Monday, August 07, 2006
PRESS RELEASE: Hinchey, House Colleagues Call On FCC To Review CBS's Attempt To Consolidate Newsrooms
This news release was sent to the Media Giraffe Project on Aug. 7, 2006 by
Jeff Lieberson, a Hinchey staff spokesman. 202-225-1265 / cell:
202-225-0817 jeff.lieberson@mail.house.gov
Hinchey, House Colleagues Call On FCC To Review CBS's Attempt
To Consolidate Newsrooms, Leave Producers Unprotected From Bargain Units
Washington, DC -- As the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) continues to negotiate with the Writers Guild of America, East and west, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and two of his House colleagues today called on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin to review the situation and the impact it may have on the public. In particular, Hinchey and his colleagues are concerned about CBS's desire to consolidate newsrooms and remove news producers from bargaining units, thus enabling corporate interests to infiltrate the newsroom.
"The Writers Guild of America-CBS contract protects workers, as well as audiences. This contract ensures that news producers- those who must apply journalistic standards and make decisions as to which stories are broadcast -remain insulated from corporate influence and maintain independent judgment," Hinchey and his colleagues wrote to FCC Chairman Martin. "Removing these gatekeepers of information from the Guild jeopardizes journalistic integrity, making them more vulnerable to CBS's commercial demands. Without such safeguards, how can the public trust the information they receive?"
CBS and the Writers Guild of America, East and west are currently engaged in contract negotiations that would extend their 50-year working relationship in New York, Washington, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Negotiations are expected to resume on August 17 and 18.
"It is the job of the Federal Communications Commission to prevent commercial values from undermining democratic values and ensure that broadcasters serve the public interest," Hinchey and his colleagues wrote to Martin. "Attempts to maximize profits at the expense of diversity in news reporting threaten democratic values and have drastic consequences for our nation."
Joining Hinchey in sending the letter to Martin were: Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Hinchey is the author of the Media Ownership Reform Act, which would restore fairness in broadcasting, reduce media concentration, ensure that broadcasters meet their public interest requirements, and promote diversity, localism, and competition in American media.
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The full text of the letter Hinchey and his colleagues sent to FCC Chairman
Martin follows:
July 27, 2006
The Honorable Kevin J. Martin
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
Dear Chairman Martin:
As members of Congress who support diversity, localism, and independence in broadcasting, we are troubled by efforts of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) to fundamentally alter the structure of newsrooms under its jurisdiction. CBS and the Writers Guild of America, East and west are engaged in contract negotiations to extend their 50-year-old working relationship in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it appears that CBS seeks the authority to remove news producers from bargaining units, terminate workers in the event of mergers, and even merge the newsrooms of competing stations. If such actions proceed unchallenged, audiences will be denied the variety in news sources and local coverage necessary for an informed participatory democratic society.
The Writers Guild of America-CBS contract protects workers, as well as audiences. This contract ensures that news producers- those who must apply journalistic standards and make decisions as to which stories are broadcast -remain insulated from corporate influence and maintain independent judgment. Removing these gatekeepers of information from the Guild jeopardizes journalistic integrity, making them more vulnerable to CBS's commercial demands. Without such safeguards, how can the public trust the information they receive?
Terminating reporters and consolidating news desks will also have a profound impact on news audiences. Fewer reporters working for fewer outlets leads to homogeneity instead of the rich diversity broadcasters have an obligation to provide. When competing stations are no longer competitive-when they share reporters and news writers, and offer identical content-the public interest suffers.
It is the job of the Federal Communications Commission to prevent commercial values from undermining democratic values and ensure that broadcasters serve the public interest. Attempts to maximize profits at the expense of diversity in news reporting threaten democratic values and have drastic consequences for our nation.
News broadcasters enjoy special protections afforded no other business, but they cannot claim press freedoms while at the same time curtailing alternative points of view. We ask the FCC to conduct a review of thissituation and its impact on public discourse. We look forward to your report.
Sincerely,
Maurice Hinchey, Diane Watson, Jan Schakowsky
