The state of the mainstream media in America is desperate and as a nation we are in need of media reform, but not the reform the FCC has in mind. Because the FCC failed to listen to the American people back in 2003, Congress has decided to intervene this time. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) has introduced S.J. Res. 28. This legislation would veto the FCC’s December 18, 2007 decision relaxing media ownership rules, which was presented to Congress as Report and Order FCC 07-216 on February 22, 2008. The vote has been postponed until April 24, 2008 in order to give the public more time to weigh in on the measure.
This critical piece of legislation will be enough to temporarily halt big business’s stranglehold on the media. How we get back to the place where the media fully understands and appreciates the importance of its role in a democracy is entirely another challenge. This topic is worthy of a national dialogue. The preservation of our democracy relies on a free and independent media. That is the only way we can have an informed public. And an informed public is the only way our government can be held accountable for its actions.
References(1) Bagdikian, Ben; The Media Monopoly (1992-2004).
(2) The Center for Public Integrity web site; http://www.publicingtegrity.org
(3) Government Accounting Office Study on Public Relations and Advertising Spending released February 13, 2006, by the Minority Staff of the Committee on Government Reform.
(4) See U.S. Government Accountability Office, Prepackaged News Stories (Feb. 17, 2005) (B-304-272). See also U.S. Government Accountability Office, Office of National Drug Control Policy – Video News Release (Jan. 4, 2005) (B-302710); U.S. Government Accountability Office, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – Video News Releases (May 19, 2004) (B-302710).
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