Media Consolidation

I saw a picture of the Newseum in New York with the words "The Newseum Celebrates Freedom." But how much freedom will we continue to have when our news outlets continue to diminish in number?

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.a...QIwG&b=4773655
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Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Federal Communications Commission [[FCC) has voted time after time in favor of relaxing media ownership limits.


Thousands of Americans have spoken out at public hearings and written to te FCC in opposition to media consolidation. In 2003, when Michael Powell's FCC voted --without any public input-- to allow one company to own up to three television stations, the local newspaper, the cable system and up to eight radio stations in one media market, more than 3 million Americans spoke out and the courts eventually overturned the rules..."
http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7...PLAN082108.PDF
"The media has a key role to play in ensuring our democracy functions properly..

The FCC, under ...new leadership....began a series of public hearings on media ownership in 2006. ...embarrassed by the revelation that the [I'm guessing GW Bush] FCC destroyed two reports that showed that media consolidation led to decreased local news reporting, the commission scheduled official hearings...
the FCC ignored the public and Congress and in Dec. 2007 voted 3 to 2 to allow greater consolidation..."

"...it is the right of the viewing ...public, and not the right of the broadcasters, which is paramount."
Red Lion Co. Broadcasting v. FCC {395 U.S.367[1969]}

It's even weirder to have heard that at the Gannett-owned Newseum. Pot, meet keetle?

http://www.savethenews.org/

Our local media outlets are being stripped for parts. Aided by decades of bad policymaking, the large companies that control most of the broadcast outlets across the country are laying off local DJs, shuttering local newsrooms and inching ever closer toward creating monopolies in local marketplaces. The more media outlets consolidate, the more our diverse local media is being replaced by faceless, automated infotainment.