Washington Post Endorses Comcast-NBC: Ironically Proves Dangers of Mega-Merger

[Commentary] The Washington Post published a piece of unabashed corporate advocacy, arguing that the pending mega-merger of cable giant Comcast and NBC-Universal should be swiftly approved by regulators.

The editorial claims that media concentration is not a problem, and that "advocacy groups (opposing consolidation) have been poor prognosticators of the effects of large media mergers." The great irony of the Post's endorsement is that the editorial itself is a poignant example of why the Comcast-NBC merger is so dangerous. When media companies control too much, their own interests -- and opinions -- directly conflict with the public's desperate need for sound policy and diverse, independent, critical viewpoints.

The Post is not a disinterested or neutral observer in this case. The Washington Post Company owns Cable One, provider of television, Internet and phone services to several states. They own six television stations, a long list of print publications, plus Slate.com, Foreign Policy and other online sites. Yes, the op-ed technically discloses this, but fails to disclose how greatly these interests influence the Post's position on this issue.