Media Consolidation Blog Posts
Clear Channel Eats My Childhood Commercial Station
I’m not normally one to tune into commercial radio, but I still find this morning’s news sad: The Boston Phoenix is selling radio station WFNX to (yeah, you guessed it) Clear Channel.
Another Merger Signals Black Radio's Decline
The merger of two legendary R&B radio stations in New York City is a major blow to diversity on the dial, and signals — yet again — that black radio is on the decline.
On the Verge of a Local Radio Renaissance
One of the most common complaints about radio is that no matter where you go on the dial, it all sounds the same. You can take a small step today to change that — dramatically.
All Voters Deserve Access to the Information Hiding in Political Files
Last Friday, the Federal Communications Commission voted to put television broadcasters’ public and political files online to make them easier to access. This is a major victory.
But while all TV broadcasters will have to migrate the majority of their public records online this year, only stations in the top 50 media markets that are also affiliated with major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC) are required to digitize their political files this election season. All other TV stations can delay posting until 2014.
These exemptions mean that not a single Spanish-language station will be required to put its political file online this election year.
How Will Murdoch's U.K. Implosion Be Felt in the U.S.?
A scathing report in Britain that Rupert Murdoch and other News Corp. executives engaged in an extensive cover-up of “rampant law breaking” may have ramifications for the media mogul in the United States.
How far-reaching those consequences are depends on U.S. politicians’
willingness to face down one of the most powerful media figures of our
generation.
Political Files? Meet the Internet
On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that television stations must enter the 21st century and put the information in their public and political files online. Now anyone with an Internet connection will be able to access information about who is spending all that money on political advertising. The files will also allow us to see how stations are serving — or failing to serve — community needs.
Who Owns What
Did you know that Viacom owns 160 cable channels that reach more than 600 million people worldwide?
Or that the Hearst Corporation owns 31 television stations and 20 U.S. magazines?
Television Stations Don't Like Television Cameras
What happens when a group of broadcast journalism students set out to inspect the public files at their local television stations?
Three out of four stations refuse to let their cameras in.
“Cleveland television stations,” one student said, “don’t like television cameras.”
Public Interest Groups to FCC: Don’t Gamble with the Public Interest
Less than a week before the Federal Communications Commission is set to vote on a proposal that would transform public access to information about political ad spending, it seems the agency may be on the verge of caving to industry pressure. Two out of three FCC commissioners have expressed openness to a broadcast industry counter proposal to segregate information about individual political ads, keeping that information offline and locked in dusty file cabinets.
Let the Sun Shine In
Earlier this month, we issued a challenge to our members. We asked them to take a day off from work, visit their local television stations and … rifle through their filing cabinets.
It’s not the most glamorous gig, but over 100 people all over the country came forward to volunteer. The public files our television stations are required to maintain can give us insights into the inner workings of the political ad machine. They can also help us understand how each media outlet serves — or fails to serve — its community.
Change the Channels
Check out the interactive map to see consolidating newsrooms near you.
Rules for Commenting
Want to comment on something you read here at SaveTheNews.org? Responses to our blog posts are always welcome, but please be sure to observe our rules for commenting.
To submit a guest post, please contact info@freepress.net.