WhackyNation

At last, the errant Democrats in the U.S. Senate have done something right — and it’s something I wish the Republicans in both houses will also do, as well as the Democrats in the House. Last week the Senate literally slapped the hand of the Federal Communications Commission and voted to nullify the F.C.C.’s decision to permit news mega-corporations to own a newspaper and the TV station In the same market.

The F.C.C., which is controlled by its Republican members, has steadfastly taken actions that benefit the few mega-corporations in the U.S. — actions that will eventually have a devastating effect on small radio stations and weekly newspapers in small or rural towns across the nation.

What will be destroyed, if the F.C.C. persists in its moves to benefit the media mega-corporations, is the delivery of local news to the small towns. As the mega-corporations have taken over radio stations and weekly newspapers, they have substituted national news, mainly because it is cheaper and easier to present.

To President Bush’s discredit, he has let it be known that he favors the F.C.C.’s action and would probably veto the bill that has passed the Senate — and probably will pass the Democratically controlled House, as well. I can’t understand the President’s reasoning in this case.

Why are he and the Republicans in Congress supporting the F.C.C.’s maneuver to put all the media’s news-gathering resources in the hands of four or five giant corporations and thereby deny millions of Americans living in small or rural towns the right to have local news coverage — which to me represents a serious disregard of the First Amendment’s guarantee of a free press for all Americans?

It’s no surprise to know that the F.C.C.’s Republican chairman, Kevin Martin, has characterized the commission’s 3-to-2 action as “relatively minor loosening” of the broadcast industry’s media-ownership restrictions. The two Democrats on the commission voted against the action, while the three Republicans voted in favor of it.

Although I applaud the Democrats’ action in the Senate, I would like to see much stronger action, with the public becoming aroused on the issue and forcing the adoption of a constitutional amendment embodying my “One to a Customer” policy concerning all the print and broadcast news media in America.

Under my “One to a Customer” proposal, no individual, firm, or group, would be permitted to own and operate more than one medium, whether it be a newspaper, a TV network or station, a radio station, news magazine or any other medium that delivers the news to the public.

I know that such an amendment would deliver a major shock to the existing news conglomerates, but the end result would be a magnificent tip of the hat to the people’s right to know and their right to enjoy coverage of local news. I believe that approval of the “One to a Customer” concept would also go a long way toward the news media’s current slide toward Socialism.

Since I am a longtime Conservative, you might be inclined to say I have no disagreements with all the Conservative talk-show hosts on radio and TV these days. Ah, but you would be wrong. Yes, I do agree with them on most critical national and local political issues, but I have a gripe, or a pet peeve, you might say, with nearly all of them — as well as with the Liberal talk-show hosts who commit the same “sins” I will mention.

Specifically, my main gripe against most TV or radio hosts who pride themselves on their investigative pursuits is that they insist on doing advertising pitches, some of which are for sponsors or products who pick up the tab to support the hosts on the air. Among those who do it are some of my favorites, like Michael Medved, Rush Limbaugh, John Carlson, and virtually all of the hosts on the Fox News Channel.

This is one instance in which I have to acknowledge that newspapers are not guilty. Imagine what would happen to readership acceptance if newspaper columnists included ads within the body of their daily pieces or tacked them on at the end as a final pitch for readers to “buy, buy, buy.”

In addition, the talk-show hosts on radio indulge in fast-talking the ads, as if they are anxious to get them in within a time limit — all of which makes the flurry of words that much more objectionable. The speedily delivered ads are not only objectionable; they are a downright nuisance and an insult to the ear and mind.

Now that I’ve delivered my gripe, let me tell you why I believe it is a travesty for opinionated, investigative talk-show hosts to insert paid ads into their daily deliveries. Let us suppose talk-show host John Smith spouts daily ads for an insurance company, a clothing manufacturer, and a delivery service.

Then let’s say one, two, or all three of those agencies are cited by federal investigators for grand theft or some other criminal action. Isn’t it likely that John Smith will be inclined to soft-sell or even ignore the charges filed by the feds because one or all three of the evildoers advertise on Smith’s program or with his station?

See what I mean? Throughout all the years I have served in the print and broadcast news media, I have believed that those who deliver the news must never be influenced by those whose advertising dollars support the stations. At least, the newspapers can say they are very careful to separate the news staffers from the ad salesmen.

Is this a topic worthy of consideration by the Federal Communications Commission, as well as the leading radio and television associations? I would say it most certainly is, despite the fact that the F.C.C. has come under scrutiny lately because of its decision to permit a few news mega-corporations to buy out local radio and TV stations.

Congress, too, should take a look at the issue and consider legislation that draws a clear line between those who deliver the news and those who advertise in the media.

The monstrous “merger mania” is alive and well, unfortunately, and has just ballooned menacingly, thanks to the most recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission to permit the mega-media corporations to swallow up more newspapers in the 20 largest media markets, including Seattle.

Worse still, the new move was made possible by the three Republican members of the commission, with the two Democratic members voting “No.” In addition, President Bush has already indicated that he approves the decision. It is one of the worst mistakes made by Bush and the Republicans and will undoubtedly work to their disadvantage when the American public becomes aware of the “merger mania” danger.

Kevin Martin, the Republican chairman of the commission, was guilty of fractured reasoning when he stated that one of the major concerns of the commission was the “steady decline in revenue for newspaper companies,” as the Associated Press reported. He also said his proposal “strikes a balance between the realities of the changing media marketplace and the preservation of diversity and competition in broacasting.”

What convoluted thinking! Yes, the nation’s newspapers are in trouble because of sinking advertising revenues and severe drops in circulation. But why add to the misery by permitting the mega-corporations to seize the newspapers and, in doing so, sound the death knell for the newspapers and radio stations that have provided local news for thousands of rural towns and small cities?

The Liberty Bell should be sounding the alarm for the F.C.C.’s latest move, which is a direct assault on the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That amendment pledges freedom of the press, not the takeover of all elements of the news media by five or six mega-corporations.

The loss of local news reports should alert the American people to take action to remedy this latest assault on their freedom. And their first action should be to demand the abolition of the F.C.C. and creation of a new commission whose members would be elected by the people in each of the ten major regions of the nation.

That action should be incorporated into the U.S. Constitution and the constitutions of all 50 states as amendments. It won’t be an easy task, but it’s one that is extremely crucial if the validity of the U.S. Constitution is to be assured — as well as the intentions written into it by the nation’s forefathers.

Secondly, the American people should be given a chance to vote on a proposal I have made so many times. That is the “One to a Customer” concept, which should be written into the Constitution and would provide that no organization or individual could own more than one news medium, whether it be a newspaper, a TV or radio station, or a news magazine.

It’s time for the people to speak out and be heard, whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or proponents of any other political party.