75-09-A2
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The Washington Media
TranscriptThe F.C.C. has a rule designed to increase media competition in our cities. Will they use it in Washington D.C.? I'll be right back. Washington bureaucrats build pyramids of regulations which greatly affect our lives and business practices. Those with the most direct effect on us are those operating in the so-called regulatory agencies. They exercise both legislative and judicial powers to such an extent that some call them the fourth branch of government. When it comes to violations of their regulations, they are prosecutor, judge and jury all in one. Occasionally though these regulators do strike a course that upholds competition and a freer market economy. Such a case was the Federal Communications Commission's decision concerning the joint ownership of broadcasting facilities and newspapers. The F.C.C. ruled that when the ownership of a radio or television station is transferred and only when it is transferred, there must be a separation of the newspaper and broadcast ownership in the same market. With this rule they hope to increase the diversity of media voices, though the process would obviously be a slow one. Currently there's a case before the F.C.C. which will test this rule. The Washington Star seeks to sell effective control of both the newspaper and its TV and radio affiliates. The new owner must therefore get a waiver from the F.C.C. of its rule if he's to continue ownership of all three media. Observers in Washington are speculating whether the regulators will have the fortitude to stick by their ruling in the face of pressure from the liberal-oriented press. Most commentators in the Washington press and in the broadcasting trade press are predicting that the F.C.C. will give in and permit transfer of control over all the Washington Star's properties. Oddly this case isn't one of an ailing media property finding only a single buyer, for there is an alternative bidder. John P. McGoff, a Michigan publisher who's seeking to buy the newspaper only without the broadcast properties. There's wide agreement, I would suppose, that our nation's capital city and thus the nation would best be served by having two competing newspapers in Washington D.C. especially two papers with strong alternative views. Unhappily under current management the Star appears to be drifting toward the liberal-leaning cast of its competitor, the Post. If the F.C.C. waives its multiple ownership rule, it's likely that Washington will end up with two newspapers still, but only a single media viewpoint. What confounds many observers in the Washington Star case is the apparent lack of any sound philosophical basis for the F.C.C. to waive its rule. It's particularly puzzling since an experienced publisher stands ready to make a bid for the Star and operate the newspaper independent of any other media interests in the Washington area. Wherever we live, this is a case of interest to all of us. It's important that we have two divergent and vigorous voices represented in the nation's capital city especially in its newspapers. Will the regulators of the F.C.C. in Washington have the courage of their convictions? We'll soon find out. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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