Week 2 Ethical Dilemma
Ethical Dilemma
ETH/321
March 10th, 2015
Big Media Becoming More Powerful
American media was in the hands of 50 corporations back in 1983, but is actually being controlled by only 6 media giants. This is known as oligopoly. As if that was not enough, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is pushing to ban small enterprising media companies in all areas where one of these media goliaths reaches. The FCC is the organization created by the government to protect the public’s ownership (and right) over the airwaves, but its chairman is asking to change that.
The FCC already tried pushing this under the presidency of George W. Bush, but the public protested and our voice was heard. However, this only quieted the organization temporarily since they’re now back at it again. The people don’t want to give big media more power, they (we) feel misrepresented by big media. This time around, big media is trying to remain low key, flying low under the radar and trying to attract the least bit of the people’s attention, vying for congress to approve its takeover.
Thankfully, we still have defenders in the house of representative. Defenders like senator Bernie Sanders is asking big media to hold off on the move. The senator opposes the bill because media consolidation just doesn’t benefit the people. It strips us of our right to hear differing points of view, thus hindering us from drawing better conclusions on issues. How can we make educated decisions when we haven’t explored all angles of a situation?
Our capitalist nature greatly impacts the news we are allowed to broadcast. Senator Sanders explains that big media’s sponsors deter all vantage points to be discussed. When you have a multi-million sponsorship deal from General Electric and they are found to be unethical, or that their products are being reviewed for safety, it becomes a conflict of interest. For what will you do? Report them? Bring them to light and lose their patronage? Big media
ETH/321
March 10th, 2015
Big Media Becoming More Powerful
American media was in the hands of 50 corporations back in 1983, but is actually being controlled by only 6 media giants. This is known as oligopoly. As if that was not enough, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is pushing to ban small enterprising media companies in all areas where one of these media goliaths reaches. The FCC is the organization created by the government to protect the public’s ownership (and right) over the airwaves, but its chairman is asking to change that.
The FCC already tried pushing this under the presidency of George W. Bush, but the public protested and our voice was heard. However, this only quieted the organization temporarily since they’re now back at it again. The people don’t want to give big media more power, they (we) feel misrepresented by big media. This time around, big media is trying to remain low key, flying low under the radar and trying to attract the least bit of the people’s attention, vying for congress to approve its takeover.
Thankfully, we still have defenders in the house of representative. Defenders like senator Bernie Sanders is asking big media to hold off on the move. The senator opposes the bill because media consolidation just doesn’t benefit the people. It strips us of our right to hear differing points of view, thus hindering us from drawing better conclusions on issues. How can we make educated decisions when we haven’t explored all angles of a situation?
Our capitalist nature greatly impacts the news we are allowed to broadcast. Senator Sanders explains that big media’s sponsors deter all vantage points to be discussed. When you have a multi-million sponsorship deal from General Electric and they are found to be unethical, or that their products are being reviewed for safety, it becomes a conflict of interest. For what will you do? Report them? Bring them to light and lose their patronage? Big media