Central Question of Media Reform

The central question of media reform with regard to the transition from analog to digital television is: are we going to get what is in our best interests? After all is said and done, are we going to get any new channels that we can control? When the legislation that gets passed under the banner of "media reform" is implemented are we going to have something tangible to show for it that answers the complaint of most Americans: the network news is not fair and balanced. We must provide for ourselves an effective counter balance that puts decision making power in the hands of the American citizens. A check and balance on the power of the current media elites.

The central question of media reform with regard to the transition from analog to digital television is: are we going to get what is in our best interests? After all is said and done, are we going to get any new channels that we can control? When the legislation that gets passed under the banner of "media reform" is implemented, are we going to have something tangible that answers the complaint of most Americans: the network news is not fair and balanced? We must provide for ourselves an effective counter balance that puts decision making power in the hands of the American citizens. A check and balance on the power of the current media elites.

text of flyer handed out at The National Conference for Media Reform: [with new comments added]

The problem of Big Media can be solved by establishing a Fair Media [using legislative power, a "Fair Media Act" which is what FairMedia.org is all about: "Fair Media is a grassroots media reform organization which advocates for a public media system established by a Fair Media Act" ], a system of additional broadcast channels in competition with the current mainstream system. These new television channels will provide the necessary checks and balances on Big Media power. Under this proposal, when we switch from analog to digital television, a portion of the publicly owned broadcasting frequencies will be retained by the American people , held in public trust to serve the public's interests. ["retained" and "held in the public trust" meaning that we use them ourselves as opposed to auctioning them all off. All the airways should remain property of the American people, private interests can lease them from us for a fee.]

As opposed to Big Media, where decisions are made by a select few, a Fair Media will be controlled by the general public. The new channels, free of private control and ownership influences, will compete against the current media system. The decisions about what gets selected and who gets selected to be on these channels will be in the hands of the American people, ensured by decentralized administration and totally open public oversight.

Establishing a Fair Media is powerful media reform, creating a true public forum on publicly owned airwaves. Offer this Fair Media solution to other media activists so they can contribute to it and help make the vision a reality. Any suggestions or questions can be submitted to Fair Media blog or emailed to contact@FairMedia.org