freepress - media policy 101

1) this work is licensed under a creative Commons license http://creativecommons.org/

2) this is part of a larger media reform Toolkit

3) the average American spends over four hours a day watching TV - I don't even own a TV...and I work for a station - figure that out

4) media companies create content that attract the best audience for advertisers. What ever happened to the concept of public media? how could this happen if the public "owns the airwaves"? was this ever written as law? to me public interest=public media...look at the BBC

5) Clear Channel owns more than 10% of the radio stations across the country. Clear Channel is in the business of "selling product". news, information and researched music do not appear on clear channel stations

6) how do we attack the problem? should we advocate for more independent media creators, creating restrictions and policy on the distribution mechanism or the policy that governs how these companies do business?

7) How can the public effectively lobby against $222 million? who should be lobbying?

8) how can the public prove that Fox News does not serve public interest? ever see outfoxed?

9) what would it look like for media companies to prove that they are meeting public-interest obligations? how would they try to get around this?