The FCC’s move to deregulate media outlets may be a costly mistake to journalism and the public it serves. The current trend of media consolidation is a double edged sword. It is necessary from a business stand point, but may cause media outlets to become too moderate. Will the big news conglomerates pull back the reins on controversial topics? Corporations are concerned with the bottom line.
“When Big Media gets too big, local, independent and minority owners are pushed out of the market and off the airwaves.” (http://www.freepress.net/media_issues/consolidation) The local papers were recently merged only to be purchased by an out of state online news outlet. Now there is only one source of local print news, instead of three varying opinions of the news. In my community if you want local news channels on satellite television you have to pay extra per month. The programming package is for the northeast. Local news to the satellite company is New York City or Boston.
At the national level this could be very devastating. Just look back at the injustice of the 1950’s and 1960’s. If only a few news outlets where around it might have taken even longer to reach the American public. Look at China, few state controlled news agencies are in operation and the government can and does control information. All news in China is controlled by one power. Is there much of a difference if power rests in only three or four media conglomerates?
In the past, governmental deregulation has not benefitted the general public. Deregulation only helps big businesses become huge monopolies. Just look at the cable, banking, and power industries for the disasters that lay ahead for the media.
For more information on Media deregulation and other deregulation mention in the article are listed below.
Media Ownership Matters
http://www.freepress.net/media_issues/consolidation
Media Ownership and Deregulation
http://www.journalism.org/node/1751
Deregulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deregulation
1996 cable deregulation a failure for consumers
http://broadcastengineering.com/news/broadcasting_cable_deregulation_failure/
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