WHEREAS:
America's airwaves are the property of the people, and the people rightfully expect their airwaves to be used in the public interest and for community-oriented communications; and
WHEREAS:
The public's right to "an uninhibited marketplace of ideas" is jeopardized unless Americans are free to receive independent news, information, ideas, and opinions from diverse sources; and
WHEREAS:
A handful of corporations, such as General Electric, which owns NBC, Disney (ABC), Viacom (CBS), News Corp. (Fox), Time Warner (CNN and AOL), and Clear Channel (1,200 radio stations in 300 markets), now control nearly all of America's major sources of news and information; and
WHEREAS:
Disney recently prohibited one of its subsidiaries, Miramax, from distributing Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which examines the personal and financial relationship between the Bush family and Saudi Arabian royalty, claiming that the film is too political, but at the same time Disney owns WABC in New York, WMAL in Washington, WLS in Chicago, KABC in Los Angeles, and KSFO in San Francisco, all of which broadcast conservative radio programs such as Rush Limbaugh; and
WHEREAS:
The Sinclair Broadcast Group -- which owns and operates dozens of local television stations from its corporate headquarters near Baltimore and is controlled by a family whose members regularly make large donations to conservative candidates and causes -- refused to air the April 30, 2004 edition of the ABC News program Nightline in which Ted Koppel honored those Americans killed in Iraq by reading their names and displaying their photographs; and
WHEREAS:
A recent poll by the Program on International Policy Attitudes showed that the frequency of misperceptions about the war with Iraq varies significantly according to individuals' primary source of news; and
WHEREAS:
The Project for Excellence in Journalism and other organizations have found that increased consolidation in the news business has led to a decline in the quality of local news, and increased commercialization and homogenization of news, entertainment, and information; and
WHEREAS:
Corporate dominance of local media outlets has led to decreased coverage of labor, consumer, environmental, and minority issues; and
WHEREAS:
Media consolidations have played a major role in tens of thousands of layoffs, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 70,000 media workers have lost their jobs since 2000; and
WHEREAS:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is attempting to do away with longstanding rules intended to protect and promote diversity among those who own and control media outlets and to prevent the growth of media monopolies.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME condemn the dearth of independent news and information and the slanting of news reported by profit-driven corporate giants; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge the FCC to retain and enforce its rules and regulations designed to ensure diversity and competition in local media; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME seek to work with a broad-based coalition of organizations, including the Writers and Screen Actors Guilds, journalism associations, and civil rights and consumer advocates, to oppose attempts to weaken FCC rules and regulations, and to seek enforcement of those rules and regulations that have long provided for a free exchange of diverse ideas and opinions.
SUBMITTED BY:
International Executive Board