Proposed plank in Dem platform focuses on media concentration

[Karmadillo]

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2004072023030002691827&dt=20040720230300&w=RTR&coview=

WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - When the Democratic Party takes up its platform next week at the presidential nominating convention in Boston, one of the planks it will consider is media concentration.

While the one-sentence statement is buried deep in the 41-page document, its supporters contend that it is a recognition by the party that big media is becoming a threat to democracy.

"Because our democracy thrives on public access to diverse sources of information from multiple sources, we support measures to ensure diversity, competition and localism in media ownership," the proposed platform plank states.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., who helped get the plank in the platform proposal said the 27-word statement points out a big difference between the two parties.

"We were able to get this in as a very direct and simple statement of the need for diversity," he said in an interview. "We're saying essentially that this is the only way our democracy survives. It's a statement of policy by our party that is opposite of what the (chairman Michael) Powell FCC and Republicans have said going back to (President) Reagan."

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[ContraBass Black]

1. We Must Tread Lightly Here

Lest we be "caught red-handed" trying to cement our "stranglehold" on a media infected with "left wing liberal bias."

[Tweed]

2. Universal buying NBC? Viacom attempting to buy Disney?

I think this area is RIPE for reform. You would be surprised how many people agree too. So many people do not trust what they see on the TV because of the tiny portion of companies that own media outlets. I think this topic is overdue even.

[no name no slogan]

3. The 1996 Telecom Act needs to be undone

which, BTW, was Clinton's baby, and which has led to unprecedented levels of media consolidation in this country.

This is a case of "We Broke It, We Bought It." It was OUR party who foisted this crappy piece of legislation on America-- and we need to be the ones to repeal it, and impose strict regulations on big media, so that we actually have something resembling a vibrant exchange of ideas in this country.