CodePink, United for Peace and Justice, and other organizations are rallying today to protest the apparent loosening of media ownership rules by the FCC. We have been covering this action extensively, of course. Dawn Olsen womped on the state of commercial radio a couple days ago, conservative NY Times columnist William Safire noted the unlikely coalition of conservative and liberal forces united against the proposed action, and more here, here, and here.

Rally today:

URGENT ACTION ALERT! Join us this Thursday, May 29th, as we protest at Clear Channel radio stations everywhere to STOP the
FCC from deregulating the media on June 2nd. Join planned protests and phone-in campaigns in Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles or contact your local CODEPINK for details on a protest in your area. See www.unitedforpeace.org for a comprehensive listing of Clear Channel protests.

If you don't have a planned protest in your area, go to
Clear Channel's website to find a station near
you and organize your own! It only takes a small
amount of time to make a powerful statement--see our
Media Action Toolbox for ideas on planning your own media action. Bookmark this page to check back as the day of protest approaches for details on our planned actions.

What is Media Deregulation?

Michael Powell, Colin Powell's son and Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is trying to push media de-regulation through quickly and quietly to allow massive media corporations to further monopolize our airwaves without the current restraints on media control and ownership. On June 2, the FCC is planning to authorize sweeping changes to the American news media that will allow your local TV stations, newspapers, radio stations, and cable providers to all be owned by one company. NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox could have the same corporate parent. The resulting concentration of ownership could be deeply destructive to our democracy. When we talk to Congresspeople about this issue, their response is usually the same: "We only hear from media lobbyists on this. It seems like my constituents aren't very concerned with this issue." A few thousand emails could permanently change that perception.

Protect the Public Interest

We must protect the public interest from this attack on the freedom of our airwaves. We join with MoveOn in asking Congress and the FCC to fight media deregulation at http://www.moveon.org/stopthefcc. This petition is an initiative of MoveOn.org, CODEPINK, Media Alliance, United for Peace and Justice, and Global Exchange.

Strange bedfellows: NRA, Rep. Kevin Martin & CODEPINK

The fate of the media, large and small, print and broadcast rests in the hands of 36-year old lawyer Kevin Martin, one of three Republicans on the five-person Federal Communications Commission. "No other decision made in Washington will more directly affect how you will be informed, persuaded and entertained."

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