Congressional Offices, Media Analysts, Peace Groups to Hold Press Conference on Local Effects of Changes in Media Ownership Rules

Women for Peace Tells the FCC: “Stop Playing Media Monopoly!”

For immediate release

Press conference: 1:30 pm Tues May 27 in the Senate Parlor, 2^nd floor of the State Capitol

On Tuesday, May 27 at 1:30 pm in the Senate Parlor room of the State Capitol building, a coalition including the offices of Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl and Congresswoman Baldwin, State Representative Mark Pocan, media analysts and peace activists will hold a press conference to highlight the local impact of likely changes in media ownership rules.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will decide on June 2 whether to further relax the restrictions governing corporate ownership of media outlets. The FCC is accepting public comments on the issue until May 30 at www.fcc.gov. Media analysts have called the proposed changes, which have not been made fully public, the most sweeping revisions since the controversial 1996 Telecommunications Act. Legislators, independent media and community organizations have expressed concern at the lack of public input and the refusal of FCC chairman Michael Powell to delay the vote in order to allow further study and debate. Nevertheless, the FCC is expected to pass the changes on a party-line vote.

Confirmed speakers at Tuesday’s press conference include representatives from the offices of both WI Senators and Congresswoman Baldwin, State Representative Mark Pocan, Director of the Center for Media and Democracy Laura Miller, WORT 89.9 fm News Director Jill Hopke, Lea Zeldin of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Amy Fuelleman of Women for Peace.

“Although Commissioner Powell has not released the details of the proposals under consideration, we do know enough to be able to predict how such changes may affect the Madison area,” said Women for Peace member Amy Fuelleman. “We organized a coalition of concerned legislators, media experts and peace groups, and will present our findings on Tuesday May 27.”

In a May 19^th letter to Michael Powell, Senator Feingold stated, “These changes would move this country closer to a time when the media is dominated by a small number of national companies that are completely out of the reach of local ownership and control.”

Women for Peace, the group organizing the press conference, is calling on the FCC to reject the proposed changes in media ownership rules and “Stop Playing Media Monopoly!” They will explain likely changes in Madison media using visuals from the popular board game Monopoly.

“Access to varied and independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Women for Peace member Diane Farsetta. “If corporations are allowed to gain ownership of more and more media outlets, the range of stories, features, opinions and analyses aired will decrease. We urge the FCC to stop playing games with the media and strengthen current safeguards to ensure the system does not become a monopoly.”

Women for Peace formed following a Madison peace rally on International Women’s Day, March 8, which saw hundreds of women brave a blizzard to encircle the State Capitol building in pink rope. The group’s ongoing “Media Tour of Shame,” which first focused on FOX TV, raises concerns regarding the quality and outsourcing of local news reporting.

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