FCC Commissioner Calls For Greater Regulation of News Media
In a Wednesday interview on BBC World News America, liberal FCC Commissioner Michael Copps told correspondent Katty Kay: "I think American media has a bad case of substance abuse right now....we are going to be pretty close to denying our citizens the essential news and information that they need to have in order to make intelligent decisions about the future direction of their country."
As TVNewser reported on Thursday, after Kay asked about instituting a "Public Value Test" of media outlets, Copps replied: "What we've had in recent years is an aberration where we have had no oversight of the media. For years and years we had some public interest guidelines...they agreed to serve the public interest and that public interest to me right now is crying 'news and information, news and information, news and information.'"
Despite seeming to endorse heavy-handed government regulation of news media, Copps legitimately criticized the lack of hard news coverage: "It's a pretty serious situation that we're in. I think American media has a bad case of substance abuse right now. We are not producing the body of news and information that democracy needs to conduct its civic dialogue, we're not producing as much news as we did five years, 10 years, 15 years ago and we have to reverse that trend."
- Kyle Drennen's blog
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Comments
What planet is he on ? I'm
Submitted by Firmworm on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 5:47pm.
What planet is he on ? I'm 58 years old and have more access to news and information today than I've ever had in my life.
The wrong kind
Submitted by KC Beach on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:47pm.
I believe what he means but dosen't say is that we are not getting the "correct" news and information.
Never mind, it isn't worth
Submitted by msh1973 on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:10pm.
Never mind, it isn't worth it.
Your right
Submitted by Redrowan2000 on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:07pm.
We do have more access than we ever had. But, he's talking about the news that he wants disseminated to the American public and he's jus the guy who can do it. In his own mind.
Laying tracks for the fairness doctrine.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Red
Great points
Submitted by schmittfam on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:11pm.
Yep I think he is pining for the old days when the big 3 TV stations and MSM papers dominated news and fed everyone the same line. I also get far more news than ever but as any true liberal wants or other totalitarian desires he wants to spoon feed people only the news that he thinks is fit to print.
Fear the Message
Submitted by scottyusmc on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:10pm.
This type of talk from government officials always starts because they fear the unrestricted access to information by the general public. Their control is based on the amount fear they can generate within an uneducated population.
Here'e the thing: WE don't need the FCC.
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:15pm.
"We are not producing the body of news and information that democracy needs to conduct its civic dialogue, we're not producing as much news as we did five years, 10 years, 15 years ago and we have to reverse that trend."
What's this "we" crap? I don't WANT the government to produce the news and information for me, in the guise of a "public interest guideline." I don't want the federal government to decide if "we" are receiving the "proper" amount or proper "balance"of news and information. That's not up to the FCC to decide, that's up to the INDIVIDUAL to decide.
I want to be free to find my OWN sources and make my OWN decisions as to what I believe is important. But go ahead and try to increase the media regulations, if you dare. We, The People will just find another medium of information exchange. One that doesn't include federal oversight by the FCC. You know, like the internet currently provides for us.
The more you push, the farther you'll push us away.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
we never needed the
Submitted by jkwtrading on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 9:44pm.
we never needed the FCC...
I love all the leaks occurring soon theentire ship will be running around like rats leaving the sinking ship.
The American people are truly finding out what a rotten smell , or deal we've gotten from the D's
The stench goes back to 1930's and filters up from there.
And today's winner is ..
Submitted by mandrake on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 10:03pm.
The winner of the weird metaphor of the day goes to
"The stench goes back to 1930's and filters up from there."
What?
Maybe only American's
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 10:19pm.
Can understand it?
Thumbs up!
Submitted by Rukus on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 8:56am.
b^.^d
What an elitist self
Submitted by MidAmerica on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:17pm.
What an elitist self important windbag. Yeah, that's what America needs.... thought police.
Let the free market decide
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:20pm.
Let the free market decide what is news and not. If the people decide they want to be decieved then so be it.
This guy lives in a time
Submitted by MidAmerica on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:30pm.
