Coverage of research release

On Monday, October 23, the Benton Foundation and the Social Science Research Council released four independent academic studies on the impact of media consolidation in the U.S. The studies are intended to inform the FCC's re-examination of media ownership restrictions and have been filed with the FCC during the initial public comment period.

The studies focus on how the concentration of media ownership affect media content -- from local news reporting to radio music programming -- and how minority groups have fared –- as both media outlet owners and as historically-undeserved audiences -- in an increasingly deregulated media environment. These studies make clear that media consolidation does not correlate with better, more local or more diverse media content. To the contrary, they strongly suggest that media ownership rules should be tightened, not relaxed. (See findings and recommendations)

The release has garnered wide press coverage. Through the links below, you can get a taste of how far and wide word of the research has spread.

Even before the release, trade magazine Broadcasting&Cable reported on our telephone press conference with SSRC and the researchers. Benton President and former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani helped frame that discussion. See--

New Ownership Studies Expected
Broadcasting&Cable
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6383555.html?display=Search+R...

Before the press conference, the Associated Press requested to review the studies and provide a wire story for Monday October 23. This led to a story by Hope Yen that was picked up by many outlets including:

But the coverage extended beyond reprinting the Associated Press story. Here's a sampling of stories about or mentioning our research:

Here's how Communications Daily covered the research:

FCC radio ownership limits are exceeded in 104 cities, or 35% of U.S. markets, said a report arguing against media deregulation. Among large broadcasters, Clear Channel most often exceeds caps, said the report, paid for by the Benton Foundation and the Social Science Research Council.

Stations whose owners exceed limits detract from programming diversity because they're less likely to air jazz and classical music, it said: "Instead, they focus on a relatively narrow range of format categories." Radio serves diverse audiences including minorities, NAB said in comments on the FCC media ownership review. Comments began trickling in from industry ahead of a Mon. deadline. "Radio programming diversity has continued to increase since" the Telecom Act of 1996, NAB said, stumping for "continuing relaxation of the radio ownership rules." The group asked the FCC let a company own more than one TV station in any market and permit cross- ownership of newspapers by broadcasters. Broadcasters joined NAB in asking the FCC to ease ownership rules. The ban on a company's owning 2 stations in a city is outdated, Gray TV said: "The Commission should eliminate the duopoly rule as a relic of the pre-Internet past, or, at the very least, adopt a waiver policy that recognizes today's marketplace realities." The Commission should allow ownership of 2 TV stations when their combined audience share would be 30% or less and satisfy certain FTC merger guidelines, said Hearst- Argyle. It called a cross-ownership ban unnecessary.

In addition, Gloria Tristani has been interviewed for radio as well:

  • CNN Radio taping with Matt Cherry 10/23
  • KPFA Pacifica Radio (Berkeley) with Sarah Wolcott for 6:00pm evening news on 10/24
  • WWRL 1600 AM (NYC) Air America 6:05 AM morning talk show with A. Williams and S. Greenfield on 10/25
  • Taping for XM Public Radio - ½ hour - (Segment Blame the Media) to air Sat. evening
  • FAIR/Counterspin http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2979

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