Corporate media will bring '1984'

Posted Monday, December 3, 2007 6:51 am

Monday, December 03

With the help of the FCC chairman, the current administration continues its systematic evisceration of the First Amendment. Permitting a few huge corporate entities to gobble up independent news outlets will inevitably result in a dangerous mixture of pap and propaganda being fed to us as news.

Have you noticed the lack of serious and sustained investigative journalism, hard questions, and criticisms of political figures and parties in power? Don't you wonder why so many important stories seem to surface briefly and then just disappear? Where are Woodward and Bernstein now that we really need them?

Media consolidation is a very real danger for the dwindling democracy in the U.S. Control of the media by a few corporations has already severely damaged our freedom. The FCC should be rolling back consolidation, requiring divestiture, not handing over the keys to the newsroom.

Congress must prevent any further consolidation of broadcast media and prevent cross-ownership of broadcast and print media. Freedom of our airwaves and press is our right and responsibility. Stop further media consolidation by passing S. 2332, The Media Ownership Act Of 2007.

Time is short  the deadline is Dec. 11. Please, people, stand up for a basic and crucial freedom. If we allow special interests to control the news, we will be well on our way to a bleak future  Orwell's "1984."

VICTORIA WRIGHT

Housatonic