Disney/ABC and News Corp/Fox and the FCC - Bias? Nope, Simple Economics

[Median Democrat]

I am surprised, but maybe I shouldn't be, about the fact that there are not any stories examining the degree to which Disney and News Corp are trying to make the GOP controls the presidency, and therefore, the appointment of commissioners to the FCC. I know a lot of us on this Board like to scream bias when ABC ran the hit piece, Stolen Honor, shortly before the 2004 election, ran a hit piece on the Clintons in their 9/11 documentary, and most recently, ran the following hit piece on Barack Obama called 10 worst VP choices for Barack Obama, which highlights Reverand Wright, Rezko, and Phager.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline /

However, is this simple bias, or is there a method to the madness? The answer yes.

:) First, the issue of FCC relaxation of media ownership rules directly effects Disney and News Corp, and it is an issue that the GOP and their appointees support:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14836500/

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/FCC_plans_relaxation_of_media_ownership_0531.html

"The Federal Communications Commission is poised to propose new media ownership rules that will allow media companies to own newspapers, television and radio stations in the same city, according to media watchdog groups.

The proposed rule would dissolve a longstanding policy that prohibited corporations from owning a television station and a daily newspaper in the same market. The "cross ownership" rule, promulgated in 1975, was enacted to ensure media diversity."

:) Second, the reason why News Corp (Fox News) and Disney (ABC News) support the GOP is because the GOP favors relaxing media ownership rules whereas Democrats have opposed such efforts. Of course, the President gets to appoint the members of the FCC board.

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http://www.fcc.gov/aboutus.html

About the FCC
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

Organization

The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The President designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. Only three Commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business.

As the chief executive officer of the Commission, the Chairman delegates management and administrative responsibility to the Managing Director. The Commissioners supervise all FCC activities, delegating responsibilities to staff units and Bureaus.

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:) Third, this is why ABC and its affiliates like Sinclar, as well as Fox News, will actively try to support the McCain presidential bid. How actively? Remember in 2004 when Sinclar ordered its ABC affiliates to show Stolen Honor:

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http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Stolen_Honor:_Wounds_That_Never_Heal

Decision by Sinclair Broadcast Group to broadcast 'Stolen Honor'
In early October 2004, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., which owns television stations in nearly one-quarter of the United States, ordered all of its stations to preempt their regular programming and air Stolen Honor in the days leading up to the November 2 presidential election.<1> This has raised concerns that such a direct criticism of Kerry would violate the "equal time" provision of the Communications Act that governs airtime for political candidates. FCC chairman Michael Powell has declared that such an action would not be a violation of the provision. A former FCC chairman, Reed Hundt, responded that Powell was offering "tacit and plain encouragement of the use of the Sinclair airwaves to pursue a smear campaign." A spokesperson for the company said that the airing would be followed by a panel discussion, which Senator Kerry would be asked to join, possibly as an effort to satisfy the equal time clause. The Kerry campaign declined the invitation. Sinclair did not accept Michael Moore's offer for free broadcast of his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 to satisfy the equal time clause.

More than 100 Democratic members of the United States Congress asked the FCC to consider the propriety of the broadcast, and Ted Kennedy, Kerry's Senate colleague from Massachusetts, asked the Justice Department to investigate. The Democratic National Committee filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission. Media Matters for America headed a shareholder action against "demanding that Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., provide equal time to those "with views opposed to the allegations" in the film. <2>

Ultimately, Sinclair dropped its plans to run the film in its entirety, instead airing a "news special" to be "produced with the highest journalistic standards and integrity."<3> That special included clips from Stolen Honor as well as the pro-Kerry film Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry.<4>

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:) Fourth, under the standards of Journalistic Ethics, Disney/ABC and News Corp/Fox should at least disclose their direct financial interest in the outcome of the Presidency due to the President's power to appoint FCC commissioners.

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http://media.www.mediaethicsmagazine.com/media/storage/paper655/news/2005/05/05/AnalysesCommentary/Conflict.And.The.Professional.Setting-959320.shtml

"A conflict of interest in journalism exists when a journalist's commitment to serve audience interests is weakened, or risks being so, by the journalist's (or her news organization's) competing commitments and interests. "

"3) Disclose. If you cannot escape the conflict, and if recusal cannot work, then what? Let the audience know exactly what the situation is. Disclose your conflict and explain it. This was the choice of a number of news organizations, for example, when they wrote about Disney World. In the late '80s Disney paid for hundreds of reporters to come to Orlando where they were wined and dined. Many news organizations did not allow their reporters to participate at all, and many, but unfortunately not all, of those who did feed at Disney's trough told readers that the trip was paid for by Disney. "

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[hendo]

1. interesting read

Most political positions are easy to explain if you follow the money.

K&R

[Median Democrat]

2. Thanks - The Major Networks Have A Direct Financial Interest.

In the outcome of the election due to the impact on the FCC. Yet, due to this interest, the story we do not hear is how the selection of the President will affect the FCC, and how the FCC, in turn, affects media on such issues as indecency and media ownership. Perhaps the portrayal of gays and lesbians will be deemed indecent. Perhaps Disney and News Corp will be given the green light on creating a media monopoly.

Given the money at stake, I think it is naive to assume that it has no impact on Disney/ABC and Newscorp/Fox's coverage of the election.