How do we take back the media?

[Hutzpa]

I read a post awhile ago about Rhandi being pushed back to 9pm - 11pm, they are trying to silence progressive voices and they might not stop there, I say its time to take back the media. TAKE BACK THE MEDIA I SAY whoosh!!!!!

This should be a priority for Dems.

[havocmom]

1. Go back to old rules about limited media ownership for a start

Too much in too few hands is BAD for democracy. That's why the rules got changed back in the 80s. People in power cared only about power and never about democracy.

[The Wielding Truth]

18. Absolutely correct.

[Guaranteed]

24. Push those numbers down, even. They were too high as it was. nt

[wholetruth00]

33. I think the people are on to the media. After Limbaugh's screw ups and his

admission to lying for political reasons he should be a null and void voice crying in the bigoted, racist and hateful wilderness. The RW-media will never be the same after this election. They did more harm than good for their cause. THANK YOU BLOGGERS!!

[oxymoron]

2. The Fairness Doctrine. (nt)

[Poiuyt]

19. There was a blog at Huffington Post today on restoring the Fairness Doctrine

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson/restore-the-fairness-doct_b_33761.html

snip -

Restoring the Fairness Doctrine would open up America's "marketplace of ideas." It would help to restore civility to our public discourse. It would help restore our democracy.

If the Fairness Doctrine were restored we would begin to see a variety of issues covered by the broadcast media, from a variety of perspectives. Currently we only see subjects that the corporate world is interested in, covered from a pro-corporate perspective. Imagine the effect on the country if the public were exposed to a variety of viewpoints on issues like trade, consumer protection, sustainability, unions, health care, global warming and energy, religion, the environment, nutrition, and SO MANY other issues!

Imagine the effect on our civic discourse if stations had to give time for a response to everyone that Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter smeared on the air!

It is time to restore the Fairness Doctrine!

[patrice]

3. Equal broadcast time for all local candidates. Public money for campaigns.

And ballot initiatives and such, With a few exceptions, for things such as Racism and Hate Crimes and Pornography, of course.

NET NEUTRALITY !

[tblue]

4. Yes. The Dems had better make this a top priority.

[havocmom]

21. Looks like too many want us to shoot ourselves in the foot

in the name of vengeance.

We'll be too fucking busy arguing about impeachment verses actually solving immediate problems and letting a lame duck sulk in the corner cuz he is hobbled to the fence post.

Damn, we won Tuesday. We won a chance to get busy and fix all the leaks in the ship of state. And we will be too busy drilling more holes in the hull.

I am REALLY depressed now. It is so clear what all needs to be addressed NOW.

Too many want to make vengeance the top priority.

Thank you for being a voice of sanity.

[symbolman]

5. Well if people supported

Organizations like mine Takebackthemedia.com (and many have and we thank them) with some high dollar donations, like from the DEMS, then we WOULD Takebackthemedia..

We've done some fabulous work, and were sidelined while making a film about electronic voting, tho we have other films and action alerts that were very successful, we SLAMMED Limbaugh with a Boycott, and within a few days I was on both O'Reilly and Scarborough demanding that Limbaugh show america his ENLISTMENT PAPERS from Nam :)

Good Idea, I have a book to finish and then I'll be back on the site kicking some ass :)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. Keep up the good work sir! n/t

[symbolman]

22. Welcome

any time, we do our best, cost us our mortgage but it was worth it, better to have TRIED than Never to have KNOWN, eh? :)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

31. I am in full agreement. I wondered where my passion was a few

years ago. It was lost in focusing energies in muted, conciliatory, acquiescence to corporate mandated goals.

Less money now (for a while), but re-awakening to charge full speed ahead towards what has always been most important to me. Fairness and respect in human interactions. Idealist, and potentially still naive? Probably... but it is personal, and it is real. And as George Bernard Shaw so aptly stated:

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.

[Guava Jelly]

38. I love tbtm!

I actually came up with the concept for this tbtm video
http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/article.php?story=200406102352483&query=terrible%2Bthings
American stanger did all the work.. (I used to have a webpage theproudliberal.com)

[patrice]

6. Need Public Broadband, just like Public TV & Radio. ++ NET NEUTRALITY++

[Jcrowley]

7. You can't

Better to become the media.

That you can do.

[givemebackmycountry]

9. I'm not quite sure I understand what your talking about...

Rhandi who?

Randi Rhodes?

Is she moving to a different time slot?

I listened to her today.

Same time, same streaming time slot.

So, elaborate please.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. Right now it is all about

AWARENESS AWARENESS AWARENESS

[tech3149]

11. I agree that we need to either take back the media or create our own

I'm curious where you heard they were planning on changing Randi's schedule. I'm a consistent listener and I haven't heard anything like that. Today she railed about Democrats not being skilled at using the media that was available, but no mention of a schedule change. Dropping back to a 3 hr slot was something she appreciated and deserves. It is also consistent with industry practices. I would have problems with a schedule change because it conflicts with other shows I listen to and would take her out of east coast drive time and misses west coast drive time. Considering the tools at AAR management (like most corporat entities), I don't doubt that it's possible but most listeners would be up in arms. If AAR management screws things up, I'm sure she'd be the first pick-up on Nova-M and wouldn't compete against Malloy.
Give us a link to your info.

