CHICAGO MEDIA ACTION ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER: July 1, 2003 http://www.chicagomediaaction.org (1) What's Happening in Media Politics Good news: On June 19, 2003, the FCC Senate Commerce Committee--in a voice vote--rejected the FCC deregulation vote of June 2. The matter now goes to the Senate and to the House and rides a wave of momentum. This Committee vote is a testament to the growing public outcry over media concentration. The vote itself restores: the 35% TV ownership rule and the newspaper/TV cross-ownership rule, and further eliminates an exemption for radio conglomerates to maintain violations (that part passed 12-11). What's more, the FCC is now required to hold at least five official public hearings across the U.S. Different pro-diversity legislation is also being drafted and presented. S. 1046, the Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Act of 2003, is advanced by Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and Ted Stevens (R-AL). There's even talk of rescinding the FCC deregulation efforts by adding appropriation bill riders, which would prevent the deregulation from being funded, and by use of a "resolution of diapproval"--a seldom-used parliamentary maneuver to force a vote to override the FCC without presidential approval. (2) What's happening with CMA and locally? CMA organized a protest against FCC Chair Michael Powell on June 10 at McCormick Place--to coincide with Powell's arrival and speech at a conference of the National Cable Telecommunications Assocation. Though CMA didn't able to meet Powell, CMA did meet another FCC Commissioner-- Republican Kevin Martin. (Photos of the protest and of Mr. Martin are posted on the CMA website). We're planning to reorganize the CMA website and give the site a badly- needed redesign. We're growing our active membership and forming specialized committees on specific issues--so far, we have radio, WTTW, Media Monitoring, and the FCC. If you're interested in getting more involved with these committees, contact CMA. (3) Random factoid about the media In 1943, the FCC forced the National Broadcasting Company to sell one of its two networks. That network, the NBC Blue Network, became the American Broadcasting Company--ABC. (4) Announcements We're co-organizing (with the Chicago Independent Media Center and Redline Radio) the We The Media celebration--a party involving a lot of independent media outlets from across Chicago. We The Media will be held Friday, July 4, at buddy, 1542 N. Milwaukee in Chicago (near the Damen stop on the Blue Line). We encourage you to come. See details at: http://chicago.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=27657&group=webcast There's talk of having a protest at a Michael Powell-connected firm with offices in Chicago. Watch for more details. This is the monthly electronic newsletter of 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: www.chicagomediaaction.org; email: cma@chicagomediaaction.org