Letters to the Editor
Media control
November 28, 2007
Advertisement
To the editor:
Lest our nation take one more step closer toward fascism, I am writing to remind all concerned citizens that the first thing a dictator does when he takes over a country is seize control of the media. Our access to truth is foundational to the functioning of our democracy. We are on the brink of losing both unless FCC Chairman (Kevin) Martin's attempts to allow further consolidation the media are stopped by a groundswell of public outrage and the passing of The Media Ownership Act of 2007 (S.2332). Speak out while your voice can still be heard.
Maryam Hjersted,
Linwood
More like this
- Ethical news October 16, 2004
- Nobel selection is a beacon of hope October 13, 2002
- Verifiable votes 18 comments / June 6, 2008
- Stem-cell cause June 20, 2005
- Vital rights 36 comments / June 22, 2008
Top ads RSS
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Mangino's contract outlines probe November 21, 2009 · 59 comments
- On the street: Will you miss ‘The Oprah Winfrey’ show? November 21, 2009 · 16 comments
- Blog: Palin Book Could Be Your Cheapest Source For Winter Fuel November 20, 2009 · 76 comments
- Nation has right to ask ‘why?’ November 21, 2009 · 36 comments
- Blog: Why Do People Repeat Falsehoods? November 20, 2009 · 54 comments
- Blog: We Noticed November 19, 2009 · 123 comments
- Blog: Acting (Some Days, Most Days, Frequently And Occasionally) President Dan Wildcat Is Off Campus This Week . November 19, 2009 · 17 comments
- Mangino denies validity of former player allegations November 19, 2009 · 158 comments
- Leaders offer tips for chancellor’s successful tenure November 21, 2009 · 5 comments
- Nothing to lose: Reeling KU huge underdog for a change November 21, 2009 · 21 comments
- Mangino's contract outlines probe November 21, 2009
- Four decades in crisis mode November 21, 2009
- On target November 21, 2009
- A sad story November 19, 2009
- Lawrence couple excel in triathlons November 21, 2009
- Commission votes against including gender identity in Lawrence's anti-discrimination policy November 19, 2009
- Center for East Asian Studies celebrates 50 years of accomplishments November 21, 2009
- 75-year-old Topeka area man dies from H1N1; LMH reports flu activity November 20, 2009
- Meier mature, classy November 21, 2009
- Health and stress affect grades November 10, 2008
28 November 2007
at 7:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
merrill (Anonymous) says…
Domestic Spying, Inc.
by Tim Shorrock , Special to CorpWatch
November 27th, 2007
A new intelligence institution to be inaugurated soon by the Bush administration will allow government spying agencies to conduct broad surveillance and reconnaissance inside the United States for the first time. Under a proposal being reviewed by Congress, a National Applications Office (NAO) will be established to coordinate how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and domestic law enforcement and rescue agencies use imagery and communications intelligence picked up by U.S. spy satellites. If the plan goes forward, the NAO will create the legal mechanism for an unprecedented degree of domestic intelligence gathering that would make the U.S. one of the world's most closely monitored nations. Until now, domestic use of electronic intelligence from spy satellites was limited to scientific agencies with no responsibility for national security or law enforcement.
The intelligence-sharing system to be managed by the NAO will rely heavily on private contractors including Boeing, BAE Systems, L-3 Communications and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). These companies already provide technology and personnel to U.S. agencies involved in foreign intelligence, and the NAO greatly expands their markets. Indeed, at an intelligence conference in San Antonio, Texas, last month, the titans of the industry were actively lobbying intelligence officials to buy products specifically designed for domestic surveillance.
The NAO was created under a plan tentatively approved in May 2007 by Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell. Specifically, the NAO will oversee how classified information collected by the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and other key agencies is used within the U.S. during natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other events affecting national security. The most critical intelligence will be supplied by the NSA and the NGA, which are often referred to by U.S. officials as the “eyes” and “ears” of the intelligence community.
The NSA, through a global network of listening posts, surveillance planes, and satellites, captures signals from phone calls,
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?…
28 November 2007
at 9:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…
And lest our nation take one more step closer toward socialism…. keep your hands out of the affairs of private businesses, Ms. Hjersted!
And if you want true information exchange, driven by the will of the masses, crush all mention the recently proposed and completely bone-headed “Fairness Doctrine.”
28 November 2007
at 9:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
“keep your hands out of the affairs of private businesses,”
The airwaves are public property, not private.
28 November 2007
at 9:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
cap10_insano (Anonymous) says…
The airwaves are public property, not private.
And dat ist all der peoples needs to know. Dat und vhat vee tells them.