[Laelth]

12. We need FOX left.

Seriously, we need a liberal spin machine to act as our official propaganda outlet, just to push the other media back into the middle. Currently, they're all trying to out-FOX FOX. And that's very bad for the country.

-Laelth

[HCE SuiGeneris]

14. that is exactly want we don't need,

that caters to stupidity, and "I can't go for that!... nooohooo"

[BlooInBloo]

13. Easy. Make the American public not bigoted idiots.

[upi402]

15. Recommend this one!

I agree OP. We see heroes like Kerry debased. Grassroots champions on a rocketing trajectory - torpedoes like Dean.

We MUST have media or it's SNAFU.

1) Repeal the Telecommunications Act or create a new one

2) Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine

3) Fund and make law that cements PBS and NPR as non-commercial (not corporatist)

4) Rally a consortium of progressives to create a 24 hr cable news channel that would guarantee loyal, starved viewers

[Robbien]

16. Nationalize the whole thing

It is really so messed up right now with all the rules being in favor of the few owners. The only thing to do is just take the airwaves back and start all over.

Or threaten to do so and see how fast the media moguls stop their media monopolies.

[Jamastiene]

17. Tie $20 bills to fish hooks and reel them in slowly throwing

dog biscuits for them to eat along the way. The only way to get that bunch of whores to see things our way is to treat them as such.

[Hugin]

23. Sad to say...

This might work.

[KharmaTrain]

20. Wholesale FCC Re-Regulation

The FCC whored out our broadcast bands to the highest bidder...the large corporations paid billions in political contributions and license and other "user" fees and were able to gobble up the radio and TV dial and rolled up huge debts along the way. Radio is on the verge of financial collapse and television...especially local TV...is in serious trouble.

The time has come to re-institute some basic rules on license holders that could not only open up the airwaves to many voices, but rejuvenate these dying mediums.

First would be to re-institute 3 year license renewal periods. Require stations to offer a certain number of hours per week of public service and news programming. Restore the limits on the number of stations a company can own per market. Give priority and special incentives to locally-owned stations and make the license challenge process easier, shorter in length and less expensive.

Regarding elections, once again require stations to charge their lowest rate to all political advertisers and prohibit one party from "freezing out" the other by buying all the air time or large chunks of it. For every minute they sell to Candidate A, they must offer a similar minute to Candidate B. This past election, the GOOP tried to freeze Democrats off the airwaves by buying up as much airtime as they could...and broadcaster got a windfall from charging 2 to 3 times the going rate for those spots...this can and should be prevented.

The plate is full for the Democrats up ahead, but a revisit of the '96 Dereg bill is long overdue.

Also, keep an eye on the broadcast lobbiest...they may try to sneak one last round of de-reg through the Lame Duck session or try to get some kind of bail out or bankruptcy protection as the industry collapses under the greed and largess of the past decade.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

25. Kharma, you are my hero! I can give vent to my frustration, and you are providing

arguments and solutions that "carry water". Many accolades!

[KharmaTrain]

39. Alas Those Proposals Will Stay RIght Where You See Them

Thank-you for your kind words...doubtful anyone will really pay attention to this issue

Cheers...

[Hugin]

26. Wow, we have a plan!

Thanks to KharmaTrain!

[BelgianMadCow]

27. I propose the following : cut the defense budget in half (oh, and Rd)

(it will still be several times that of the next contenders together) and use that money on puclic education, of which public broadcasting is an integral and important part.

Say, pour 50 billion dollar per year into it. That will get everyone broadband access and then some I think.

[Hugin]

28. Hey, a funded plan...

What you propose has merit. It's my opinion that a more educated people is
better at defending itself anyway.

:thumbsup:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

29. Pfft-- we don't have funds for edumacation

[BelgianMadCow]

30. Education is key

I don't think it is an accident that red states are blue around the universities.

But it's not only that kind of formal education that counts of course.

The biggest education effort should be on the lower and middle class : here's how & why you vote for your own interest :-)

[BelgianMadCow]

32. tbtm

www.takebackthemedia.org

DUer Symbolman's hangout. Check his flashes if you haven't. Thought that link is appropriate in this thread.

Look at the number of views on the 9/11 documentary Press for truth on Youtube. WE can BE the media. Which is why I didn't like Youtube being bought by Google AT ALL.

[SwingVoter2006]

34. I worked in public radio for many years....

The amazing thing is that everyone on the right looks at the media and screams, "The Left owns the media!" while everyone on the left looks at the media and similarly screams, "The Right owns the media!"

Seems to me that whenever the media don't precisely parrot our views exactly as we want them to, whether we define ourselves Left or Right, we automatically assume the media is in the pocket of the Other Side?

