Free Press Responds to Wall Street Journal

Posted May 21st, 2008 by Megan Tady

It’s getting hot in here. Big Media is feeling the heat as the Senate rejects media consolidation and the House prepares to do the same. Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal tried to defend consolidation in a recent editorial. Free Press’ Josh Silver responded in a letter to the editor printed on May 21.

More Media Than Ever, but Are There Enough Voices?
May 21, 2008; Page A18

Your May 13 editorial rejects widespread concern that further media consolidation will lead to monopolies that restrict the public’s access to information. But this issue isn’t just about access to information, it’s about defending the public interest principles of competition and diversity in local news.

It’s true that people are increasingly turning to the Internet and other outlets for news, but a vast majority of Americans still get their local news from local newspapers and TV stations.

The examples you list — cable, Internet news sites and YouTube — rarely report on local news. If we let media companies merge under the theory that the Internet will save us, we’re relying on a false premise. And we’re doing an injustice to civic engagement and democracy. Numerous studies show that quality local journalism leads to more informed voters. The Federal Communications Commission’s long-standing ban on “newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership” is vital because it ensures a minimal level of viewpoint diversity, something the Supreme Court has recognized is critical to the health of our democracy.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have implored Congress and the FCC to maintain the ban on cross-ownership. In fact, a mere 1% of public comments received by the FCC support further consolidation.

Why such overwhelming public opposition to more media consolidation? Because people want more critical journalism and local news. If President Bush vetoes Mr. Dorgan’s bill, it would be a slap in the face to both.

Josh Silver
Executive Director
Free Press
Florence, Mass.

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