CHICAGO MEDIA ACTION NEWSLETTER: July 5, 2007
http://www.chicagomediaaction.org

In this month's newsletter...

* The fate of CMA's Petition to Deny from 2005 is revealed
* The amended Illinois video franchise becomes law
* A host of radio-related action in Congress
* The Tribune company faces a challenge to its planned ownership changeover
* Study: "91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming is conservative"

(1) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SUGGESTED ACTIONS

* A new opportunity for Low Power FM radio has been launched.  On June 21, federal legislation to expand low power FM radio to cities across America entered considerating in Congress.  Read more and act:

http://prometheusradio.org/content/view/524/1/

* If you live in the Illinois counties of Kendall, Will, or Dupage -- take note.  There are coalition efforts underway in those counties now to use an opportunity in October 2007 to bring high-power noncommercial radio to those counties.  Others in predominantly rural communities elsewhere in the U.S. may also be able to use this opportunity as well.  Read more:

http://www.chicagomediaaction.org/news.php?id=536

http://www.radioforpeople.org

* The U.S. government is still trying to impose devastating rate hikes for both internet radio broadcasters and small-scale magazine publishers.  Grassroots campaigns have emerged to address both concerns (including emergency court actions and legislation introduced in Congress).  Learn more and get involved:

http://www.savenetradio.org/

http://www.saveourinternetradio.com/

http://action.freepress.net//campaign/postal


(2) WHAT'S NEW WITH CMA?

* On June 12, CMA received word that the petition to deny filed in November 2005 at the FCC was declined.  Coverage of the denial, including a statement from CMA in response, is here:

http://www.chicagomediaaction.org/news.php?id=547

http://www.chicagomediaaction.org/news.php?id=546

* At least five CMA members participated in the first joint public meeting involving representatives of both Chicago's primary PBS and NPR affiliates, WTTW television and WBEZ. 

(3) WHAT'S NEW IN MEDIA POLITICS?

* HB1500, the previously dismal proposed Illinois state video franchise bill, has been significantly amended to incorporate greater funds for municipalities, public access channels, and consumer rights.  The amended bill, SB 678, was approved by the Illinois Senate, 54-0, following unanimous approval in the Illinois State House.  (Breaking development: On July 3, Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich signed SB 678 into law.)

This state franchise bill includes considerable funding and protections for public access television (like Chicago's CAN TV), consumers' rights, and municipal-rights-of-way.  Even so, some activists argue that the bill is still not apt to improve media and internet infrastructure in Illinois.  Read more:

http://www.chicagomediaaction.org/news.php?id=553

http://www.keepusconnected.org

* The Fairness Doctrine, which required U.S. broadcasters to provide coverage of different viewpoints and which the FCC discarded in 1985, was brought to a vote for restoration in the U.S. House on June 28, but was defeated by a 309-115 vote.  Read more:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/fairness-doctrine-hammered-309-115-2007-06-28.html

* On June 11, the Tribune company -- which is in the process of a change of ownership -- faced a legal challenge by the United Church of Christ and Media Alliance, arguing that the company's illegal duopolies can't be permitted amid an ownership change.  More details are available at the website of the Media Access Project:

http://www.mediaaccess.org


(4) FACT OF THE MONTH

An analysis by the Center for American Progress and Free Press reveals that "in the spring of 2007 of the 257 news/talk stations owned by the top five commercial station owners reveals that 91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming is conservative, and 9 percent is progressive."  (Chicago, one of the cities examined in the study, was one of the most "balanced" cities examined -- with 53% conservative content.)  Read more:

http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=246

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This is an email from Chicago Media Action, a Chicago activist group devoted to media issues.

Chicago Media Action, P.O. Box 14140, Chicago IL 60614-0140
Call toll-free: 1-866-260-7198
Web: http://www.chicagomediaaction.org
E-mail: cma@chicagomediaaction.org

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