The best solution is not nationalization (the airwaves are already nationalized to a certain extent, which is why the government licenses them out for public and commercial use, reserves parts of the spectrum for military and government use only, etc, etc...) but rather voting with our wallets. If more Americans simply REFUSED TO WATCH or REFUSED TO LISTEN to stations and channels which they dislike, due to corporatization, or whatever, and spent all their time (and spending power) supporting public stations or other outlets not beholden to the megalithic corporate powers, it would cease to be an issue.

We must also admit that a healthy media is NEVER going to please us politically. Not every time. And not all the time. A truly balanced media is a media which presents ideas and coverage from multiple parts of the spectrum, and then lets us, the consumer, the listener, the viewer, make up our own minds. Fox News might be a joke for many around here, but their motto is at least laudable.

If all media outlets truly lived by the phrase, "We report, you decide!", instead of just faking it, things would be a lot better off.

And no, I am not defending Fox. I repeat, I am not defending Fox. I just like their motto. I think it is a good one.

Repeat: NOT DEFENDING FOX!

Ah hell, I'll probably still get flamed.

:shrug:

[BelgianMadCow]

35. Don't be so afraid of a lil flame

first, you're not getting it from me. I agree that a healthy media will also expose stuff that is not nice or politically good for us to see.

I partly disagree on the nationalisation. You should have a strong and heavily sponsored state channel available to all and representing many views.

And agree on the voting with wallets. There's an idea for change!

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[SwingVoter2006]

36. Leading horses to water?

Thanks for the welcome, BMC!

Now, regarding government-funded and government-owned channel(s) for public access...

This was one of the most maddening things about working in public radio. We could have all the money in the world, but if quality people didn't step forward to provide hosting and programming content, and if listeners were too busy being entertained by other programs or other media, then the whole enterprise often seemed for naught. Open volunteer meetings, where community members could walk in and apply for volunteer status and/or getting a show, were often exercises in aggravation because you'd look at the pool of applicants and just scrunch up your eyes and run your hand over your face and sigh, "Is this the best this town can do?"

The healthiest and best public radio station I ever had the privilege (and it is a privilege) of being part of, was KRCL-FM in Salt Lake City. They ran/run a great operation with tremendous grassroots support, and even they struggled to pluck quality volunteers with quality ideas/content for the airwaves. And this was back when PBS still got lots of government money.

There is also the problem of public stations being PINO (Public In Name Only)

Up here in the Puget Sound we have several PINO operations, like KPLU and KUOW. They operate nothing like KRCL did/does, and it's weird to me that this is the case. In fact, the closest thing to KRCL in the Puget Sound (from what I have seen) is KSER up in Everett. That Seattle proper does not support an analog to KRCL boggles me. KPLU and KUOW are virtually commercial in that they are decidedly NOT open to general public contribution; unless that contribution comes out of your wallet. Their doors are as closed as any commercial venture.

Sorry, did not mean to get fired up on a PINO tangent. That deserves its own thread.

:)

[BelgianMadCow]

37. I am not gonna argue with you on the public radio issue

as I don't have anywhere near your experience. I just thank you for trying.

It's just that for example, a nicely subsidised tv channel that could for example set up a good evening news alternative (hire Dan Rather mebbe) is so badly needed.

Over here, the state sponsored channel has a contract with the government and has to fulfill a number of public duties. But they also carry some of the best entertainment, and are considered the reference in journalism.

They have no problem in attracting people.

But our media landscape is quite different from yours, belgium being so small and all.

Plus, all the socialists :-)

[KharmaTrain]

40. Public Radio Is An Untapped Resource

Welcome to DU.

From one with a little background in radio (about 30 plus years worth), you speak from a world that very few know about...especially in the "consumer" marketplace. I started at an NPR station at Southern Illinois in 1973 and have been an avid listener and supporter of many types of public radio. I've always enjoyed the "low end" for the diversity of programming and true broadcasting passion.

Unfortunately most people don't know about the hidden gems currently on Public radio and how Progressives could use the medium similar to how the right wing uses non-profit christian radio. Unfortunately many NPR stations are what I call "corporate welfare" plantations...overloaded with management who live and die by the large corporate donors and grants. There are a good NPR operations out there...Wisconsin Public Radio being one...but it's more the exception than the rule.

My favorites have always been the citizens or grassroots stations. The largest and most successful has been Pacifica, but there are many smaller stations...mostly in college towns. Many of these stations barely pay the electricity to keep the lights on, but its dedication to public service and program diversity is one of radio's few saving graces. Unfortunately lack of budget means lack of promotion so listenership is low. But it's a resource that could be used by the many media-saavy DU'ers as a means to get experience and a toe-hold in "the biz" and get a wider hearing of Progressive views. It also is an excellent breeding ground for a new generation of commercial Progressive broadcasters.

Generally radio threads die here quickly...unless its about a celebrity.

Good luck and thanks for sharing your thoughts.