Press Release
Free Press: Consumer Voice Missing from FCC Media Ownership Panel
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Today, the Federal Communications Commission held a workshop on financial and economic issues affecting the media industry for the agency’s 2010 quadrennial review proceeding on media ownership. While the agency has encouraged public participation, today's panel did not include any representatives from consumer or labor groups.
Corie Wright, Free Press policy counsel, made the following statement:
"The vast majority of today’s panelists overlooked the critical point that media consolidation is the problem -- not the answer -- to the crisis in journalism and throughout the media industry.
"Industry representatives have been eager to point to further consolidation as the solution to the journalism crisis. But many of these companies have bought up too many properties and are slashing jobs while spending their money on debt collectors rather than newsgathering.
"We hope the FCC will be more inclusive of consumer and public interest advocates in all aspects of the media ownership proceeding -- especially in financial discussions where industry execs have only their own interest to protect."
Corie Wright, Free Press policy counsel, made the following statement:
"The vast majority of today’s panelists overlooked the critical point that media consolidation is the problem -- not the answer -- to the crisis in journalism and throughout the media industry.
"Industry representatives have been eager to point to further consolidation as the solution to the journalism crisis. But many of these companies have bought up too many properties and are slashing jobs while spending their money on debt collectors rather than newsgathering.
"We hope the FCC will be more inclusive of consumer and public interest advocates in all aspects of the media ownership proceeding -- especially in financial discussions where industry execs have only their own interest to protect."
