Media Consolidation

Competition is good, right? So why does Trump's FCC oppose it in the news business?

Even for this craven FCC majority, today’s vote to bless more media consolidation represents an awful new low. The FCC just wiped away time-tested and common sense safeguards that promote vibrant local media by ensuring voters have access to competing sources of news. By blessing consolidation this majority has ensured newsroom redundancy, meaning fewer working journalists to hold the powerful to account. And if that were not enough, let Big Broadcast get even bigger means cable customers nationwide will pay higher bills.

An overwhelming majority of Americans are profoundly troubled about the condition of our democracy, even as their faith in democratic ideals remains strong, according to a recent Washington Post – University of Maryland poll.

Mergers and acquisitions are all the rage in the telecommunications industry these days. And now the industry’s giants have joined forces to acquire the Federal Communications Commission.

Media monopolization imperils democracy - fewer press outlets mean less of the accountability journalism that American voters depend on to cast informed ballots. Meanwhile corrupt politicians can rest easy that the depleted local press corps will be less likely to report on graft. Ajit Pai’s anti-public interest wrecking ball is poised to strike again.

President Trump’s repeated attacks on journalists and what he calls “fake news” are undermining press freedom at a time when newspapers and broadcasters already are struggling with declining subscription and advertising revenues.