More Job Cuts Coming At Newspapers / TV: Michael Copps Now Supports Cross-Ownership

[NashVegas]

The Federal Communications Commission should reconsider restrictions on combined ownership of broadcast stations and newspapers as daily publications struggle with a plunge in revenue, the agency’s head said.

The agency should “visit this whole problem” before long, Michael Copps, acting chairman of the FCC, said in an interview today.

Members of Congress and Attorney General Eric Holder have said they’re concerned with the newspaper industry after four bankruptcies in as many months. Sales and advertising are dropping amid the recession and a migration of readers to the Internet. Daily papers have announced staff or pay cuts in New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Boston in the past two days.

Copps, a Democrat, said the FCC’s rule didn’t meet “the needs of the industry, the economy or the public.” The rule generally bans combined ownership of a daily newspaper and nearby broadcast station, except in the largest markets.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aYAdWOXUq9FA&refer=us

If you work in the editorial department at a newspaper, right now is a great time to set up an appointment with an image consultant and get camera friendly.

If you work on camera at a tv station, now's the time to learn how to write sentences and paragraphs.

[blogslut]

1. I think you're making assumptions about Copp's intentions

"didn’t meet “the needs of the industry, the economy or the public.” Isn't exactly a glowing endorsement of media consolidation.

Perhaps Mr. Copps is looking to upgrade media ownership rules to the current climate. Most newspapers will go web-only. Does that mean the ones that don't should be disallowed to have a web presence?

Now, if you can find where Mr. Copps has expanded on the subjects, as opposed to two less-than-informative quotes in a Bloomberg article, I would like to see that.

[NashVegas]

2. WTF Is Your Problem?

If you disagree, if you don't think his own words, succinct as they are, indicate a willingness to stand down in his opposition to cross-ownership, you're free to say so. There's no need to be such a condescending asshole about it. Unless, that is, you're bored on a Friday morning and are hoping to get a flame war going just 'cause work's so slow.

[blogslut]

3. I'm sorry if you confuse my curtness with condescension

I'm sorry I don't agree with your assessment of the article.

I simply find it hard to believe that Michael Copps has done a complete turn-around from his well-known stance against media consolidation. The article is quite vague and the only solid statement is that Copps wants to review ownership rules. My problem has more to do with this meatless, sloppy article that follows a "what if?", "oh noes!" narrative.