Foreign Agents Designation Causes Media Cold War
Some state-backed journalists must register as “foreign agents” with the US government. But others don’t have to.
Who Will Take on the 21st Century Tech and Media Monopolies?
Waves of consolidation in the technology, telecom and entertainment industries have concentrated power over media content and delivery into just a handful of companies. Today, there are only a few dominant players in each industry.
How the Anti-Democracy Movement Used Media to Command the Narrative
The 1990s’ deregulation of media illustrates the effectiveness of the Anti-Democracy Movement in convincing Republicans and Democrats alike that a narrow, market-driven, anti-government approach was imperative, even if it led to oligopoly.
Craig Aaron and Malkia Cyril on Net Neutrality, Kyle Wiens on Copyright Overreaching
FCC chair Ajit Pai has announced his plans to gut net neutrality; the former Verizon lawyer and Jeff Sessions staffer declared his intentions at a private event in DC. So the victory activists fought for—having broadband recognized as a public utility like the telephone, and not some sort of corporate gift—is in jeopardy.
‘Ajit Pai Wants to Shut Down the Way We Communicate and Organize’
“Our voices are making a difference, and making it more difficult for them and the administration to undo all of the important consumer protections that we fought so hard for.”
Jessica Gonzalez on FCC Chair Ajit Pai
What’s ahead for the public interest under Ajit Pai, Trump’s choice for chair of the FCC? CounterSpin talks with Jessica Gonzalez, deputy director and senior counsel at the group Free Press.
A Mickey Mouse Reason to Support the TPP
If the future of the free world depends on the TPP, then maybe it shouldn’t have included measures that will hugely raise the cost of everything from prescription drugs to software to Mickey Mouse memorabilia.
‘We’ve Got to Start Talking About How Are We Going to Build an Alternative’
“We’re going to have half the number of daily journalists working than we had a couple of decades ago. There’s so much going uncovered at the local level, in the places where people really can make a difference.”
Louis Perez on Fidel Castro, Craig Aaron on Local Media Auctions
While it’s implied that our only choice is between hagiography and hatred, there is actual history that provides context for understanding the role in world events of Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution, which involved other people besides him.
Not Neutral on Net Neutrality: All Things Considered Considered Only One Side
The DC Circuit Court agreed that reclassifying the internet is a step forward, a way to recognize profound changes that have occurred in the media landscape since the emergence of the web. Why, then, did NPR’s coverage of the ruling on All Things Considered seem to suggest the opposite?
Covering Net Neutrality Ruling, Truthout Cites FAIR to Sound Cautionary Note
Covering the pro–net neutrality ruling by the DC Court of Appeals, Truthout’s Mark Karlin cited FAIR’s criticism of Comcast’s media empire.
NYT Calls for Stronger Copyright Protection Without Calculating the Costs
It is likely that performers will get less than 10 cents for every dollar of lost benefits to consumers, and their take may well end up being less than one cent per dollar. Unfortunately, the New York Times never mentioned these losses at all, ignoring the well-known benefits of free trade.
Moyers & Co. Cites FAIR on Media Consolidation
Michael Corcoran, writing in Moyers & Company, cites FAIR’s critique of media deregulation in the 1990s.
ACTION ALERT: Stop Mega-Cable Merger to Avoid a Second Comcast
Americans who hate Comcast largely for reasons related to its very bigness are now facing the possibility of, essentially, another Comcast–as the result of a possible merger between Time Warner, Charter Communications and Bright House Networks.
‘We Need Free Speech Protections Across All of Those Networks’
“We’re talking about very powerful phone and cable companies here…. They’ve deployed their lobbyists to try and get Congress to pass new legislation that would somehow take away the FCC’s authority to protect the open internet.”
