Media and the Struggle for Democracy A Perspective from the U.S.

1. Media and the Struggle for DemocracyA Perspective from the U.S. Chris Conybeare Attorney and Media Specialist University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu Secretary General World Association of Press Councils (WAPC)

2. PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2007United States Ranks 48th • Cape Verde • Cyprus • Nicaragua • United States

3. Sami al-Hajj Imprisoned at Guantanamo Since 2002

4. Chauncey BailyEditor Oakland Post Murdered August 2007

5. Joshua Wolf – Jailed in U.S. for 224 Days 2006-2007 • Jailed for refusing to give his tape to prosecutors. • Show need for Shield Law.

6. A quote by James Madison (US President 1809 - 1817) “A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both.” • A “free media” is a principal way that citizens in a complex world can get information needed to participate in the democratic process

7. Two Ways to Curtail Media Freedom • Limit the ability of journalists and media to do their jobs • Close newspapers • Jail writers and journalist • Seize broadcast facilities • Limit right of assemble • Restrict access to government information • Allow concentration of media into a few hands with government in “partnership” with owners

8. First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech or of the press…”

9. Media Regulation • Content is not highly regulated but there are a variety of regulations that apply the media business • Print - Newspaper Preservation Act • Radio and TV - F.C.C. • Internet and Other

10. Radio and TV • Radio and TV use a scarce public resource, the electro magnetic spectrum. • The Communication Act of 1933 says that the airwaves belong to the public

11. Business regulations apply: • Financial reporting for tax purposes • Anti-Trust laws which attempt to limit corporate power used against competition.

12. Publishing in the 19th century U.S. • Publishing was local • “Everyone” with a “philosophy” had a paper • Due to number and diversity of owners: • The press was truly representation • Workers and average people had strong proponents

13. Radio in the early 20th century • Lots of local owners • Lots of competing ideas

14. REGULATE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST- FCC • 1933’s – US chooses commercial model • In theory people get programming they choose – advertisers pay for what they want • FCC watch-dog to regulate in the public interest • President must choose 2 members from each major political party and also chooses a 5th member as chairman

15. Early television • Those seeking licenses had to: • Offer local programs • Serve community interests • Show knowledge of their community • Limits were placed on ownership • TV and newspapers couldn’t have same owner • One owner couldn’t have 2 stations in same market • Networks couldn’t own stations that covered more than 35% of market

16. However… • The real marketplace of capital works against this: • Owners strive to maximize profits • They compete for advertising revenue • They depart from “partisan” beliefs • The news becomes more “bland” so as not to offend • Owners use vast resources to influence regulation

17. Owners and Government • Owners provide huge financial support for political campaigns • Owners control coverage • Government controls regulations on ownership

18. All Celebrities…all the Time

19. Appearance of Democracy • Only a very narrow range of choices are disseminated to the public. • An appearance of democracy is preserved • The public become spectators, not participants -Robert Mc Chesney

20. Concentration of Ownership

21. The 5 biggest media owners (and their 2001 revenues) • (AOL)Time Warner ($36.2 billion) • General Electric / NBC ($129.9 billion) • Viacom / CBS ($20 billion) • Walt Disney Company ($25.4 billion) • NEWS Corp / Star TV / Fox ($11.6 billion) TV, Newspapers, Films, Book Publishing, Radio, Internet

22. Time Warner • CNN, HBO, and Cinemax TV • Time Magazine • Atlantic Group music • Warner Brothers film and music • New Line Cinema (Lord of the Rings) • AOL Internet service

23. General Electric (GE) • NBC network • CNBC and MSNBC cable • Universal Studios • Sci-Fi Magazine • Consumer products • Military hardware • Nuclear power

24. Viacom • CBS network • MTV • Paramount Pictures • Simon and Schuster Books • Blockbuster Video • Radio

25. Disney Company • ABC network • History Channel • Disney Channel • ESPN • Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone, and Miramax Films • Radio

26. News Corporation (Murdoch) • Fox News • Star TV, Sky TV • National Geographic Channel • 20th Century Fox, Searchlight Pictures • Harper Collins Publishing • Newspapers The Times of London

27. Biggest Media Company 1983 • In 1983 the biggest media company was worth $340 million

28. Today (AOL) Time Warner is 1,000 times bigger AOL-TW 2000, $350 billion 1983, $340 million

29. Anna Nicole Smith

30. Ownership Concentration Bad for Democracy--examples • 1973 Newspaper Publishers cut deal with President Nixon to support his re-election in return for his support for Newspaper Preservation Act which permitted newspaper monopolies • News Corp head Rupert Murdoch cancels BBC news on his Star TV satellite service when China’s leaders complain about coverage

31. More from Murdoch • Harper Collins Publishing cancels Chris Paten’s book about Hong Kong handover due to Chinese government dissatisfaction

32. CLEAR CHANNEL the radio example • 1996 Clear Channel owns 40 radio stations • Telecommunications Act of 1996 permits concentrated ownership. • 2004 Clear Channel owns 1200 stations, merging 70 separate companies

33. Automated Radio • Clear Channel voice tracks separate messages from one location • One announcer reads copy as if he is in different locations • He reads “Good morning” it’s a beautiful day in your city…but he is perhaps thousands of miles away

34. NO EMERGENCY RESPONSE BY CLEAR CHANNEL Minot, North Dakota January 18, 2002

35. Monopoly Power and Politics • New York Times reveals Clear Channel creates pro war rallies across the U.S. before the Iraq war • Uses its radio airtime to cover them as if they are independent events • Bans air play of recording artists who oppose the war, like the Dixie Chicks

36. FOX News • On camera anchor: “If there are no weapons of mass destruction I’ll resign!” • Created image that news media supported the President’s claims • There were no WMD and the anchor has neither resigned nor apologized

37. Project Censored

38. NO HABEAS CORPUS • President may deem any person an “enemy of the state” and preclude constitutional guarantees

39. MOVE TOWARD MARTIAL LAW John Warner Defense Act gives new presidential powers • May station troops anywhere in the U.S. • Take control of state guard units without need for state approval

40. AFRICON • US Africa Command established with anti terrorism rationale • Experts see move to counter China and control resources

41. TELEVISION NEWS VS INTERNET • Consumer studies confirm that the overwhelming majority of Americans get their news and information from television.

42. FCC and Diversity • No Reliable Ownership data for women and minorities • A Duke University Study shows that out of 10,000 radio stations, African - Americans and Hispanics own only 635, less than 6%. • In Chicago, with a population of 1 million African Americans, there is only one black-owned radio station - Bill Moyers Journal

43. The Original Information Highways • Roads • Postal Service • Telephone • Mostly open to all on a non-discriminatory basis

44. Threats Include Internet Control • US Law • Toll booths on Internet • Giant Media • Controlled broadband with wall-to-wall advertising • High-speed available, IF YOU CAN PAY

45. Google USA

46. Google China

48. MORE INTERFERENCE • Verizon Wireless attempts to ban text messages regarding information on abortion availability • Comcast Manipulates Speed of file sharing for non-preferred services, without disclosure

49. Net Neutrality! • Equal access (and equal speed) for all • No toll booths

50. FCC Watch-dog? Or Lap Dog? Fake news Paid-for news Favors for gain Complacent press corps Diversity is lost Perils of Media Monopoly