What will it take to start real news media reform?

[Kid_A]

I really think this is the biggest problem this country faces right now. As bad as Bush and the neocons are, they would be nothing without the cable news networks doing their cheerleading for them. But how the HELL can we get this ball rolling? And Michael Moore isn't enough. It would take 1,000 Michael Moores to get people to realize they're being lied to every single day.

And if Moore's next movie is about the news media, as he has hinted it might be, then he can't expect even a tiny fraction of the exposure that his last movies have gotten.

My point is that as long as the huge media conglomerates are on the side of the imperialists, then the Progressive movement in this country may as well not even exist. So what can we do?

[Az]

1. Making News a responsibility rather than a profit arm of the Corporations

[Cats Against Frist]

8. I agree

And the solution would have to take place on two levels:

1. The Public would have to stop watching so much goddamn stupid shit on TV, so that "news" has to compete with Nick and Jessica for ratings.

and

2. Journalists themselves need to grow a spine and some balls really fast, and join together, as Matt Taibbi wrote, in an article posted yesterday, and form some kind of ideological union that won't be led or bossed by their corporate owners.

There is another one, too, I guess: people need to get seriously schooled in the difference between "news" and "commentary."

[porphyrian]

2. A New John To Blow In The White House - n/t

[Fenris]

3. Ending media consolidation.

Undoing the damage of the Clinton/Republican deregulation law will free the neck of legitimate journalism from the megacorporate hand. To a degree, anyway.

[DrWho]

4. well...

it's always tough to overthrow the estbalishment but the Internet seems to be chinking away at big media

A site like drudgereport gets about 1 million hits a day, in some cases that's more viewers than those watching some news channels.

So I think the internet is playing a huge role in changing the way the news operates.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Bring back the "Fairness Doctrine"

n/t

:kick:

[Tyler Durden]

10. I think I've said that already today...

Several times!

Never happen tho, unless by executive order.

[HootieMcBoob]

6. Gore and Hyatt's INDTV might be a step in the right direction

They've said it's going to be for people who are tired of having the news dumbed down and that it will be an alternative to the corporate owned media. We'll have to wait and see though. I haven't heard a thing about it for a while. Hopefully before the election they'll get it up and running.

[veracity]

7. TvNewsLies has a PLAN...check it out!

TVNL put this up last week. WhatReallyHappened, Rense, and Buzzflash linked to it, and thousands have read it. Read it through and see if you can get to the contacts needed to put the PLAN into action:

A Plan and a Plea
It’s Time to Unite Against the Mainstream Media
Editor - TvNewsLIES.org - 24-June-2004

THE PROBLEM:

Public discussion about media bias has escalated somewhat ever since the successful domination of the broadcast media by right wing outlets such as FOX News and Clearchannel. Despite the fact that bias has no place in journalism, it clearly has engulfed the mainstream American news industry with dexterity reminiscent of the “Blob” in the classic horror film. More frightening than this, however, is an even greater problem: the practice of outright deception by our news organizations. It is my sincere opinion that this problem is not only widespread, but potentially catastrophic.

By reporting incomplete facts, providing selective historical background, completely omitting vital and relevant news and by distracting us with trivial and /or sensational news, the mainstream media has lulled the American public into supporting what is perhaps the most dishonest administration in American history.

THE URGENCY:

In ordinary times, differences regarding social and economic issues are basically political. But in ordinary times, adversarial positions don’t involve massive death and destruction; nor would they endanger future generations. In ordinary times, whatever political position prevails is balanced by the cycle of our democratic election process that leads to change, correction, and progress. In ordinary times…
However, these are not ordinary times. Under the current administration, the vital issues facing this nation may well have irreversible catastrophic global ramifications. This is not about something as easy to predict as the Bush deficit that our great grandchildren will be paying off. Rather, this is about issues with far more long lasting consequences. I am raising a critical alarm about the precarious future of every facet of quality life in this country, and on this planet.

The urgency I speak of is not a dramatic ploy. I really fear the irreparable damage of the relentless policies of this administration that have received virtually no oversight by the mainstream media. The areas of my greatest concern include the following:...

Full article: http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/a_plan_and_a_plea.html

[displacedtexan]

9. Dems in control of Congress

Nothing less will do it.

[Az]

12. That will only slow the decay down

The Dems are stuck in the system just as we are. They do not control the media. It is the medium they have to swim in. This all came about because Nixon found out how hard the media can slam a person. This set in motion the effort to push the media into the rights control.

Now the Dems are at the mercy of the media. Speak out too strongly and you are insane like Dean. Don't speak out enough and they will tar you with something else.

[salinen]

11. NO!

They (Corporations) will never relinquish this power. It must be taken back by other methods. Not for the squeamish.

[cthrumatrix]

13. remember Dean saying on Hardball...he would brake them up!

That was the end of Howard...the media turned on him.

[liberalpress]

14. "What will it take to start real news media reform?"

President John Kerry