1 MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THIS ELECTION. DO NOT THINK DIFFERENTLY!!!

WITHOUT THE 4TH ESTATE, WE ARE DOOOOOOOOMED!!!

YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY

[cprise]

29. "DO NOT THINK DIFFERENTLY!!!"

I don't care how much they love to whip Kerry. He still carries water for the mega-corps. Why shouldn't he? It's not like he's personally threatened by them; He could even be impeached and end up much richer from conservative policies.

[w4rma]

31. Hmmm

Are you carrying water for the mega-corps, cprise? Of all the things in the world to critisize I would think that someone who is not on their side, would choose a different issue to criticize.

Use honey, not vinegar.

[Qutzupalotl]

26. And there, in a nutshell, is why the media will prop up Bush.

It took guts for Kerry to say this before the election. I hope it doesn't doom him.

Whenever you see biased coverage, remind people of this statement. Ask them if they see a connection.

[Guaranteed]

30. Excellent!

It's good to hear that Kerry is concerned about the 2nd most important issue facing our country today.