This guy lives in a time warp. He lives in a pre-electronic world. Unless he feels that the government can take control of all electronic content his wishing us back to a pre-1990's world is just a totalian's fantasy.
The days when with great fanfare the News Anchor appeared on our TV screen as an incarnation of an old Testament Prophet are gone. It's no longer they speak, we listen.
They want us to make decisions that they consider "correct."
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:35pm.
Line'em up. Hiller, Stalin, Mao, Mussolini, Castro, Che, Hugo, shall I go on. They would all be proud of this regime, and the way they are attempting to "educate" all of us dumb bunnies.
It ain't paranoia if they're really coming after you.
Our Minister of Information
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:04am.
We already have oversight of the media -- it's sites like this.
It's apparent that rather than being visionaries who will transform Washington politics into a more transparent, participatory environment as promised, Obama and company want to restrict and control information.
Fortunately, with the Dems losing the House, there's no chance of restoring the Fairness Doctrine.
Uh-oh
Submitted by CO2Maker on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 6:51pm.
Do I detect another penumbra emanating from the First Amendment? Congress shall make no laws regarding the free exercise of speech ...
... except a few regulations to make sure that the conveyors of news are suitably vetted so that the electorate gets reliable news. We know that they aren't getting reliable news because we vet the content of the news and that will prove the suitability of the conveyors. We're just protecting the public's right to know what we are sure everyone will agree is qualitatively better news.
Yep. Penumbras.
Let me get this straight
Submitted by KC Mulville on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:04pm.
If there's a traffic jam in Guam, we have helicopters providing aerial footage. If a sophomore sneezes, dozens of cellphones get the pictures on YouTube within minutes. Penguins in the Antarctic have reality shows. News outlets go 24/7/365. Except for one TV network out of hundreds, they're all liberal.
So the man who is supposed to be in charge of American communications says this ... on the BBC ?????
and just who the hello dolly
Submitted by sometimesright on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:13pm.
and just who the hello dolly will do the regulating, sir? you?
"We are not producing the body of news and information that democracy needs to conduct its civic dialogue"
and whose democracy? and like the author said, who's this "we"? just come out and say it. you didn't have a problem with the news till conservative news outlets took EVERYTHING by storm. why not just admit this country is primarily conservative and shut up? abc, msnbc, huffpo, cnn, cbs, kos, Time isn't enough for you?
I thought one of the big
Submitted by MidAmerica on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:14pm.
I thought one of the big reasons for taxpayers funding public radio and TV was that they provided thoughtful news and analysis not available elsewhere. Is he saying that public TV and radio are not fulfilling their mission?
The guy sure has ...
Submitted by 10ksnooker on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:14pm.
A warped sense of humnor, doesn't he.
Sounds like he wants a communist news service to send out only NewSpeak to the drones.
All ya gotta do is read Barry's Copy of the Constitution
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:16pm.
Article 1 "shut up and do as you are told"
Article 2 "see article 1"
roflmao
No Anna Nicole Smith????
Submitted by jdripper on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:25pm.
If it means getting rid of 24/7 stories of Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith I might wish to look at it.
Jack
Teen-age chess battles
Submitted by CO2Maker on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:57pm.
Think of it like this: how many pawns and other men can you afford to lose as you mow down the other guy's chessmen? Do you want to sacrifice all your pieces except a rook and queen, or a knight and queen, which you'll need for the final checkmate?
So, who does this guy want to sacrifice to eliminate Fox News? Will he throw Ed "I hope my face doesn't freeze like this" Schultz under the bus in order to take out Hannity? Dispatch Chris the Wide Mouth Frog for O'Reilly? Trade Keith "I see a queen in my bathtub" the Sports Boy for Beck? Rachel-Ron for Greta? Malloy for Gutfield? Rhodes for Levin? Who do they have that is the equal of Rush? I mean, after all, you can't take the black queen down with a measly pawn or a bishop without a couple of other guys helping you out.
What did he say that was so bad....
Submitted by Red Jeep on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:40pm.
