“Since we still need broadcasters to contribute to the democratic dialogue, we need clear standards that can be fairly but vigorously enforced,” said Copps. “It is time to say ‘Good-bye’ to post-card renewal every eight years and ‘Hello’ to license renewals every three years with some public interest teeth.”
The trouble being that this writer has not the faintest clue as to what the public interest is. It is patent from his article that he buys the journalist's definition that "whatever is good for journalism is in the public interest." But what is good for journalism is a "great story." And a "great story" is nothing if not bad news and - to state the obvious - bad news is bad for the public. The claim that whatever is good for journalism is in the public interest therefore cannot possibly be right.
It is my considered opinion as an amateur media historian and a full-time student of the media that the FCC is completely powerless to control or otherwise affect information distribution today. The internet is simply too powerful and widespread for any government entity on Planet Earth to thwart.
It will change the way we live to an extent not seen since Gutenberg. Everything I read and see every day reinforces that prediction.
Your public interest may be different from my public interest.
And I do know that my idea of public interest is radically different from that of the leadership of NBC, ABC, NYT et al.
As you correctly stated, for them, bad news IS good news. I don't watch any media or read papers anymore and have not for years, because the salacious is gold to them. They love it when people are tied up and twisted with fear and angst...it sells.
One of the most INCISIVE songs to me was "Dirty Laundry". Now, I know Don Henley is a major league liberal, but how could one argue with THIS:
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
Great posts. The State Sponsored Broadcast Propaganda...we might as well scrap it all and listen to mindless music from American idols...(and an intro by Dennis Miller to boot)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2PxAIAI1QQ