Press Release
Iowans to make their voices heard on the ‘Future of the Media’
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
IOWA CITY- Federal Communications Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps will headline a "Town Meeting on the Future of the Media" on Wednesday night at the University of Iowa. This forum will give local citizens a rare opportunity to testify before Washington decision-makers about how the media are serving their local communities.
Free and open to the public, the event will take place:
Town Meeting on the Future of Media
Wednesday, Oct. 5
7 p.m.
Pomerantz Center, Room C20
University of Iowa
Iowa City
The town meeting, presented by Free Press and the University of Iowa Lecture Committee, will include an open microphone session for the public to offer testimony on media issues to Commissioners Adelstein and Copps. All testimony will be recorded and submitted to the FCC and Iowa's elected officials.
"Decisions being made now in Washington will have a monumental impact on all Americans," said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, a national, nonpartisan media reform organization. "Big media companies and their allies at the FCC are trying to change the rules governing media ownership. Before letting the public airwaves be swallowed up by a handful of giant corporations, our leaders should listen to the concerns of average citizens. Tonight's town meeting is a chance for Iowans to make their voices heard."
The town meeting will feature panel discussions on how media concentration affects local news and information. Panel participants include T.K. Anderson, president, Davenport NAACP; Gil Cranberg, former editorial page editor, Des Moines Register; State Rep. Wayne Ford; Amy Johnson, Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce and former KGAN anchor; Minister Michael Muhammad, president, KBOL radio; Mike Owen, Iowa Policy Project; Rick Sellers, president and general manager, KMRY radio; and Mark Smith, president, Iowa Federation of Labor.
"We've gone from 50 companies to five firms controlling most of America's media," said former FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson, who now teaches at the University of Iowa Law School and will also appear at tonight's event. "Their focus is on stock prices instead of the public interest. That means cutting costs and staff and less local news for us. Two FCC commissioners are bringing Washington, D.C., to Iowa City tonight. If we don't take the time to talk to them now, none of us will be talking about much of anything that matters in the future."
The Iowa City meeting was organized by Free Press and the University of Iowa Lecture Committee in partnership with many local organizations, including Iowans for Better Local Television, FAIR!, Progressive Action for the Common Good, Iowa City Federation of Labor, SEIU Local 199, Johnson County Democracy for America, Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Iowa Civil Liberties Union, Linn County InterReligious Council, American Federation of Teachers Local 716, AFSCME Local 12, League of Rural Voters, Iowa City GLBT Pride Committee, Quad Cities Interfaith, Iowa City Public Access Television, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Johnson County League of Women Voters and ICAN.
"Consolidation of media outlets removes the investment in local community issues and voices," said Minister Larry McGuire, president of the Linn County InterReligious Council. "Media consolidation eliminates local accountability and availability. No community benefits from the message of just one voice."
For more information on the Town Meeting on the Future of Media, please visit: www.freepress.net/future/=iowacity.
Free and open to the public, the event will take place:
Town Meeting on the Future of Media
Wednesday, Oct. 5
7 p.m.
Pomerantz Center, Room C20
University of Iowa
Iowa City
The town meeting, presented by Free Press and the University of Iowa Lecture Committee, will include an open microphone session for the public to offer testimony on media issues to Commissioners Adelstein and Copps. All testimony will be recorded and submitted to the FCC and Iowa's elected officials.
"Decisions being made now in Washington will have a monumental impact on all Americans," said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, a national, nonpartisan media reform organization. "Big media companies and their allies at the FCC are trying to change the rules governing media ownership. Before letting the public airwaves be swallowed up by a handful of giant corporations, our leaders should listen to the concerns of average citizens. Tonight's town meeting is a chance for Iowans to make their voices heard."
The town meeting will feature panel discussions on how media concentration affects local news and information. Panel participants include T.K. Anderson, president, Davenport NAACP; Gil Cranberg, former editorial page editor, Des Moines Register; State Rep. Wayne Ford; Amy Johnson, Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce and former KGAN anchor; Minister Michael Muhammad, president, KBOL radio; Mike Owen, Iowa Policy Project; Rick Sellers, president and general manager, KMRY radio; and Mark Smith, president, Iowa Federation of Labor.
"We've gone from 50 companies to five firms controlling most of America's media," said former FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson, who now teaches at the University of Iowa Law School and will also appear at tonight's event. "Their focus is on stock prices instead of the public interest. That means cutting costs and staff and less local news for us. Two FCC commissioners are bringing Washington, D.C., to Iowa City tonight. If we don't take the time to talk to them now, none of us will be talking about much of anything that matters in the future."
The Iowa City meeting was organized by Free Press and the University of Iowa Lecture Committee in partnership with many local organizations, including Iowans for Better Local Television, FAIR!, Progressive Action for the Common Good, Iowa City Federation of Labor, SEIU Local 199, Johnson County Democracy for America, Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Iowa Civil Liberties Union, Linn County InterReligious Council, American Federation of Teachers Local 716, AFSCME Local 12, League of Rural Voters, Iowa City GLBT Pride Committee, Quad Cities Interfaith, Iowa City Public Access Television, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Johnson County League of Women Voters and ICAN.
"Consolidation of media outlets removes the investment in local community issues and voices," said Minister Larry McGuire, president of the Linn County InterReligious Council. "Media consolidation eliminates local accountability and availability. No community benefits from the message of just one voice."
For more information on the Town Meeting on the Future of Media, please visit: www.freepress.net/future/=iowacity.