...at least as it relates to the MSM?
":..we are ... close to denying our citizens the essential news and information that they need to have in order to make intelligent decisions about the future direction of their country." True the MSM is nothing but badly biased news. Not much truth they tell being blinded by Obama love.
"We are not producing the body of news and information that democracy needs to conduct its civic dialogue, we're not producing as much news as we did five years, 10 years, 15 years ago and we have to reverse that trend." I think we have all said about the MSM that it's badly distorted.
If you depend on the big 3 TV networks for your news, you decisions based on that news will be a bad judgement.
Might I add incomplete
Submitted by BuffNBone on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 7:57pm.
Might I add incomplete information.
OK - here's a media regulation we could use..
Submitted by Gary Hall on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 8:35pm.
Go for it FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. How about a regulation which requires that journalists identify their staged activist guests for who they are. For example, as Scott covered today:
ABC Disguises Democratic Activist as Victim of Mean-Spirited GOP
In fact, in just about every NB piece, we can usually find something that turns the ethical stomach inside out. All Copps needs to do is take a peak on these pages, and find out what needs to be regulated - perhaps banned - certainly exposed in front of congress and the American public.
(;~/ gary
Public Value Test
Submitted by jaywl on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 9:11pm.
I agree with the learned public servant, on one point. We should institute a "Public Value Test" immediately. Only the test would pass judgement on the members of all the boards, commissions, groups, panels, as well as each so-called Czar, Presidential assistant, advisor, go-fer and nada-nada to the first lady. I would be the sole arbiter of their worth or worthlessness and my judgement would be final. If I happened to omit, skip over, forget about about or not find any of these types they would be automatically be found Worthless and not entitled to the six-figure income they are sure to be receiving! Gone, Gone.
ok so lets get rid of the real crappy news channels
Submitted by igor1136 on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 10:00pm.
good bye abc cbs and nbc good bye npr and msnbc. its fox who has the real news not the libtard commie run suckers news that the left puts out. the only way they can compeat with fox is to shut fox news down so they can serve up their george soros bought and paid for lies. itll be a cold day in hell before we let the left censor the news like they ones did. its time for you left wing nutjob news outlets to clean up your lies or shut you doors from the lack of viewers.
This reminds me of the
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 2:44am.
This reminds me of the Churchill quote that democracy ws the worst form of government except for (all the others).
A biased, trivial media is the worst thing possible except a government regulating and "improving" it. Especially since we know just what network and radio shows they will go after...
The Teletype is dead...
Submitted by Army Brat on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 8:43am.
And he doan like it....
There is no longer a choking point for news. It's out there in numerous forms, uncontrollable and direct. No filters and depots despise that kind of thing.
He misread his notes. He meant to say...
. If I am successful we are going to be pretty close to denying our citizens the essential news and information that they need to have in order to make intelligent decisions about the future direction of their country."This fool is correct: our msm isn't producing what it should.
Submitted by Thalpy on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 10:09am.
However, it is not his job to fix it.
FCC, EPA, Dept. of Energy, Homeland Security, Education, NPR
Submitted by Bluegill on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:21am.
That is the short list off the top of my head of Depts/ Agencies that need to be eliminated or seriously cut. They have continued to over step their bounds.
Greater regulation?
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:32am.
I look at the title "FCC Commish calls for Greater Regulation of News Media" and I see what they really mean is "FCC Commish calls for Greater Regulation of Fox News Media." Fox News as a News corporation isn't towing the same line as ABC/NBC/CBS/CNN/MSNBC, the one lone wolf media if you will.
The one news corporation that has a bigger following than most of the above combined and they don't like it, especially in a free market. Hence the desire to bring back the "Fairness Doctrine" so force people to watch CNN or listen to Bill Press instead of Rush/Hannity/etc.
Every day for the past few weeks, we are seeing actions taken by this bogus potus and his czars that defy common sense and reason as well as the Constitution to the point where we are living in an authoritarian state rather than a Constitutional Republic. Why aren't more people concerned about this?
-Jon