Big Media = Bad News

Corporate media giants are silencing diverse voices, abandoning quality journalism and dropping local content. Our democracy needs better media — but to get it, we need to fight for better media policies from Congress and the Federal Communications Commission, the government agency that regulates media in the United States.

Unchecked consolidation means that Big Media are getting even bigger, giving these massive corporations more control over our news and information. That’s bad news for everyone.

StopBigMedia.com is a broad coalition of groups from across the political spectrum dedicated to promoting media diversity, local ownership and the vibrant and free press that sustains our democracy. We’re working to create a place for better media in America, and to stop the FCC from allowing a handful of corporations to dominate our country’s media system.

What's So Bad About Big Media?

Big Media fail local communities. Big Media companies get a sweet deal from the government. They get to use the public airwaves – for free – to make billions in profits. In exchange for this government handout, broadcasters are supposed to serve the public by offering quality programs that meet the needs of local communities. Instead, Big Media companies have gutted local newsrooms and ignored local issues.

Big Media ignore diversity. Big Media eliminate ownership opportunities for women and people of color, pushing them off the public airwaves and stifling diverse voices. Coverage of issues that matter to people of color, women, youth, the middle and working class, and rural communities has disappeared. The result? Media that fail to represent our nation's diversity.

Big Media are bad for democracy. Democracy can't exist without an informed public. We rely on unbiased news from independent sources to stay informed and to hold our government accountable. But media consolidation means fewer sources of news, opinion and information. Instead of hard-hitting critical journalism, Big Media give us a junk diet of celebrity gossip and sensationalism.

Going from Bad to Worse

Despite overwhelming public opposition, the FCC recently lifted longstanding media ownership limits, a move that will unleash a wave of consolidation across America. Unless Congress or the courts step in, the new rules could spell disaster for citizens and communities everywhere. Back in 2003, the last time the agency tried to weaken media ownership rules, millions of Americans mobilized to stop the media moguls. Now it’s time to act again.

Time for a Change

The StopBigMedia.com Coalition is leading the campaign for better media in America.

We’re working to build more diverse and democratic media that will benefit everyone – by making us more informed and capable citizens, allowing us to participate fully in our communities, and strengthening our democracy through greater accountability and transparency.

For more information about the fight against Big Media and to find out how you can get involved, visit StopBigMedia.com