What's at Stake

What's at Stake

Big isn't always bad – unless you're talking about the companies that dominate our country's media.

A handful of companies control most of what we see, hear and read every day. They own our TV stations,
radio stations, newspapers, magazines, cable channels, movie studios, music labels – even our favorite Internet sites.

Unchecked consolidation means that Big Media are getting even bigger, giving these firms more control over our
news and information. Bottom line? Big Media are bad news – for all of us.

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 gut local newsrooms and ignore local issues.

* Big Media ignore diversity. Big Media have limited ownership opportunities for women and people of color,
pushing them off the public airwaves and stifling vital voices. Coverage of issues that matter to people of color,
women, 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

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is considering sweeping changes to
media ownership rules that would allow media conglomerates to swallow up more local radio and television stations
and newspapers. A single company could own the major daily newspaper, and as many as eight radio stations
and three TV stations in a single city. That's too much media power in too few hands.

Don't Like It? Do Something.

If we want better media, we need better media policies. It's time to promote local ownership, amplify minority voices,
support quality journalism, and bring local artists, voices and viewpoints to the airwaves. The only way to stop Big Media
is by getting organized in our communities and demanding our leaders in Ottawa to start listening to the public instead of
the industry lobbyists. Use this Web site to learn more about the issues and find out how you can get involved.


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