Independent Media

Ever wish you could go into your local radio station and just stomp up and down on that one CD they have? You know, the one with about twenty or so songs on it that they seem to just keep playing over and over again. I must admit, I live in the LA area and our stations probably have about two CDs each, which means I only here the same song twice every couple hours.

I digress.

This is bigger than our need to listen to a diverse array of artists and songs. What's really at stake is our access to timely information that can help us make sense of the world around us. The graph below, found at the Media Reform Center, graphically illustrates just how few corporations are controlling the media now.



Why does this matter you ask? Our media are our windows into the world. Imagine we are in a house that has hundreds and hundreds of windows, but over the years we have allowed these corporations to board up one window after another as they consolidate and merge. Even just twenty years ago we had over fifty big windows to look around and see what's going on outside. But they just kept boarding up the windows until now we only have five. There's still a ton of stuff going on out there but it's harder and harder to see it.

We saw this happen with the build up to invading Iraq. We looked out our windows and saw a lot of retired generals and supporters for the war tell us how necessary it was; how important it was that we go over there and get those weapons of mass destruction that weren't there. We didn't get to look through those old boarded up windows where the millions of Americans were rallying against the war and explaining why it was such a bad idea.

Whether you believe in the myth of the liberal media or not, I think we can all agree that the major media outlets are failing us. It took nearly a month for the American press to pick up on the Downing Street Memo. Again and again the mainstream press in this country has failed to ask the tough questions. We need serious reform. And we need you to get involved.

A great place to begin is the Media Reform Information Center. There are a ton of resources to help you learn more about this important issue. One very important thing I want to suggest is that you support community radio in your area. You can begin by clicking here to urge your senators and representatives to support the The Localism in Broadcasting Reform Act sponsored by Senator McCaine.

The legislation would require the FCC to audit five percent of license and renewal applications to ensure that stations are living up to their "public interest" obligations, and would allow listners to formally challenge stations that aren't.

Another great way to help is to become a listener sponsor of Pacifica Radio. They are hosting their annual spring fund drive now. It is community based radio at its best. They depend on the support of listeners like us to keep Free Speech alive and well in this country. If you haven't listened to Pacifica, you don't know what you've been missing. You'll hear voices like Noam Chomsky, Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein, Gore Vidal, Howard Zinn, Ralph Nader and a host of other activists and visionaries that are working to make this a better world.

Get involved. We need you. We need you to care. We need your help. We can make a difference. Tell your friends about Pacifica. Find your own local community radio stations and get involved!

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