Media Consolidation responsible for death and injury
Eric Klinenberg, author of “Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America’s Media.” has been getting a lot of attention. Why? Because he’s put together an impressive body of empirical evidence that shows that Media Consolidation is harmful, sometimes quite literally. His book, Fighting for Air, chronicles his fact finding, and paints an alarming picture of what Media Consolidation really means.
The Democracy Now site has an interview with Eric Klinenberg, along with MP3s of the 911 tapes reporting the derailment of a train in Minot, North Dakota five years ago. That train released thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals into the air. When emergency personnel sought to use the Emergency Alert System to pre-empt radio and TV broadcasting in order to alert area residents to evacuate, it didn’t work. All six local stations were owned by Clear Channel Communication. When Emergency Management phoned the stations, all they got was piped music and an answering machine. No alerts went out on the radio. Canned music broadcast from out of state kept playing while the toxic cloud engulfed the town. The toxic fumes killed one person and hospitalized hundreds of other town residents. Here’s part of the transcript from the 911 tapes:
911 DISPATCH: 911. What is your emergency?
MINOT RESIDENT 6: Well, I’m wondering about this anhydrous.
911 DISPATCH: Sir, stay in your home. Treat it like smoke. Turn your furnace off. Put towels underneath the doors. Go in your bathroom. Turn the shower on, and cover your face with wet towels.
MINOT RESIDENT 6: OK.
911 DISPATCH: And stay there until further instructions by law enforcement.
MINOT RESIDENT 6: OK, because the PA system doesn’t work.
911 DISPATCH: I understand that. And also, we’ve been putting it out over the cable TV and the radio.
MINOT RESIDENT 6: What’s the radio station?
911 DISPATCH: All the radio stations, sir.
MINOT RESIDENT 6: I had it on. I haven’t heard it once.
This is just the most alarming example of the failure of Big Media to adequately cover local news, events and emergencies. There are many others.
If you haven’t done so yet, please let the FCC know you are against further Big Media Consolidation.
Technorati Tags: Big Media Mergers, Local Broadcasting, Eric Klinenberg, FCC, Emergency Broadcast System, Minot ND Train Wreck
