FCC order "Fair and Balanced?"

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 15:24:39 -0600 (MDT)
> From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat org>
>
>
>
> Dave:
>
> In a press release that stretches the bounds of credulity (see
> http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2003/db0602/DOC-235047A1.pdf),
> the FCC claims that its relaxation of media concentration rules, which will
> ensure that large corporations are able to dominate all major media outlets,
> are "balanced" and "in the public interest." The release fails even to mention
> the views of two of the five commissioners, most especially the scathing
> dissent of Commissioner Michael J. Copps (which can be found at
> http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2003/db0602/DOC-235047A9.pdf;
> it's far to long to reproduce here).
>
> While the analysis in Copps' dissent puts the lie to many of the claims made
> in the FCC's "official" press release, the release fails to mention, except in
> a footnote, that Copps dissented at all -- much less the content of his
> dissent. In fact, it does not mention that there was a controversy among the
> Commissioners, nor that comments from the public at large were in virtually
> unanimous opposition to the relaxation of ownership restrictions.
>
> Is the FCC's one sided press release an example of the "fair and balanced"
> reporting we can expect under its new rules? Many, including myself, fear
> that it is.
>
> --Brett Glass


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