Archive for Tag “media consolidation”

Obama vs. media consolidation vs. Obama

Friday, May 22, 2009 by Don Watkins

Barack Obama makes a powerful case against those who complain that media consolidation threatens to limit the range of opinions and ideas available to consumers and to dumb down public discourse.

And whether as a person drawn to public service, or simply someone who insists on being an active citizen, you will be exposed to more opinions and ideas broadcast through more means of communication than ever existed before. You’ll hear talking heads scream on cable, and you’ll read blogs that claim definitive knowledge, and you will watch politicians pretend they know what they’re talking about. Occasionally, you may have the great fortune of actually seeing important issues debated by people who do know what they’re talking about–by well-intentioned people with brilliant minds and mastery of the facts.

He should tell that to Barack Obama.

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Consolidating the threats to freedom (Part I)

Thursday, March 5, 2009 by Don Watkins

The Senate passed a measure last week that would prevent the Federal Communications Commission from resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine.

I will be happy to see that threat to freedom of speech quashed, but I think there is an even more nefarious threat to free speech coming down the road–one that, to date, has gained far less attention.

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