FCC Endorses Junk News Resent-Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:54:29 -0500 (CDT) Media Reform Daily http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=_KV5mLjnRe7Et9PSwTpHbQ.. News of the movement for May 7, 2008 --ANNOUNCEMENT-- Join policymakers, scholars, media producers, grassroots activists and concerned citizens in Minneapolis at the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform June 6-8. Program details are now available. Room discounts end Friday, May 9 -- so book your hotel now. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=qksyfofYT_Jp71zCT_eeVw.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=XrBhxsyZbBo0RlvUmRTzUA.. --SAVE THE INTERNET-- HOUSE TAKES UP NET NEUTRALITY DEBATE A House subcommittee held a hearing to consider legislation that would codify broad principles intended to prevent Internet service providers from slowing or degrading the delivery of certain content over their networks. Kenneth Corbin, Internet News http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=afLar2Azt1wK8Wb6QCt1gw.. HOUSE COMMITTEE DEBATES INTERNET PRESERVATION In a House hearing on the Internet, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) argued that without regulatory intervention, ISPs could pick and choose who gets what content or Internet speeds. Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=arFot3bvGjeurnY8Epv1qA.. MARKEY FAULTS HOLLYWOOD ON NET NEUTRALITY Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) accused the entertainment industry of pulling a bait and switch as Hollywood attempts to paint the Net Neutrality rules as a safe harbor for copyright pirates. Brooks Boliek, Hollywood Reporter http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=YzIDBdw70ffz2SrNACJs9A.. MARKEY SAYS LEGISLATION WOULD PROMOTE NET DIVERSITY Although some leading Net Neutrality advocates would like stronger regulations, they consider the Internet Freedom Preservation Act a good compromise. Wendy Davis, Media Post http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=yd22ijyMigH1eIwd50TeqA.. FEW ARE NEUTRAL IN NET NEUTRALITY BATTLES Supporters and opponents of Net Neutrality tussled over proposed legislation that would guarantee the right of all Internet users to access content equally. Martin H. Bosworth, Consumer Affairs http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=8IRCGY7HDk3vhoy7_kjkQA.. WRITERS GUILD, WEST STEPS UP FIGHT FOR INTERNET FREEDOM The Writers Guild of America, West continues to take a strong stance on the principle of Net Neutrality as necessary public policy to preserve Internet freedom. Writers Guild of America, West http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=v6QL9_cdfAJ-D0kE8s8vbA.. SENATOR TO ISPS: 'THINK TWICE' ABOUT NET NEUTRALITY -- OR ELSE Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) stepped in front of a group of tech executives in Washington to deliver a sharp defense of Net Neutrality. Nate Anderson, Ars technica http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=IYjoNKfQiD9Yx6xD0wrx7A.. COMCAST CONSIDERING 250GB CAP, OVERAGE FEES Comcast is considering implementing very clear monthly caps, and may begin charging overage fees for customers who cross them. Broadband Reports http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=1b6iryOkrJJAOymWymt8iA.. ACT NOW! Support the Internet Freedom Preservation Act http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=p34uouNGQfzvdioI0bWrDg.. --NO FAKE NEWS-- INVESTIGATE THE PENTAGON PUNDIT PROJECT - AND THE NEW YORK TIMES - YOURSELF, ONLINE Did the New York Times run a hit piece on a group of former generals working as television analysts? Or have the networks purposely ignored a major story that implicates them in Pentagon propaganda-pushing? Noah Shachtman, Wired http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=40nvChwGcY2HW6e4fn3J-w.. HILL WANTS FCC TO INVESTIGATE DoD 'EXPERTS' PROGRAM A pair of powerful legislators wants to know whether news networks bear any culpability related to a Department of Defense program to recruit ex-military officers to talk up Iraq and other pro-war policies on TV, online and elsewhere. John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=b0Pgb4ZmawZEeTHmkrCyBA.. FCC ASKED TO PROBE TV 'SURROGATES' BY TOP LAWMAKERS Two top lawmakers have asked the FCC to investigate the Pentagon's use of retired military officers as "surrogates" on television news. Daniel Kimmel, Variety http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=myTmjsN9rm0f6wHxKS4GaQ.. --JOURNALISM & BEYOND-- FCC ENDORSES JUNK NEWS, CALLS FOX'S TMZ AND 700 CLUB 'BONA FIDE NEWSCASTS' Hard-hitting journalism is nearing extinction on television, and the FCC just threw another shovelful of dirt on its grave when it recently ruled that Rupert Murdoch's broadcast of TMZ and Pat Robertson's 700 Club meet the test for "a bona fide newscast." Josh Silver, Huffington Post http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=dTjDOvFp1__zApaeSBSL_A.. ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PREDICT As downsizing news outlets endeavor to "do more with less," one might think old-fashioned reporting and analysis would be enough to keep them occupied. But no. Welcome to the age of all the news that's fit to predict. Brian Lowry, Variety http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=tAq7nSsS4G3gOc21WfaFrw.. GETTING ON THE IPHONE If it wasn't bad enough that newspapers are dying as Web-based rivals thrive, now media companies will have to get by Apple's Steve Jobs if they hope to secure a prime spot that could give them the best shot at digital relevance. Forbes http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=4Pl1OEoiIUW4nZ_ysFLTZA.. MEDIA ETHICS SINCE THE JAYSON BLAIR BOMBSHELL In the five years since the Blair scandal, all kinds of media organizations have been working harder to protect themselves from a similar situation. Jon Friedman, MarketWatch http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=TicYA6mkyCLxJujv2ZL4Jg.. U.S. NEWSPAPER GLOOM OVERSHADOWS INDUSTRY SURVEY The gloom hanging over the U.S. newspaper industry is distorting an otherwise optimistic mood among the world's newspaper editors, according to a global survey of newsroom opinion. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, Financial Times http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=bVQzk1WLYKv5-8ssn0rBQA.. MEDIA REFORM CONFERENCE SPEAKERS TO INCLUDE COLUMNISTS Several syndicated columnists will be among the speakers at the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform, which takes place June 6-8 in Minneapolis. Editor & Publisher http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=rPygjRg3fZsj3s5vGYhQxA.. --FEATURE-- ACT NOW The FCC just ruled that Fox's celebrity gossip show "TMZ" qualifies as a "bona fide newscast" -- making it even easier for Big Media companies to replace real journalism with cheap junk news. Stop the giveaway at StopBigMedia.com http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=EOgZ0o68Dtkk3hNR-N8Dog.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=VCfctt6RZus5G8Xl0RIT7Q.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=YLbAtCI5j2N2dAPK5AwgZA.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=b7LcXCJj4ftNe3eLZtnXGA.. FP ACTION NETWORK http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=ndRMGzBmsae_dQ6XN_2m-g.. --IN OTHER NEWS-- A TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIUM PLANS A WIRELESS NETWORK A who's who of technology and telecom companies intends to build the first of a new generation of nationwide wireless data networks. The consortium includes Sprint Nextel, Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner and Clearwire. Matt Richtel, New York Times http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=4UE1pb3xYkerq67BouNniw.. BIG TECH FIRMS TO INVEST IN WIRELESS The race to bring consumers ultrafast wireless Internet service is on as an unlikely alliance of media titans will take on rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Amol Sharma and Vishesh Kumar, Wall Street Journal http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=MnJHXVCbWv_S4qTV3DpdgA.. '03 WHITE HOUSE E-MAILS NOT FOUND The Bush administration has not found disaster recovery files for White House e-mails from a three-month time period in 2003, raising the possibility that messages sent before and after the invasion of Iraq may never be recovered. Dan Eggen, Washington Post http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=VhZlOcH_iUN50q_dsshNTQ.. FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER FOUNDING YAHOO, THIS MAN HAS EIGHT WEEKS TO SAVE IT For Jerry Yang, July 3 will loom very large in his diary. Yahoo -- the company he co-founded 14 years ago -- has set for its annual shareholder meeting where he'll face dismayed and angry investors in the aftermath of Microsofts failed bid for the company. Richard Wray, The Guardian http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=UwMIHxc7Tm24ZHuUeHdjKA.. GATES SAYS MICROSOFT WILL PURSUE INDEPENDENT PATH AFTER YAHOO BID Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said the company isn't pursuing other deals following the withdrawal of its $47.5 billion takeover bid for Yahoo. Associated Press http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=Sf2gITyMwqqt2FsJBE4K2A.. CABLEVISION'S NEWSDAY BID WOULD FACE FEW REGULATORY HURDLES If Cablevision manages to wrest the Tribune Company's newspaper Newsday away from other interested bidders, the transaction would raise the ire of consumer groups, but regulators in Washington won't have much to say. New York Times http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=tIzJRWQd_g2c388MyK1oZg.. USF: BEHIND THE TIMES The Universal Service Fund has come under heavy criticism in recent years as its payouts have skyrocketed and there is no plan to focus on broadband deployment. Geoff Daily, App-Rising.com http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=Zu9DRmLHLS66uEIQ3LqN5w.. HEADLINES HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 2008 April showers, of course, bring May flowers. But the first full month of Spring also witnessed the flowering of a number of key telecom debates. Just add water and -- presto -- there's some controversy. Kevin Taglang, Benton Foundation http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=bBx7ZA32WhPZ4R83H5rZhg.. You are receiving this email as an opt-in subscriber to Free Press' Media Reform Daily. You can unsubscribe or manage your account at any time. http://free.convio.net/site/CO?i=8Q8TDbx1Bdysb9skEe_fp1IPrjVsSiC_&cid=1241 http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=2VDfEFP8OflsuI3ACpz7Jw.. Many of these articles are copyrighted material. We make such material available to advance understanding of public issues, which we believe constitutes a "fair use" of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this email is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=uF7fwHXRDraGikXiBitCHQ.. 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