Hi there,

The media can be the greatest force for peace on Earth. Instead, all too often, it’s wielded as a weapon of war. That's why we have to take the media back. Thanks to a group of generous donors, all donations made today will be DOUBLED, which means your $15 gift is worth $30. With your contribution, we can continue to go to where the silence is, to bring you the voices of the silenced majority – those calling for peace in a time of war, demanding action on the climate catastrophe and advocating for racial and economic justice. Every dollar makes a difference. Thank you so much!

Democracy Now!
Amy Goodman

Non-commercial news needs your support.

We rely on contributions from you, our viewers and listeners to do our work. If you visit us daily or weekly or even just once a month, now is a great time to make your monthly contribution.

Please do your part today.

Donate
Independent Global News

Did Viacom-Sponsored Trips Affect FCC Media Bureau Chief Kenneth Ferree’s Support of Media Consolidation? He Says No.

StoryJune 03, 2003
Watch Full ShowNext Story
Listen
Media Options
Listen
Related

The rule changes are seen as a major victory for media giants, including CBS parent Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. and Tribune Co.

The FCC voted to relax rules governing media consolidation yesterday by a 3 to 2 vote along party lines.

The Republicans commissioners, led by chair Michael Powell, claimed the rules were out of date with the rise of cable, satellite TV and Internet.

The actions are seen as a major victory for media giants, including CBS parent Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. and Tribune Co.

The two dissident commissioners, Jonanthan Adelstein and Michael Copps, said the lifting of the rules will stifle free speech. They said as local media operations are absorbed by large corporations, the news will become even more homogenized and unpopular viewpoints, including those of people of color, will be forced off the airwaves.

  • Michael Copps, FCC Commissioner
  • W. Kenneth Ferree, FCC Media Bureau Chief
  • Medea Benjamin, Co-Founder and Founding Director of Global Exchange
  • Hannah Sassaman, Prometheus Radio Project

Links:

Prometheus Radio Project

Global Exchange

Well Connected–The Center for Public Integrity

Related Story

StoryJul 01, 2024Phone Hacking, Stolen Info: New Washington Post Publisher’s Ties to Murdoch Papers Raise Alarm
The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us.
Daily News Digest
Our Daily Digest brings Democracy Now! to your inbox each morning.

Non-commercial news needs your support

We rely on contributions from our viewers and listeners to do our work.
Please do your part today.
Make a donation
Top