Media Consolidation: Join the fight

I remember talking to Charles Welch, owner of WJUC-FM, several years back. Welch fulfilled his dream 10 years ago owning his own radio station. It didn't take long for the big boys came calling, wanting to buy him out. Radio signals go for pretty nice prices these days, but Welch refused to give in. Good for him.

Media consolidation has done more to hurt minority ownership and radio news than anything the FCC has done since. Our parent organization is part of a movement to examine media consolidation and its effects on the industry. I will you with Barbara Ciara, NABJ president, recent post on the organization's effort. It is important that we keep these airways free for the public, the not just a rich handful.

Barbara Ciara: Fellow NABJ members,

Here is what NABJ is doing that is not generating headlines:NABJ has been and still is very active regarding the issue of media consolidation. In early October, we joined with NAHJ and all of the UNITY partners supporting FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein's call for the creation of an independent minority broadcast ownership task force that examines policies to increase minority ownership. We also called on the FCC to refrain from issuing new broadcast ownership rules until the work of the task force is complete and minority ownership opportunities are addressed.

We have been lobbying Black Congressional Caucus members to make this issue a priority.This week we joined with Society of Environmental Journalists in challenging a 2007 Farm Bill now before the Senate. Buried within it is a new exemption to the Freedom of Information Act, and that same provision also makes it a crime for anyone to disclose or "use" anything from the National Animal Identification System. In our reading of the bill it's not at all clear that reporters or their employers can't be prosecuted for publishing or broadcasting such information--some of which is already publicly available through other means.

The Bill is scheduled for a floor debate and vote within days.NABJ was also at the forefront of making our voices heard on the Sheild Law issue.While we work to protect these freedoms and make noise on Capitol Hill, so far it's not generating any attention from the networks, cable news, or major publications.