Whack-a-Murdoch F.A.Q.

Rupert Murdoch's takeover of the Wall Street Journal and its parent company Dow Jones, along with his relentless march to dominate all media, threatens the quality of journalism and the diversity of voices in our media. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

What Does Murdoch Have To Do With Media Policy?

Media policies are supposed to benefit the public by encouraging competition, localism and diversity in our media markets. But current policies allow too many media outlets to be controlled by too few companies. Without favorable policies in Washington, Murdoch couldn't have built his media empire. And Murdoch is trying to make sure that the FCC doesn't put the brakes on his drive to swallow up more media in the United States. Click here to find out more about media ownership rules and how the FCC might change them.

How Did Big Media Get So Big?

In recent years, six major media conglomerates, including Murdoch's News Corp., have flooded Washington with money and lobbyists, pushing the public out of the decision-making process. The result has been an unprecedented relaxation of the rules governing media ownership, allowing the biggest media companies to extend their reach and increase their profits at the public's expense.

What Does Murdoch's Growing Media Empire Mean for Me?

When one company has too much power over what we hear and see every day, it's bad for all of us. As our media consolidates, we get less of the news and information we need to be informed and to play our part as citizens. Big Media means fewer voices and points of view and an impoverished public debate. It means a rich media but a poor democracy.

How Does Media Consolidation Affect Journalism?

Budgets have been slashed and in-depth investigative journalism is vanishing. The conglomerates have closed down most of their foreign bureaus and downsized local newsrooms. The Newspaper Guild-CWA reports that 44,000 news industry employees lost their jobs from 2001 to mid-2006 — at least 34,000 of them at newspapers alone. Find out more here.

How Does Media Consolidation Affect Communities of Color?

Racial and ethnic minorities own just 3 percent of all TV stations and less than 8 percent of radio stations. Allowing further media consolidation will hasten the disappearance of the few minority-controlled stations that remain. The biggest losers would be people of color — the very groups that the FCC has been specifically tasked by Congress to assist. Find out more here.