From the Desk of Betsy Combier, Editor:

E-Accountability and Big Media:

New sources of information, from small presses, independent film makers, internet news magazines and web sites will undo the long history of power and influence that established newspapers have had over policymakers and voters in America. Recent stories about false circulation figures, bogus interviews and facts as well as misleading and biased editorial decisions of prominent news organizations have left a public that is, if nothing else, sceptical about what is printed or quoted.

We have heard several of the publishers and reporters of this city's newspapers tell us that the stories we post on this website will never appear in their publications. Too risky, they say, considering the fact that there are property taxes to pay and city officials to answer to. It is not only convenient to 'belong' to the establishment, but often the only way to maintain a business. We understand this, and we accept that this is what has been the chosen route of publishers and editors for many years throughout the United States. But the decline in readership of established media is telling all of us something: that the power of these Big Media organizations are fading, just as network television has seen its' audience slip away to Cable Programming over the past three decades. Advertisers are also diversifying their media outlets, because one big bang on the networks - Super Bowl, "Friends" sitcoms and "Sex in the City" and the like excepted dont come every day, and these advertising opportunities are not cheap, therefore cannot involve small companies.

The problem is, of course, for new, emerging publishers and internet editors to stay prominent in the avalanche of information that is now crowding the globe. There is truly too much information, if you look at the emails from listservs, websites, blogs, and all the other new lines of communication that keep growing minute to minute. Let's leave this for another day, and focus here on reports from new media on Big Media's demise:

LINK

Dear Media Reformer,

With the GOP convention wrapping up today and Congress returning to Washington next week, media reform advocates are gearing up for a busy season.

Media coverage of the election is a disaster. Corporate media are avoiding substantial analysis and debate in favor of sensationalistic sound-bite journalism, gossip and horserace-style speculation. Celebrity journalists mute the tough questions and amplify partisan spin, and rarely point out the inaccurate and misleading statements made by candidates and their proxies. As outgoing head of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Juan Gonzales quipped: "If (a government official) said the world was flat, today's corporate media would dutifully report, 'Breaking News: There Appear to be Differing Views on The World's Shape.'"

The facts are damning. Networks will carry a mere three hours of convention coverage this week. During the 2000 election, we heard directly from presidential candidates an average of only 9 seconds per night on the news. Four years later, as election reporting declines, networks are raking in a record $1.5 billion in political ad revenue  hardly an incentive to expand their coverage. Campaign advertisements outnumber campaign news stories four to one.

Many conservative organizations and Republican members of Congress have expressed strong support for media reform. Nonetheless, the GOP platform fails to include any support for limits on media consolidation. Once again, Big Media lobbyists are having their way with public policy through close ties with elected officials.

Despite these dark days, media reform has more momentum than at any point in our nation's history. In Washington and across the country, activists are redoubling efforts to fight back:

1) Communities nationwide are fighting monopoly cable providers (like Comcast and Time Warner) to ensure that cable and broadband services serve the community and not just the bottom line, with increased public access and more non-commercial channels.
2) Advocates are pressing Congress to force cable monopolies to carry new, independent networks and to make access to cable more affordable through measures like 'a la carte' programming that let viewers choose which channels they pay for.
3) With last year's disastrous loosening of media ownership rules rejected by the courts, activists are pushing for more public involvement in the FCC's creation of new rules.
4) Legislation to license thousands of new low power FM radio stations is working its way through Congress.
5) A growing coalition is demanding increased access to the public airwaves for low-cost, high-speed, wireless broadband that would turn Internet access into a public right instead of a luxury.

This is just a glimpse of what's going on in the fight for media reform. Americans understand that our democracy will not survive without tougher journalism, more diverse and independent voices, and a stronger noncommercial media sector. It is up to you to keep the momentum going. The Free Press website (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=970028&url_num=2&url=http://www.freepress.net) is now even easier to use, containing resources and tools to help you get more involved, raise awareness, and hold our elected officials and the media accountable.

The time is now  to fight organized media corporations with organized people  and create a media system that puts the public interest before profits.

Onward,
Josh Silver
Free Press

P.S. The city of Philadelphia is looking to launch a groundbreaking municipal wireless program that would revolutionize Internet access there. The story can be found on our newswire.

P.P.S. Our friends at Common Cause are working on a creative get out the vote campaign that needs ground troops.