The giant media conglomerates that control the flow of news and information to the American people have abandoned quality journalism.

Big Media have slashed budgets, eviscerated newsrooms and closed foreign bureaus. They no longer carry out costly but essential investigative journalism that provides an important check on our government and corporate leaders.

News outlets have replaced in-depth local coverage with celebrity news, sports and weather. And lapdog journalism and infotainment are at an all-time high; instead of fulfilling their obligation to inform the public, Big Media only serve us cheap, sensational and superficial fare.

The net result has been a massive disinvestment in newsgathering by corporations that only care about turning a profit, not serving the public interest.

Our democracy depends upon an informed public. As citizens, we need unbiased news from an independent press to hold the government accountable and to prevent abuses of power.