FTC May Ease Anti-Trust Laws to Save News

[Newsjock]

Source: The Wrap

The federal government is preparing an inquiry into the endangered field of news and reporting -- and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz is dropping some broad hints about what will be in it.

In an exclusive interview with TheWrap, Leibowitz expressed some sympathy to easing antitrust enforcement of media consolidations to prevent more newspapers from folding or further declines in TV news staffs.

... Currently anti-trust laws forbid a single company in a city buying the local daily newspaper, local TV stations and the local cable provider and then using that monopoly to set high ad rates. However, some broadcasters and newspaper companies are arguing that only the administrative efficiencies gained through joint ownership can preserve news coverage.

“We are strong believers in the antitrust laws and in opposing exemptions from the antitrust laws,” Leibowitz told TheWrap, “but when you think about other values, and you think about the First Amendment, this might be one of those rare industries where you must think about ways to ensure the vibrancy of news.”

Read more: http://www.thewrap.com/article/ftc-chief-may-ease-anti-trust-laws-save-news_4744

[lurky]

1. Shit, now Murdoch can buy up everything.

All media controlled by Rupert.

[BattyDem]

2. How will more consolidation save news?

The amount of consolidation we have now has already made most of it useless! :-(

[ThomCat]

3. So, in order to save the patient, prescribe more of the same poison that

is killing the patient? How does that make any kind of sense?

Shooting you once didn't kill you. Maybe shooting you again will cure you!

[wroberts189]

4. I got an idea.. let them fail and make room for the next player.

One newspaper is not enough? One tv or radio station is not enough !!??

No competition is the solution??? Only monopolies can make it?

Free market does not work anymore ?? This is news...

If you cannot make your company profit you need to sell or give up your license to someone else that does not already have one. I am sure they will do better.

[Rex]

5. So in order to save the 'news', they must kill it first.

Sure.