28 November 2007
at 9:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
http://www.google.com/search?q=Media+…
28 November 2007
at 9:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
Are you keeping an eye on Comrade Chavez?
28 November 2007
at 9:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
“Are you keeping an eye on Comrade Chavez?”
About the only thing that Chavez is changing in the Venezuelan media is that they no longer spout exclusively the message of the right-wingers who used to run the country (and owned all the media outlets.)
28 November 2007
at 9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…
bozo,
In all seriousness, are you a socialist? If you are, fine. If you say you're not, I'll believe you.
28 November 2007
at 10:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
Maryam, if you think you're getting anything close to unbiased reporting by the media you are delusional. You're fed what fits the media's agenda and nothing more.
Example: The New York Times (traditionally very anti-Bush) ran an article that the surge in Iraq is working by all the parameters used to measure the previous violence.
Have you heard much about this on TV or read much in print? Nope, and you won't until the success is so overwhelming it can no longer be ignored by the media and the faction of liberal dems that want us to lose the war in Iraq to fulfill their agenda here at home.
28 November 2007
at 10:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
mtoplikar (Matt Toplikar) says…
To those few who brought up socialism…
When did it become socialistic to not want the most rich and powerful people in the world (who have much more sway on our government officials than the average citizen) to control the flow of information? I guess I always thought conservatives wanted the government to have less power, which makes a lot of sense to me. But, wasn't the whole idea of the government not having a lot of power and control over our lives due to the fact that power corrupts and it's not a good idea for only a few to have control over the many? So if you're against big government, you should be against big media. Please don't pretend that putting rules on what billion dollar corporations can do in any way constitutes socialism.
28 November 2007
at 11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Finding_Uranus (Anonymous) says…
Freedom in the media? For goodness sake, our media gets away with practically anything….we have a long, long way to go to be even considered close to fascism…..for petes sake!! Some people hate George Bush so bad, they can conjure up anything.
28 November 2007
at 11:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
F_U,
You can't even conjure up an original line.
What on earth are you talking about?
We're talking about protection from monopolistic corporations. We're talking about reducing the control of government and corporations. Are you looking to be their little cabin boy or something, F_U? I'm not.
The “people” who “hate George Bush so bad, they can conjure up anything.” are not who you should fear, F_U. Right? They are pretend people! They are only there to frighten you into submission to the Captain and Tenille, cabin boy!~)
Please remember…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEWU25…
28 November 2007
at 12:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
Take a sedative JJE007. You're licensed to implode.
28 November 2007
at 12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
I'm just a poetically licensed axiom murderer, kneejerkr'act, so keep you violent compression to yourself. Besides, imploding would make me dense and I choose not to join your ranks!~)
28 November 2007
at 12:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Defender (Anonymous) says…
“Take a sedative JJE007.”
This coming from a freedom hating, anti-American poster named kneejerkreaction. How moronic.
28 November 2007
at 12:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
Defender (Anonymous) says:
“Take a sedative JJE007.”
This coming from a freedom hating, anti-American poster named kneejerkreaction. How moronic.
*****
I'm laughing out loud right now. Gawd you're an idiot…
28 November 2007
at 12:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
JJE007 (Anonymous) says:
F_U,
You can't even conjure up an original line.
What on earth are you talking about?
*******
JJE007, this too was hilariously stupid. You say F_U cannot put together a coherent thought and then you launch into a poorly written diatribe of worthless drivel that may have made a whole lot of sense to you….and only you.
28 November 2007
at 1:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
Pilgrim, isn't that what Bush and Cheney are trying to do here?
28 November 2007
at 1:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
beobatcher, can you name one TV or radio station that has been shut down by the US government in this century?
In May of this year, Radio Caracas TV was shut down by that darling of the sinister side of the aisle, Hugo Chavez.
28 November 2007
at 1:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
kneejerkreaction says:
JJE007 (Anonymous) says:
You can't even conjure up an original line.
What on earth are you talking about?
*******
JJE007, this too was hilariously stupid. You say F_U cannot put together a coherent thought.
–
I'm not thinking that my saying “can't even conjure up an original line” *means* “cannot put together a coherent thought”? It may be true that F_U can't put together a coherent thought but it's not what I said. Could it be that there's some evil destructive force creating this pervasive and massive miasma of poorly written, hilariously stupid, worthless, drivel launching around here? Perhaps that *force* is all the name calling and political posturing. That seems to be a contagious disease which traces back to some knee jerk reaction!~) I certainly don't think you can blame my puffery while saying it only makes sense to me. Zees duss note mak senz tuh enneewahn. Leef my artistray allun, yuh beeg bufone.
