Here at Free Press we work on three main areas of media policy.
We focuses on issues of media ownership, the future of the Internet, and noncommercial or public media. We have always seen these three issues as intimately connected to the health of our democracy.

A recent story points out the overlap of these three issues and reminds us why each is so vitally important. Last week NBC Universal (owned by General Electric) announced that it was teaming up with an ad agency to create special shows around new products. Now ad writers and company shills will be writing your sitcoms.

"NBC Universal Digital Studio will work with a division of Omnicom Group Inc. to create programs that help advertisers sell their products," noted one article, "The programming will be broadcast on NBC Universal's digital properties, such as Web site."

For a long time organizations have raised alarms about the amount of marketing in our media especially as it relates to children. Everything seems aimed at selling you something. Sp far Intel Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp. have signed on to seel their gear through your shows. The two companies at the heart of this advertising coup, NBC and Omnicom, believe that this new partnership is "a unique way of giving brands a seat at the table with writers and producers in developing episodic programming that ties directly to brand needs."

To me, this is the best argument I have seen in a long time for a more robust public/non-commercial media system in our country. What do you think? Would you watch a half hour commercial? Sound off in the comments section.