Recovered from FSRN’s earlier site via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The audio here is FSRN’s own production recording. Originally published March 24, 2010.
This week a federal court lifted a ban that prohibits companies from owning multiple media platforms - such as a television station and a newspaper - within the same market. The federal Court of Appeals for the Third District issued the temporary removal of the ban in a decision on Tuesday. The case dates back to former FCC Chair Michael Powell and his efforts to remove the ban on cross-ownership in large media markets. Media watchdog groups have said that removing the ban could lead to further consolidation in a media system increasingly controlled by large companies. Supporters say it's a necessary step to encourage competition.
Jonathan Lawson is executive director for Reclaim the Media, a grassroots media justice organization based in Seattle.
