Media Ownership Matters
Posted May 21st, 2010 by Tracy Rosenberg
Who owns the media you rely on every day for news and information? Is it someone from your community? Do the media speak for you or share your concerns? And why does that matter?
On Friday, May 21, the FCC will host a workshop on media ownership in Stanford, Calif. Technology gurus, academics and industry representatives will debate the importance of media ownership rules in the digital world. The theme of Friday’s workshop is innovation. So an obvious question to be asked is: “Now that we have the Internet, do we still need media ownership rules?”
The answer is a resounding yes.
Despite explosive growth in online news and information, study after study shows that traditional media such as newspapers and television stations remain the most prolific sources of original reporting, as well as the most popular sources of local news and information. Though the Internet has created new ways to access content, it has not replaced the core newsgathering function of newspapers and broadcast stations. Most online news is produced by traditional media outlets, much of it repackaged stories that already appeared in the local paper or newscast. And while exciting ventures in online news production have been launched in recent years, these online outlets tend to be small operations that lack the funding and capacity to match the quantity and scope of news produced by traditional media.
For those lucky enough to have broadband access, the Internet dramatically increases access to information. But just as the Internet has not replaced the journalistic function of legacy media, it has also failed to replicate the reach of newspapers and broadcast stations. Access to television and radio is practically universal, whereas access to high-speed Internet is far more limited – particularly for the most underserved segments of the population.
The poor, the elderly, rural communities, and people of color overwhelmingly rely on traditional media sources for their information. In many cases, they cannot afford broadband Internet access, which often isn’t even available in their neighborhoods. The FCC’s media ownership rules are designed to ensure a diversity of voices and viewpoints and to protect local communities, particularly underserved communities, from media monopolies.
The broadcast media infrastructure belongs to the people. Public assets need to be protected as best we can for the public good. That’s the FCC’s job.
Because the reality is some of us can’t afford to move to a better news neighborhood just yet.
Tracy Rosenberg is the executive director of Media Alliance, a leader in building coalitions for press freedom and media access, accountability and alternatives.
