AllAccess reports that the FCC will be holding a Media Ownership Forum at South Florida University in Tampa on April 20th. They will have a panel to discuss newspaper cross-ownership of radio.
I have long believed that the banning of newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership was the beginning of the end for both radio and newspapers. For over 40 years, since the birth of radio, stations had been owned by newspapers. Quite often they were among the best radio stations in their market. The synergies between local news staffs was incredible, and led to more news coverage for listeners. The cross-ownership ban came along 20 years before the 1996 Telecom Act, and I believe if cross ownership had been allowed, there would have been no need for relaxing ownership laws in 1996.
One of the most notable cases of the results of the cross ownership ban was in Washington, where the Star newspaper owned WMAL-AM/FM/TV. As a result of the ban, the Star sold the AM & FM to ABC, and the Star owner, Joe Albritton kept the TV station. Shortly afterwards the Star newspaper shut down. The loss of the broadcasting income made it impossible for the afternoon newspaper in the nation's capital to operate. And this happened 25 years ago.
Some newspapers have been fortunate to get waivers that allowed them to retain their broadcasting properties. Examples include the Dallas Morning News, the Atlanta Constitution, and the Chicago Tribune. All have done stellar work in ther communities, and have not misused their power for political or financial gain. Then again, that is the primary purpose of regulation, to prevent abuse of power. That would be the case even if there was no cross-ownership. Unfortunately, the FCC has had a long history of falling asleep at the wheel. They banned cross ownership, not because there were examples of abuse, but because the FCC didn't want the responsibility to watch for it. That has to change.
Without a change in the current cross-ownership ban, we will continue to see newspapers go bankrupt, and continue to see radio stations unable to afford local news coverage. This is a win-win for democracy, because it provides funding for real journalism, and allows it to spread across multiple platforms. I encourage the FCC to seriously consider ending the ban on broadcast-newspaper cross ownership.
I have long believed that the banning of newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership was the beginning of the end for both radio and newspapers. For over 40 years, since the birth of radio, stations had been owned by newspapers. Quite often they were among the best radio stations in their market. The synergies between local news staffs was incredible, and led to more news coverage for listeners. The cross-ownership ban came along 20 years before the 1996 Telecom Act, and I believe if cross ownership had been allowed, there would have been no need for relaxing ownership laws in 1996.
One of the most notable cases of the results of the cross ownership ban was in Washington, where the Star newspaper owned WMAL-AM/FM/TV. As a result of the ban, the Star sold the AM & FM to ABC, and the Star owner, Joe Albritton kept the TV station. Shortly afterwards the Star newspaper shut down. The loss of the broadcasting income made it impossible for the afternoon newspaper in the nation's capital to operate. And this happened 25 years ago.
Some newspapers have been fortunate to get waivers that allowed them to retain their broadcasting properties. Examples include the Dallas Morning News, the Atlanta Constitution, and the Chicago Tribune. All have done stellar work in ther communities, and have not misused their power for political or financial gain. Then again, that is the primary purpose of regulation, to prevent abuse of power. That would be the case even if there was no cross-ownership. Unfortunately, the FCC has had a long history of falling asleep at the wheel. They banned cross ownership, not because there were examples of abuse, but because the FCC didn't want the responsibility to watch for it. That has to change.
Without a change in the current cross-ownership ban, we will continue to see newspapers go bankrupt, and continue to see radio stations unable to afford local news coverage. This is a win-win for democracy, because it provides funding for real journalism, and allows it to spread across multiple platforms. I encourage the FCC to seriously consider ending the ban on broadcast-newspaper cross ownership.
