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Will the FCC Give Rupert Murdoch the Powerful Gift of Media Consolidation?
By Mike Ludwig, Truthout
26 November 2012
Just in time for the holidays, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering changes to media cross-ownership rules that watchdogs say could good give Rupert Murdoch's massive conglomerate News Corporation the go-ahead to acquire more big media outlets.
The proposal could also keep women and minorities out of the media market, according to civil rights groups.
Reports suggest Murdoch has recovered from the British phone hacking scandal and is ready to jump back into the media consolidation game. Both the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times are on the list of potential targets.
These acquisitions would be illegal unless the FCC changes its rules, according to the media watchdog group Free Press.
The details are not yet public, but according to reports, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski circulated a proposal last week among his fellow commissioners that would end a longstanding ban on owning the major daily newspaper and radio outlets in the same market, and would allow one company to jointly own a daily newspaper and TV stations in the nation's top 20 markets.
Restrictions on media "cross ownership" were put in place to prevent media owners like Murdoch from monopolizing the news and information available in a single area, especially major media markets. The FCC could vote on the proposal as early as December.
"Chairman Genachowski's attempt to overhaul longstanding media ownership limits is little more than a gift-wrapped giveaway to Rupert Murdoch," said Free Press President Craig Aaron.
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Will the FCC Give Rupert Murdoch the Powerful Gift of Media Consolidation?
By Mike Ludwig, Truthout
26 November 2012
Just in time for the holidays, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering changes to media cross-ownership rules that watchdogs say could good give Rupert Murdoch's massive conglomerate News Corporation the go-ahead to acquire more big media outlets.
The proposal could also keep women and minorities out of the media market, according to civil rights groups.
Reports suggest Murdoch has recovered from the British phone hacking scandal and is ready to jump back into the media consolidation game. Both the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times are on the list of potential targets.
These acquisitions would be illegal unless the FCC changes its rules, according to the media watchdog group Free Press.
The details are not yet public, but according to reports, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski circulated a proposal last week among his fellow commissioners that would end a longstanding ban on owning the major daily newspaper and radio outlets in the same market, and would allow one company to jointly own a daily newspaper and TV stations in the nation's top 20 markets.
Restrictions on media "cross ownership" were put in place to prevent media owners like Murdoch from monopolizing the news and information available in a single area, especially major media markets. The FCC could vote on the proposal as early as December.
"Chairman Genachowski's attempt to overhaul longstanding media ownership limits is little more than a gift-wrapped giveaway to Rupert Murdoch," said Free Press President Craig Aaron.
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