The more Americans learn about federal changes that lift restrictions on companies owning different media outlets in the same city, the less they like it, a new poll suggests.
The public has been increasingly concerned in recent years about the independence of the press. New rules passed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission allowing more concentrated ownership appear to have heightened those fears, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
Half in that poll, 50 per cent, said they think allowing companies to own more broadcast and newspaper operations in the same city will have a negative effect. Only 10 per cent said that would have a positive effect.
About a third said in February that the concentrated ownership of media outlets in a city would have a negative effect. But few people at that time had been paying much attention to ongoing efforts to change the media ownership rules.
Seven in 10 in the new poll said they think news organizations are often influenced by powerful people and organizations.
http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030713.wmedi713/BNStory/Business/If we could only advertise the DU for 1 week on CNN, MSNBC, and CBS, I think we could have The Bush Crime Family in Guantanamo Bay for the rest of their God given lives!
http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/