I repeat:
I'm just a poetically licensed axiom murderer, kneejerkr'act, so keep you violent compression to yourself. Besides, imploding would make me dense and I choose not to join your ranks!~)
28 November 2007
at 1:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Magpie (Anonymous) says…
Good letter, Maryam! In order to self-govern, people must be informed. Instead of informing us, the media dwells on sensational news stories peppered with transparent propaganda. I watch in horror as our media rehashes and rehashes the minor foibles of foolish individuals and harps upon meaningless breaches of etiquette. Meanwhile, wars are being waged and important legislation is getting passed without a nod.
John McCain tacitly approved of someone calling Hilary Clinton a bitch! Oh noes! Let's get a couple of Bitch Experts and a Doctor of Bitchitude to belabor the point for a few hours and discuss the semantics of the word “bitch” until Oops! out of time, too bad we didn't cover anything that actually matters tonight!!!
Consolidation will likely result in an even narrower bias and more sensational filler. Tune into the BBC.
28 November 2007
at 1:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
JJE007, turn the page on your Learn-A-Word-A-Day calender. Using (or in your case attempting to use) big words doesn't improve idiotic content.
28 November 2007
at 2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
I never said Bush and Cheney had done that, I said they are trying to indirectly. They control all press conferences, all speaking engagements, etc. This administration would grab the opportunity quickly given even a glimmer of a chance of succeeding.
28 November 2007
at 2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
horsegirl (Anonymous) says…
The 1996 Telecommunications Act allowed for cross-ownership of media outlets, and now, if the Media Ownership Act of 2007 doesn't pass, we're on our way to Fascism? OMG! I'm sorry to say, but that is called a capitalist society. Look at a typical business cycle. A lot of small businesses competing for the same dollar. Over time, as the industry matures, competitors start dropping off, either through attrition or conglomeration. Eventually, you end up with just a few major players. Look at the automobile industry. In all reality, there are only a few major players. But Capitalism describes an economy, not a form of government! I think that is a giant leap that if there are fewer media outlets, we will become a fascist state! For one thing, the government doesn't own/control the media outlets! But, of course, you have to understand the source… Ms. Hjersted is quite an interesting individual, to say the least.
28 November 2007
at 2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
kneejerkreaction,
You can have the last word, child.
Playing with obstreperously arrogant and ignorant bullies, such as yourself, is no fun!~) Don't you get tired of your life being a violent series of knee jerk reactions? You have fun being an imperious stormtrooper for Darth Vapid, OK?
28 November 2007
at 3 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
Yeah…
28 November 2007
at 3:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
horsegirl (Anonymous) says…
You don't know your car manufacturers very well, do you? So what that they have independent P&Ls. Conglomerate media companies will have independent P&Ls too. I used to work for a small company and now work for a large company, and they still keep all the P&Ls separate, but trust me, when they are talking to their stockholders, they combine those puppies! Separate P&Ls mean nothing. Just holds you accountable.
In the “olden days”, many of the automobile manufacturers were truly separate entities, however, them days are long gone. Hmm, let's combine companies…
Ford - Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar & Landrover
Honda - Accura
Toyota - Lexus, Scion
Chrysler - Dodge, Jeep
Hyundai - Kia
I'm sure I could find more conglomerates, but I have to get back to work. As I said, conglomeration is normal in the lifecycle of a capitalist economy (and then at the maturity level, a few small companies will pop up to try to compete against the big conglomerates… look at the success of small mini-mills in the steel industry which used to be dominated by a few). And by the way, an oligarchy is a type of government. This is economics. Not the same.
28 November 2007
at 3:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
“can you name one TV or radio station that has been shut down by the US government in this century?”
KAW radio, Lawrence, KS
28 November 2007
at 3:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
Not finding a lot of info about KAW radio. I saw mention of a unlicensed station called KAW in Leavenworth in the 1990's.
When was the Lawrence KAW in operation? Was it also an unlicensed station?
28 November 2007
at 4:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Defender (Anonymous) says…
Honda - Accura
Toyota - Lexus, Scion
Actually, Acura, Lexus, and Scion were not independant car companies, these were merely new lines from established car companies. They did not exist as independant companies.
28 November 2007
at 4:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
76trombones (Anonymous) says…
Media control has taken a new turn here in Eudora. At least you guys can still post anonymously on your site here .. I don't understand what is really going on here since the web version is run by the same media … hummm? Here's what they posted on our local forum …
Reader forums on hold:
In mid-December, we will be relaunching on our new web publishing system, which will allow readers to post comments on stories, photos and other types of news and community content.
In the interim, we're suspending anonymous community forum comments.
When we transition to the new web publishing system, readers will be required to be verified Real Name users to comment on stories. To request that you become a verified Real Name user, log in to your account and click “Edit your anonymity setting.”
