No,
I’m not talking about President Donald Trump’s failed immigration policies, his failure to
improve healthcare, or his
legitimization of fake news while undermining established media. The latest Trump offense is that he’s
allowing the FCC to dismantle a competitive balance of power in local
journalism across the country.
What
am I whining about this time? A
longstanding rule against consolidating the media could soon be lifted. The new FCC chairman, under Trump, already changed
how TV station owners count certain TV stations toward their national ownership
caps. As a result, more mergers and
takeovers are unfolding.
Relaxing
regulations on local TV ownership will spark a flurry of deal-making,
effectively limiting the diversity of voices in the media. Imagine a station in your city buying up
another station. Instead of having two,
independent voices competing for attention, you now have one. This not only injures true journalism, it
limits the number of interview opportunities for authors.
More
concentration of power means less diversity – and a loss of locally-generated
content.
Here’s
how the TV landscape looks at present:
Sinclair
penetrates, 45.6% of all U.S. TV households Tegna Media is in 27.2%, NexStar in 25.7%,
and Hearst in 13.3%. Those numbers could
easily grow -- nationally and within a specific market – once the FCC turns its
back on a regulation intended to protect the public.
The
trend in America is for consolidation.
It’s loved big box stores for decades and seems content with just a few
dominant forces to run everything. Our
economy is at the mercy of five to six companies – Apple, Google, Facebook, Walmart,
Exxon, Microsoft, and Amazon. Everyone
else is screwed.
But
the traditional news media is not like any other product or service. It is here to inform the public, question
authority, raise issues, and provide a legit forum for debate and the exchange
of ideas. It’s the fourth estate -- the
check on the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government. It’s also a check on the Internet. Are we going to let it dwindle into nothing?
Authors
and publishers need established media outlets to give their books attention and
recognition, a legitimacy it can’t get elsewhere. As the number of real media outlets shrinks
or fall under conglomerate ownership, the book industry and America lose big
time.
READ THESE!!
9 things all authors must get right in
every media interview
Why is
what you know about book marketing all wrong!
Should authors go big – or for a sure
thing?
16 ways to increase book sales
Study this exclusive author media
training video from T J Walker
What does it really take to land on a best-seller list?
Can you sell 10 copies of your book every day?
Great book PR lessons from kids, clergy, women, contractors &
sportscasters
How do authors get on TV?
Here’s the 2017 Author Book PR & Marketing Toolkit
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