by Wes Abney
Business Manager

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants to allow individual companies (and owners) to control major media outlets such as of newspapers, television stations and news stations.

This affects anyone who ever turns on a TV or picks up a newspaper.

This might appear to be a trite shift in policy—something to be covered on the back page of The Times and shoved out of mind— but that exactly what the media magnates want to happen.

So what exactly is the plan?
The FCC, specifically chairman Kevin Martin, wants to change media laws that have been in place for 32 years. Current policies ban major media companies from operating both newspapers and other forms of news or alternative media.

This means that the same guy who owns a newspaper can’t be pushing his bias through your local news on the TV or running his agenda over the radio.

That makes sense, right?
Not to chairman Martin, though, and not to the big money businessmen of the media.

The details of the new deal are simple: The change in the ban would affect only the top 20 markets in the country. In other words, only the largest commodity audience in the country will see changes.

Coincidentally, this alteration is also coming at the peak of negotiations for an $8.2 billion deal revolving around News Corp. and the Tribune Co. Behind the deal is billionaire Sam Zell, who could be the next formidable Rupert Murdoch. Follow the crumbs further, and the reality isn’t so nice.

The best way to understand the deal is to follow the money. If it passes, a select few make untold billions of dollars and tighten their hold on America’s media.

To me, this isn’t suprising. In fact, it makes sense because it isn’t the first time the FCC has overlooked previous policies and laws in the face of corporate money.

But in the media we trust?
The only thing we can trust in the media is that it looks out for itself, and this includes the messages they send us.

It is a direct loss of voice, of alternative opinions and of our democratic right to be independently informed of what is happening in our country.

If you ask me, this isn’t just frustrating— it’s downright scary. But quick, turn on the national news networks—wait—you won’t hear anything about the mergers, the money or the fact that our right to independent, unbiased journalism is quickly being traded away right in front of us.

So what can we do? Attacking big media is like throwing water balloons at an elephant, so trying to fight on their territory is completely ineffective.

Instead, raise awareness, look for news beyond the national networks, and read the Ebbtide.

At least it’s relevant to you.