Chicago sends a message to the FCC

[Demeter]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/287


Chicago sends a message to the FCC: Hundreds call for more diverse ownership, less media consolidation


CHICAGO -- More than 800 people filled the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition on Thursday night, testifying for over seven hours before the Federal Communications Commission about the negative impacts of runaway media consolidation.

"Media is a life or death issue for communities of color in this country," said Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of Rainbow PUSH, who arrived at the hearing after spending the day at the march and demonstration in Jena, La. "At their worst, media fan the flames of hatred, racism and intolerance that lead to violence and injustice. At their best, media hold the powerful accountable and help bring about change in our communities."

The Chicago hearing was the fifth in a series of public forums being held across the country by the FCC as it considers whether to lift longstanding media ownership limits. Much of the event focused on what the FCC could do to increase the very low levels of media ownership by people of color.

"We need to turn our legacy around, and there is no better place to start than right now, right here in Chicago," said Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, who called on his colleagues to convene a bipartisan, independent panel on minority media ownership before considering any rule changes. "We need to put the past behind us and establish a panel of outside experts to conduct a thorough review of these regulatory proposals, the dozens of diversity enhancement recommendations that have been collecting dust at the FCC since as far back as 1992. I believe 15 years is long enough -- justice deferred is justice denied."

Chicago is the nation's third-largest media market, but has one of the lowest levels of minority ownership among cities of its size and diversity. People of color make up nearly two-thirds of Chicago's population but own just 5 percent of the city's radio and TV stations.

"Is it any wonder why the depictions of minorities in our media are so often distorted?" Commissioner Michael Copps asked the crowd. "Why their issues get scant coverage? Why their contributions to the good things happening in America are so seldom even mentioned on the air? Let's be frank, ownership matters. Truth be told, ownership rules. Unless and until we do something to increase minority ownership and minorities in top broadcast jobs, our communications sectors will continue to underserve the great promise of America."

The FCC listened to two panels comprised of community activists, academic experts, industry representatives, union leaders and a few surprises -- including an appearance by hip-hop legend KRS-One, who skipped sound check before his Chicago concert to testify at the hearing.

"Media is a public safety issue," he said, discussing how the African-American community is portrayed on corporate radio. "Police officers listen to the radio too, and when all they hear is songs about gangstas and crime, they are thinking that's me."

Dozens lined up as early as seven hours before the hearing to sign up for two minutes of testimony before all five FCC Commissioners. More than 200 people signed up to speak, and testimony didn't end until midnight.

"As a consumer and a young Latina journalist, I want to hear and see news that will help advance the public," testified Sandra Figueroa, a 17-year-old from Chicago's South Side. "Yet what mainstream media has done lately is only serve itself. As radio and TV stations get bought by bigger companies, their connection with communities like mine gets smaller."

"I beg you to open the door to the news media and give Arab-Americans and other ethnic minorities in this country a real voice by recognizing our talents," said Ray Hanania, co-founder of the Chicago Chapter of the National Arab American Journalists Association. "I urge you to prevent the consolidation of ownership of the media because that consolidation has undermined the diversity of the media and rebuffed minority participation from Americans like myself."

A broad range of local and national groups worked to encourage turnout for the hearing. They included the Benton Foundation, Chicago Access Network Television, Chicago Media Action, Chicago Urban League, Chicago Westside NAACP, Children Now, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, Community Media Workshop, Community Renewal Society, Consumers Union, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Females United For Action, Free Press, Future of Music Coalition, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Illinois Campus Compact, Illinois PIRG, Latino Council on the Media, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Media and Democracy Coalition, Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association, Midwest Gap Enterprises, The Newspaper Guild-CWA, Prometheus Radio Project, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Radio-Television Broadcast Engineers Union I.B.E.W Local 1212, South Austin Coalition, United Church of Christ, Office of Communication Inc., We The People Media/Residents' Journal, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center Inc. and WRTE Radio Arte.

"Wherever you go, from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tampa to Chicago, there's no mistaking what the public thinks about media consolidation," said Yolanda Hippensteele, outreach director of Free Press. "They think it has gone too far at the expense of too many. And they want more local voices, more choices, and a media that actually represents their communities. The question is whether the FCC is listening."

For more information, visit www.StopBigMedia.com/=chicago.