[CLUE-Talk] FCC Deregulation Debate

[Jed S. Baer]

On Tue, 7 Jan 2003 13:26:53 -0800 (PST)
Keith Christian <keithchristian at yahoo.com> wrote:

> If one wants to witness more of the 'tyranny of the majority' then watch
> what happens if this deregulation takes place.
> 
> Who do the media giants think they're kidding?  What would drive or
> foster diversity of opinion in a climate like that?
> 
> (Let 'em all merge...then they could call themselves "Pravda.")

I recall an anectode from the days of the USSR. There were 2 official
publications; Izvetzia (interest?), and Pravda (truth). So there was a
saying: There's no Izvetzia in Pravda, and no Pravda in Izvetzia.

Well, I guess I'd have to disagree with "tyranny", but I recognize the
sentiment behind it. Maybe "monotony"?

The thing is, I think we're not too far from an era when the ability to
provide content, especially in the area of music, is going to be too
widespread. IOW, as digital capabilities, and connectivity, become more
widespread, artists won't be as reliant on the major media companies for
distribution. Yes, there are areas where the production expenses are "out
of reach", such as movies. But independents are gaining ground. I don't
have the bandwidth to pursue building a collection this way, but I've
found some good music online, distributed freely by the artists at their
website, or via an affiliate "underground" marketing group. Check out
http://www.iuma.org/ for example -- not free, but not RIAA either. If you
like alternative stuff, look up "Loons in the Monastery".

The news industry is maybe a little different. I don't know, for example,
whether an independent reporter, operating of a donation/subscription
weblog, could make a go of it. Would such an individual be able to get
press passes, and other "access" required for the "big stories". Or are
the big stories really the ones that you don't get by going to listen to
Ari Fleischer drivel on? ;-) Heck, there are already plenty of "indy"
reporters and photojournalists. Most of them, AFAIK, make money by selling
stories to AP, UPI, etc.

jed
-- 
We're frogs who are getting boiled in a pot full of single-character
morphemes, and we don't notice. - Larry Wall; Perl6, Apocalypse 5