And finally in media news, the Federal Communications Commission is facing new allegations of censorship following the disclosure the agency buried another critical study of media consolidation. Last week, a former FCC lawyer revealed top officials ordered staff to destroy all copies of a draft study that warned against concentration of media ownership. That report found local ownership adds almost five minutes of total news to broadcasts and more than three minutes of “on-location” news. This week, the newly-discovered report argued the 1996 Telecommunications Act led to a drastic decline in the number of radio station owners — even as the number of radio stations increased. The study was never released. Both former FCC Chair Michael Powell and current Chair Kevin Martin deny ever seeing the report. In a letter sent to Martin this week, the StopBigMedia.com Coalition says the FCC should allow an independent investigation.
For Consecutive Week, Disclosed Study Indicates FCC Censorship
HeadlineSep 19, 2006