"Improve your news": Barack Obama on Media Consolidation

[NYC_SKP]

As we rail against the media and their growing influence on this election and on the quality and flow of information, let's not lose sight of how badly we need to reverse decades of consolidation and concentration of corporate and media power.

Senator Obama has expressed his opinions on this matter. He also advocates Net Neutrality. Let's get this man elected.
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Snip from the candidate's website:

Encourage Diversity in Media Ownership:

Barack Obama believes that the nation’s rules ensuring diversity of media ownership are critical to the public interest.

Unfortunately, over the past several years, the Federal Communications Commission has promoted the concept of consolidation over diversity.

Barack Obama believes that providing opportunities for minority-owned businesses to own radio and television stations is fundamental to creating the diverse media environment that federal law requires and the country deserves and demands.

As president, he will encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum.

An Obama presidency will promote greater coverage of local issues and better responsiveness by broadcasters to the communities they serve.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/
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Snip from a June 15, 2008 interview with "Broadcasting & Cable":

Q: You signaled that you would put the teeth back into antitrust enforcement. What would that mean for media companies that want to merge?

A: There is a clear need in this country for the reinvigoration of antitrust enforcement. Our competition agencies, the Department of Justice and the FTC , need to step up review of merger activity and take effective action to stop or restructure those mergers that are likely to harm consumer welfare, while quickly clearing those that do not. Specifically, for media mergers, the Department of Justice and the FTC should closely scrutinize all mergers for their implications for competition and consumer choice. The FCC should more seriously evaluate the impact of proposed mergers on the ability of divergent communities to participate in the national media environment.

Q: You have said network neutrality would be a priority in your administration. Why and how would you go about ensuring a neutral Internet while still allowing networks to manage traffic?

A: The Internet is a powerful, democratizing tool. There are very low entry barriers for the delivery of services over the Internet, and public debate is unfettered by either the network owner or any single dominant voice. The neutral nature of the Internet makes that possible, and it is something we should defend. Up to now, legislation has focused on protecting against the discrimination against or in favor of any single voice or legal service. All have made allowances for objective, nondiscriminatory network-management practices.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6570325.html
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Snip from a joint statement by Senators Kerry and Obama on November 8, 2007:

The bedrock of America's greatest advances - the foundation of what we know today are defining values - was formed not by cheering on things as they were, but by taking them on and demanding change.

The thoughtful exchange of diverse viewpoints not only helps guarantee our freedom as individuals, it ensures those in power can be held accountable for all that they do.

But to engage in the debates that have always made America stronger, it takes a stage and a platform for discussion - and never before have these platforms been more endangered.

In recent years, we have witnessed unprecedented consolidation in our traditional media outlets. Large mergers and corporate deals have reduced the number of voices and viewpoints in the media marketplace.

At the same time, massive technological change and an explosion of Internet access have opened new avenues for information and new methods of discourse. One thing we can be sure of: Change is upon us.

As we look toward the future, we must ensure that all voices in our diverse nation have the opportunity to be heard. One important way to do this is to expand the ownership stake of women-owned, minority-owned and small businesses in our media outlets.

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/08/media_consolidation_silences_d.php
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :kick:

[depakid]

1. Divestment is only one step

unless and until the FCC gets serious about re-regulation (e.g., putting back the panoply of public interest requirements that were place for 50 years before the Reagan era) AND enforcement through licensing-there'll be no appreciable change in content or media responsibility.

At this point, the American media is a wholesale disgrace, perpetuating a culture of propaganda, outright lies and personal attacks that one almost never see in any other country.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Yes, one HUGE step.....and Obama is aware of this.

Cheer up!

:patriot:

[Marie26]

2. How about the Fairness Doctrine?

It's like no one wants to talk about that.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Kerry, Durban, Pelosi, et al, want to bring it back.

Obama has not come out against it specifically, but is less interested in restoring it in it's original form than others.

Cheer up!

:hi:

[NattPang]

6. It has to be brought back aboard,

but as a different animal,
because we no longer the same
media nation that we were in
1987 when Reagan gutted it.

We need 21st century fairness,
and that is more difficult to
negotiate, but it can and will be done.

Obama knows exactly what the media
is about, and what they have done.
He witnessed the Clinton impeachment,
the 2000 election and the 2004 campaign.
Heck, he sees how the media affects his
voice and his campaign.

He has to get in there first though.
No need to give up your hand before the
cards are dealt.

[madura]

3. I wonder if campbell brown and those other hacks on CNN

will spend any time on This one, shredding Obama apart for days on end on media consolidaiton - hahahah. sure thang they will

:rofl:

but it may explain why i seem to notice that they are Especially up obama's ass on Everything lately, more so than ever. specially that idiot Dobbs, he's on Outrage Version 122333.01 and his head still hasn't popped.

[NattPang]

7. Dobbs declared himself "through" with Obama about 2 months ago.

I haven't watched him since.

[madura]

9. he's not through with him, he salivates when mentioning Obama's name.

like an old dog with a new bone. and seems to fit in Obama in most every show from some kind of angle.
pathetic fart.

[mucifer]

8. This may be the reason the media refuses to report about mccain. They fear Obama will stop from

making so many billions of dollars. It's all about greed.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Yes, and the primaries were handled in a manner consistent with their...

....interest in retaining power, IMO.

Think ABC Debates...

They did their damnedest to take down Obama, and failed.

:kick: