Singing for Media Reform

Posted May 21st, 2010 by Jenn Ettinger

The Federal Communications Commission heard from voices all over the Palo Alto area at its media ownership hearing today, but there may have been a few voices that rose above the rest.

The “Raging Grannies” – a grassroots peace organization whose members dress like “innocent little old ladies” and sing protest songs – were out in full force, reminding the FCC with some catchy tunes that the public still cares about media ownership and consolidation.

The Grannies sang “Oh My Darling FCC”:

Lots of people don’t have email and can’t use the internet

They are voters and they live here, something we must not forget

The FCC must do its duty and protect alternatives

varied voices, local sources, real people where we live.

And “We Don’t Like Cross-Ownership” (to the tune of “Saints Go Marching”):

When news just comes

from one big source

When news just comes

from one big source

Less LOCAL news will hurt our country

No we don’t LIKE cross-ownership

And the fan favorite “Corporations Must Not Rule,” with its “Battle Hymn of the Republic” tune:

For democracy we all need information we can trust

We speak for all the people, we say

You must think of us

The FCC must take a stand protect variety

Corporations must not rule!

Refrain

Glory glory first amendment

Glory glory first amendment

Corporations must not rule!

When a faceless corporation is our only source of news

And big brother at a distance can control what we can view

We’re in trouble and it threatens fairness and democracy

Corporations must not rule!

The FCC hosted the workshop to discuss the impact of innovation – mainly the explosive growth of the Internet – on traditional newspaper and broadcast outlets, and how this effects current media ownership rules.

Gail Sredanovic, a retired teacher and a member of the Raging Grannies, said she was concerned that the proposed Comcast merger with NBC-Universal would put too many media outlets into the hands of a company already famous for treating customers badly.

“We already have way too much concentration of news sources in the hands of a few,” Sredanovic said.  “It would be madness to make it worse. One-third of seniors don’t even have a computer, so putting more media outlets into the hands of a few, based on the growth of the Internet, really reduces their options for getting independent news.”

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