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Thom's blog
Take our media back - Breaking Up the Media Monopolies
Back in the 1930s and 1940s, a few movie studios controlled which stars were shown in their theaters, which was good for profits but not for stars they decided to break or for the movie-going audiences since they controlled which movies were shown in each community. Eventually, in 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that the movie giants could no longer have total control of the vertically integrated system from contracting with movie stars to making movies to showing them in their own local theatres all across the country. They had to choose: either operate in the movie making business, or the movie showing business. They couldn’t do both. This led to a boom in independent filmmakers and new theatres. The industry today is infinitely more diverse and creative as a result of that breakup. Similarly, the Prime Time Access Rule in 1970 opened the door to independent TV production companies. While the rules are no longer enforced, there is still more competition now than before.
But no such rules have been introduced for radio. The powerful stations can choose what is heard, and many choose to carry exclusively conservative programming. One of the largest owners of the biggest (full-power) radio stations in the country also owns the largest syndication service in the nation. When they carry shows their syndication service owns, they make money both from the local station ownership and from the ownership of the syndication service.
A “fairness doctrine” would be difficult to enforce. Instead, we need to return to the notion of “programming in the public interest” making news back into news, and also start enforcing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and using it to break up the large media monopolies that have re-formed since the Reagan and Clinton eras, thus effectively rolling back media deregulation.
Find out how other countries do it and what more can be done in chapter four, "An Informed and Educated Electorate" of Rebooting the American Dream.
-Thom
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 "If you're looking for something that connects the dots between the BP oil disaster, the harm it's done to the Gulf of Mexico and the people paying the price, this book is it. In a clear and compelling voice, it explains the worst environmental catastrophe of our time, then shows the way forward to protect this national treasure, safeguard our future and break our destructive addiction to oil." |
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow urgently. Please help if you can. |
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The Daily Stack 
Quote: "For target shooting, that's okay. Get a license and go to the range. For defense of the home, that's why we have police departments." -- James Brady.
Hour One: Keeping our kids safe on campus...give 'em all guns! What?! Thom has a rumble with Dr. John Lott, economist, author of several books including the updated, re-released "More Guns, Less Crime".
Why they are supporting Gov. Rick Perry's move to allow concealed carry on Texas campuses? Thom confronts Tyler Norris, Chairman, University of Texas chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas.
Hour Two: After Firefighters Watched Home Burn, Obion County Expands Subscription-Only Fire Service To More Towns
Hour Three: Why do conservatives think that the paycheck fairness act is insulting to women? Thom confronts Carrie Lukas, Vice President for Policy & Economics at the Independent Women's Forum.
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Coming up on The Thom Hartmann Program
Hour One: Why are conservatives fighting anti-puppymill legislation?.
Could an end to the war in Afghanistan finally be in site?
Hour Two: "Repeal Obamacare Pledge!" Ok, then what? Thom confronts Heather Higgins, President/CEO - Independent Women's Voice; formerly, editorial writer-Wall Street Journal where her articles still appear.
Grassroots "Healthcare Is A Human Right" Campaign Thom talks to James Halsam, Director, Lead Organizer Vermont Workers' Center.
Hour Three: The left hates science and children...seriously?! Thom has a rumble with Dan Gainor, Vice President and T. Boone Pickens Free Market Fellow at the Business and Media Institute.
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program... your media support group for we the people.
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Radio Talk Show Host Rick Amato Weighs in on Tea Party on Politico's Arena
Is BP slaughtering the West's Wild Horses? With Madeleine Pickens
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