Once you've filled out the verification form completely, you'll be contacted to verify the information you provide using the same process used to verify a letters to the editor in the print edition.
28 November 2007
at 4:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
cap10_insano (Anonymous) says…
gulagosphere! Post the party line or pay the party penalty, …no voice. Most media outlets with a blog or forum tend to moderate heavily against the conservative opinion. That is why most of the conservative talk shows have their own extremely successful blogs/forums. It is a bias that is obvious and well known.
28 November 2007
at 4:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
” That is why most of the conservative talk shows have their own extremely successful blogs/forums.”
Translation— lots of dittoheads regurgitating all the propaganda pounded into their heads.
28 November 2007
at 4:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
cap10_insano (Anonymous) says…
Bozo_Chavez,
Thanks for the translation………………not!
28 November 2007
at 5:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Mkh (Anonymous) says…
Regardless of how you feel about Big Media, America is without a doubt becoming a Fascist Police State. It's been slowly occuring for decades, but recently has become accelerated tenfold. The framework has been clearly set to fully topple the Republic and put America under a Fascist dictatorship. But it doesn't necessarily have to be Bush that implements it, now that he has put the Executive orders in place he can pass them on to the next puppet Regime, most likely Clinton or Gouliani (though he's in serious hot water at the moment). This Administration has exactly followed the blueprint laid out by every totalitarian fascist regime in history. Read the Military Commissions Act!!!
There is a good new book out now by Naomi Wolf titled “The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot” inwhich she outlines the ten guidelines every fascist state implements on it's citizens and how they are occuring currently in America.
There is also a good lecture on the book by her on Youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc
28 November 2007
at 6:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
mtoplikar (Matt Toplikar) says…
DirtyLinen,
Yes just like Ted Turner and all of his networks (which are now owned by Time-Warner I believe). I don't think CNN is a good place to get news from. Unfortunately neither is Fox News, or MSNBC. The problem with big corporations controlling the media is that they have too many conflicts of interest. You might notice how there will be little to no coverage of the current media consolidation story on these channels or in major magazines even though there is bi-partisan opposition to it within congress. You're not going to see it because these large corporations like Time-Warner and The News Corporation have too much to gain. It's not a conspiracy theory because these companies aren't necessarily hiding anything, they're just not covering it, and because it isn't covered by the big boys, it's often overlooked by the smaller media outlets like the Journal World.
28 November 2007
at 6:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jonas (Anonymous) says…
“Until Democrats have full power for several years, freedom of speech will remain intact. (etc)”
Whahahahahahahahaha! I'll give you one thing, you could probably sell this stuff. It seems in today's climate the more outlandish, the better it attracts buyers.
28 November 2007
at 6:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Mkh (Anonymous) says…
Naomi Wolf's research is extensively backed up by various sources from all political backgrounds. If you have a personal beef with her, you can get the same information from dozens of academic sources or from the governments own documents. Of course that would require independent thinking and research instead of ignorant denial. Tough sell around these parts.
28 November 2007
at 6:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Mkh (Anonymous) says…
Pilgrim, it's not my fault you have your head in the sand.
RT, the link you gave makes the case that there are extreme fascists elements in our government. Did you even read it? Actually I don't care what you think.
28 November 2007
at 7:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JJE007 (Anonymous) says…
Ignore + Ignore + Ignore = Ignorance
Belief + Belief + Belief = Failure to examine
This ain't rocket science, people.
It's racket science.
Get a clue.
We are the chumps.
We will not be allowed into the club.
Access costs more than we have to give.
28 November 2007
at 7:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Mkh (Anonymous) says…
“They're on your side though. Bush is not a fascist. That's what differentiates a loon from a normal person. You'll understand it someday.”
––––––––
They are on My Side??? WTF are you talking about…I'm about as far away from a Democrat as you can get. And yes Bush is a Fascist, just like Hillary and those in the Dem Party. RT, you are just plain stupid.
End Transmission.
29 November 2007
at 1:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
mtoplikar (Matt Toplikar) says…
DirtyLinen,
You're right about AP bylines. However, I don't think I understand your logic. If you don't think we should be getting the same “news” from the same two or three sources, then wouldn't you be against media consolidation? I brought up the Journal World because it (like most smaller newspapers) bases the content, placement, and importance of National and World News on what is in and on the major newspapers, magazines, and television news channels. If these news organizations (including the AP) don't cover an issue well, there's a good chance your local news will follow suit. It sounds like you don't want this to happen. Stopping media consolidation isn't the only answer to fixing our problems with the media, but it's definitely a big step in the right direction.