Journalism Advanced By Digital Media, But Hurt By Consolidation, Say Copps, Others

"Innovation is affecting the way media stations report and how we, as individuals, consume information,” Clyburn said. Many communities are grappling with a situation “where they feel that they have more access to information, but get less news, and that there is a threat of information over-load, but not as much practical engagement,” she said. Cutbacks in newsrooms, standardized programming and other shortcomings in media resulted from private sector media consolidation, Copps said. The result has been “true investigative journalism on the endangered species list,” real news replaced by glitzy entertainment, and local and regional music replaced by “stultifying, creativity-killing playlists and national music homogeneity,” he said.

Copps criticized the two previous commissions for easing up on existing enforcement procedures and approving too many consolidation efforts. They helped the big companies travel down the same road when the Internet and new media emerged, he said: It was “consolidation blessed by government, no real public interest oversight and access to perhaps the most dynamic and opportunity-creating technology ever devised put into the hands of a few huge telecommunications giants."

Copps also urged a change in media ownership: If “we want more diversity in our stories … then we need more diversity in who owns our media outlets.” Just eight full power TV stations nationwide are owned by African-Americans, and ownership is about 3 percent among all minorities, said Joseph Torres, government affairs senior adviser at Free Press. The FCC should address ownership, he said during a panel. “We need policies to be able to tell our stories.” He also urged an end to media consolidation. Data on minority and female ownership and management of TV and radio stations “is slim and until we have a handle on the specifics of the state of minority and female ownership and management, few concrete conclusions can be drawn and few solutions, even if they are warranted, can be instituted,” Clyburn said.

The commission “has failed to regulate media in the public interest,” said Heather Gray, president of the WRFG(FM) Broadcasting Foundation. WRFG is the only community radio station in Atlanta. She urged the FCC to change the way spectrum is allocated to help boost the number of nonprofit community media outlets. The government auctions off frequencies, which are owned by the public, she said. Instead, the frequencies should be given to the community for use by non-commercial broadcasters to serve their communities, she said: “Commercial media should be required to pay for the right of making use of the frequencies."

Public broadcasting stations are reaching more people with digital tools, said John Weatherford, chief operating officer at Public Broadcasting Atlanta: “There’s much more to Public Broadcasting Atlanta than just a TV station and a radio station.” The network provides a public square website where citizens can connect with public officials on important issues, he said. The network also distributes content with mobile video, smartphone applications and other digital media. PBA “will always be a strong complement for local community news organizations,” he added. A “PBS on steroids” is possible, said Gray, referring to a term previously used by Copps. Despite the cost, “other nations have found ways to support” the PBS on steroids concept, she said.