Press Release
Free Press challenges Clear Channel chairman’s ‘Distinguished Service Award’
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
LAS VEGAS – Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, will announce the nominees for The Big Media Hall of Shame at a press conference this morning in Las Vegas. The five nominees, all prominent media and government figures, will be saluted for their public disservice and contributions to media consolidation.
The announcement ceremony and press conference, featuring Josh Silver and Timothy Karr of Free Press, will occur:
Monday, April 18
10:45 a.m. PST
Las Vegas Convention Center
Room N236
The ceremony is being held in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual trade show in Las Vegas. Moments after the broadcasters honor Clear Channel Chairman Lowry Mays with a "Distinguished Service Award," Free Press will officially nominate the radio executive for The Big Media Hall of Shame.
"The irony of the industry bestowing Lowry Mays' with its 'Distinguished Service Award' has not escaped the public interest community," said Josh Silver, the executive director of Free Press. "Clear Channel's predatory business practices have replaced local voices and independent music across the country with cookie-cutter programming piped in from corporate headquarters. Of course, for Mays, radio is never about providing quality news or great music – it's only about pushing products to his listeners."
Joining Mays in the inaugural class of nominees for The Big Media Hall of Shame are Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp.; former FCC Chairman Michael Powell; Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell; and Sinclair Broadcast Group Chairman and CEO David Smith.
A video profiling all the nominees will be shown during the announcement ceremony. It is also available online at: www.freepress.net/multimedia/hos-final.rm
Over the next four weeks, the public will vote at www.freepress.net/hallofshame for the nominee who has done the least to serve the public interest. During a May 14 ceremony at the National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis, Free Press will induct the nominee who receives the most votes into the Big Media Hall of Shame.
"These nominees have dedicated their lives to making Big Media even bigger," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. "Which one of these men sacrificed all dignity, ethics and morality to come out on top on 2005? It's time for America to decide who belongs in the Big Media Hall of Shame."
The announcement ceremony and press conference, featuring Josh Silver and Timothy Karr of Free Press, will occur:
Monday, April 18
10:45 a.m. PST
Las Vegas Convention Center
Room N236
The ceremony is being held in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual trade show in Las Vegas. Moments after the broadcasters honor Clear Channel Chairman Lowry Mays with a "Distinguished Service Award," Free Press will officially nominate the radio executive for The Big Media Hall of Shame.
"The irony of the industry bestowing Lowry Mays' with its 'Distinguished Service Award' has not escaped the public interest community," said Josh Silver, the executive director of Free Press. "Clear Channel's predatory business practices have replaced local voices and independent music across the country with cookie-cutter programming piped in from corporate headquarters. Of course, for Mays, radio is never about providing quality news or great music – it's only about pushing products to his listeners."
Joining Mays in the inaugural class of nominees for The Big Media Hall of Shame are Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp.; former FCC Chairman Michael Powell; Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell; and Sinclair Broadcast Group Chairman and CEO David Smith.
A video profiling all the nominees will be shown during the announcement ceremony. It is also available online at: www.freepress.net/multimedia/hos-final.rm
Over the next four weeks, the public will vote at www.freepress.net/hallofshame for the nominee who has done the least to serve the public interest. During a May 14 ceremony at the National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis, Free Press will induct the nominee who receives the most votes into the Big Media Hall of Shame.
"These nominees have dedicated their lives to making Big Media even bigger," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. "Which one of these men sacrificed all dignity, ethics and morality to come out on top on 2005? It's time for America to decide who belongs in the Big Media Hall of Shame."
