LIVE from the SCL: Final thoughts
One citizen we heard from in the last ten minutes is a public relations expert who used to work in the broadcast industry. She explained why there's so much reporting on crime on the local news: it's easy to do, it doesn't require too much work, almost any reporter can do it, and it's sensational.
She also noted that "prepackaged news" prepared by corporations and or interest groups is being substituted for actual journalism.
It was a packed hearing and I don't remember hearing a citizen who did not speak out against media consolidation and concentration. It is clear that what corporate executives want is not what the public wants.
The FCC is supposed to act in the public interest, and as such, each of its commissioners should have been at the Seattle Central Library for this hearing. The three Republicans on the commission are obviously uneasy with the prospect of listening to hours and hours of public testimony.
That's a shame, but it's not really a surprise.
Please visit Reclaim the Media for information on contacting the Federal Communications Commission with your own thoughts.
One last quote from a concerned citizen about today's media: "Important matters are trivialized and unimportant things are glorified."
She also noted that "prepackaged news" prepared by corporations and or interest groups is being substituted for actual journalism.
It was a packed hearing and I don't remember hearing a citizen who did not speak out against media consolidation and concentration. It is clear that what corporate executives want is not what the public wants.
The FCC is supposed to act in the public interest, and as such, each of its commissioners should have been at the Seattle Central Library for this hearing. The three Republicans on the commission are obviously uneasy with the prospect of listening to hours and hours of public testimony.
That's a shame, but it's not really a surprise.
Please visit Reclaim the Media for information on contacting the Federal Communications Commission with your own thoughts.
One last quote from a concerned citizen about today's media: "Important matters are trivialized and unimportant things are glorified."
