The STORY Big Media is NOT reporting (with only a few exceptions)
There are publications, websites and other Citizen Journalist sites reporting this story, but with only a couple exceptions (the New York Times and the New York Daily News among them) the Big Media outlets are not touching this one. Why? It’s because they’re “in play” and there’s a lot of dough, and a lot of mergers and takeovers and cross deals that are trying to consolidate Big Media even further– and that IS the story. Here’s a list of links to good information about what’s going on.
So how about that New Congress?
Reader’s Digest Agrees to Be Sold in $1.6 Billion Deal
Clear Channel Accepts $18.7 Billion Takeover Bid
New York newspaper takes anti-cross-ownership stand
FCC Announces Public Hearing on Media Ownership In Nashville, Tennessee
Public Hearing with FCC Commissioner In NYC
And my favorites:
Broadcasters Resort to Odd Accounting Trick to Claim Poverty
Tiers of Rage
Media Ownership takes on a Nightmarish Hue
These last three articles are important to understanding why we must force the FCC to take its responsibility to protect the Public Interest in Media more seriously, and guarantee all citizens a voice. All three articles explain just how profitable Media is, despite all the whining about declining circulation and ad revenue, and why Wall Street is doing the dance to try to gain control. Interestingly, two of the articles are about the judicial play that Morgan Stanley is trying to make to gain more control on the Board of the New York Times, and why the Times is fighting it tooth and nail. The Common Dreams article, written by a former Wall Street Insider, gives us even more insight into that fight by elucidating just how dirty Morgan Stanley plays, and why we should be very leery of allowing them any further interest in any media company, if it can be helped.
Interesting times ahead. Please, if you’re near NYC or Nashville to attend the FCC meetings on Media Mergers, do so. Also write to your congresspeople and let them know we need a free voice, one not gagged by corporate interests.
Technorati Tags: Media Mergers, FCC, New York Times, New York Daily News, Wall Street, Clear Channel, Morgan Stanley
