Media Consolidation is Threatening Our Democracy
by Caroline Vernon and
Amanda Ballantyne – freepress.net
Do you want the media to do a better job of covering issues you care about? Do you want more quality journalism? Are you wondering whether a few giant media conglomerates will provide the diverse and independent viewpoints you need?
Right
now, 5 major corporations own and control the airwaves that reach most
of our citizens and they continue to lobby the FCC in an effort to
tighten their stranglehold on our media. Those corporations are General
Electric (NBC), Time Warner (CNN), Disney (ABC), Viacom (CBS), and The
News Corporation (Fox).
If this
happens, one company could control all of our local radio, television,
and print media. This does not reflect a democracy where a variety of
diverse viewpoints must be heard!
Now is
your chance to tell Federal Communications Commissioners Jonathan
Adelstein and Michael Copps how well your media are serving – or not serving – your community. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more and to make your voices heard!
Future of Media Town Hall Meeting,
Iowa City, Iowa
When: 7PM Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Where: University of Iowa
The New Pomerantz Center, Room C20
The building is located at the corner of Market Street
and the T. Anne Cleary Walkway, across from
John Pappajohn Business Building
Map, parking, and accessibility information: Click here:
For those residing in the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids, transportation will be provided to and from this event.
Please come to our related workshops in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities:
Related Workshops:
Learn how media policy affects ownership and content control, and limits the information that we need to participate effectively in a democracy
Workshops will also give you the chance to consider your own hopes for a media system that would meet your community's needs as well as prepare a two minute testimony to present to the Commissioners at the Forum.
All Workshops are free and open to the public.
Iowa City:
Workshop sponsored by: FAIR!
2PM Sunday, October 2, 2005
Iowa City Public Library, Room A
For more information, contact:
Maureen Donnelly: 319-354-4169 or
Amanda Ballantyne: 413-585-1533 x 23
Workshop sponsored by: Iowa City Federation of Labor
6PM Tuesday October 4
AFSCME Office in Southdale Plaza
1700 South 1st Avenue, Suite 19
Right above the DMV
For more information, contact:
Maureen Donnelly: 319-354-4169 or
Amanda Ballantyne: 413-585-1533 x 23
Quad Cities:
Workshop sponsored by: Progressive Action for the Common Good
10:30AM Saturday, October 1, 2005
The LULAC Club, 4224 Ricker Hill Road
Davenport, Iowa
For more information, contact:
Caroline Vernon: 563-323-7852 or
Amanda Ballantyne: 413-585-1533 x 23
Cedar Rapids:
Workshop sponsored by: Community of Christ
7PM Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Community of Christ Church
1500 Blairs Ferry Rd, Hiawatha, IA
For more information, contact:
Larry McGuire: 319-393-5163 x 102 or
Amanda Ballantyne: 413-585-1533 x 23
For more information about this event, or to find out how your
organization can get involved, please contact Amanda Ballantyne
(amanda@freepress.net) or Maureen Donnelly
(Maureen.donnelly@mchsi.com).
Media is the issue.
Your voice is worth fighting for – Raise it now – or lose it!
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