Public Would Lose if
Comcast Deal Is Approved
Imagine if your local cable company,
Internet service provider and broadcast
station were all owned by the same
corporation. Then imagine that corporation
also owned cable channels, a major
broadcast network and a movie studio.  aeronautical engineer, Aparna grew
Sound far-fetched? If Comcast succeeds
in its bid to acquire NBC Universal, this
nightmare could become reality for
millions of American consumers.
Comcast is the nation’s largest cable
company, largest Internet service provider,
and a leading provider of regional cable
sports and network news. NBC is one of just
four national broadcast networks, an icon
of national and local news and a producer
of popular television programming. 
Analysts have estimated that if the merger
is approved, Comcast-NBC could control
one in every five hours of television
viewing in Comcast markets, and as much
as a quarter of channels on the most
popular cable packages. The merger
would mean higher prices for consumers
and fewer choices in programming and
services, and it would stifle innovation in
the emerging market for online video.
Free Press, along with other consumer,
labor and industry groups, is opposing the
merger, which would harm consumers,
innovation and competition. Tens of
thousands of people have already weighed
in against the deal, which is under review
by the Department of Justice and the
Federal Communications Commission. Both
agencies are expected to reach a decision
on the deal by early 2011. To add your
voice and help stop this merger, go to
www.freepress.net/comcast
www.freepress.net
Staff Profile: Aparna Sridhar,
Free Press Policy Counsel
A parna Sridhar has never given
serious thought to working for
anything but the public interest. Her
focus on systemic problems — in
media, elections and the judiciary
system — began in high school. “No
matter what you think about the
environment or immigration or foreign
policy or health care — those three
things all together determine how
decisions get made.”
The daughter of a physicist and an
up in the heart of California’s Silicon
Valley. A research project on the Warren
Court sparked her fascination with the
idea of law as a way to make social and
political change.
Aparna graduated from Harvard and
got her law degree from Stanford. She
started out as an election lawyer at a
private law firm, but her desire to do
more policy-focused work led her to the
media field. “I wanted to do something
that was more cross-cutting,” she says.
“And working for Free Press just seems
like the right place at the right time.”
As policy counsel for Free Press,
Aparna works on litigation, policy
and strategy. She described a typical
day: staff meeting at the office; a visit
to meet FCC Commissioner Mignon
Clyburn’s new chief of staff; phone
calls with professors about broadband
issues; a strategy session back at the
office; and time spent doing research
and writing on Net Neutrality and the
reclassification of broadband under the
Communications Act.
“I really like that I work for an
organization where everyone is working
toward the same goal. In Washington,
I think, that working with people that
are committed to a set of principles
is a privilege.” Of course, she muses,
there are other organizations that are
committed to principles. “But they may
40 main st., suite 301
florence, ma 01062
Free Press Policy Counsel Aparna Sridhar
be working toward the wrong set of
principles,” she says with an easy laugh.
Away from the office, Aparna likes
to cook (“anything with lemon and
garlic”), listen to music (Mates of State
and Au Revoir Simone are current
favorites), and has a longstanding
allegiance to This American Life. She’s
also a runner who enjoys competing in
5k and 10k races.
Aparna’s mission: “Fast, affordable
broadband for everyone and preserving
an open and vibrant Internet, especially
for noncommercial purposes. And
making sure that the FCC is a
regulatory agency that oversees this
really critical infrastructure. Whether
or not we’ll get there during my time at
Free Press, or even in our lifetime, is an
open question. But it’s a battle worth
fighting.”
Latinos Organize for Internet Freedom
A
powerful new voice for Net
Neutrality has arrived on the scene
with the launch of Latinos for Internet
Freedom.
Comprised of more than 50 national,
regional and local organizations,
Latinos for Internet Freedom is working
to ensure that the Internet continues
to provide Latinos with good jobs,
health care, education, small business
innovation, connection to community
— and powerful organizing tools.
Using the Internet to educate people
and promote their cause online, Latino
groups were able to stop SB 1070,
Arizona’s dangerous and discriminatory
racial profiling law, organize 6 million
people to march for immigrant rights in
2006, and force CNN to fire anchor Lou
Dobbs for airing anti-immigrant views
on his show every night.
318
MEDIA
REFORM news
published by Free Press
www.freepress.net SavetheInternet.com
Takes to the Streets
Fall 2010
But a powerful Handing out waffles in front of the FCC — to protest the waffling FCC chairman
industry with deep
pockets is using lies
and scare tactics S ee if you can answer this: Which
Free Press campaign has been
resorting to some new, creative and
Genachowski’s pledge to deliver on Net
Neutrality. To remind the chairman, the
FCC and the public of the still unmet
to convince civil
even tasty tactics in its goal to protect promise, we published a report, In His
rights groups that
Internet users and preserve the free Own Words: Julius Genachowski’s Vision
Net Neutrality will
flow of communications online? Why, of Real Net Neutrality. Free Press also
widen the digital
SavetheInternet.com, of course. placed an ad in Politico calling on the
divide. Latinos for
FCC to stop delaying and start moving
Internet Freedom, One morning in late September, we
working closely with
Free Press and other inside surprised the Federal Communications
Commission with breakfast: waffles,
to restore its authority to protect
Internet users.
SavetheInternet.com
to be exact. We thought the food But that’s not all that’s been happening
coalition members,
was a fitting symbol given how at SavetheInternet.com. In August,
is working to expose Joseph Torres of Free Press (left) joins with other members of Latinos for
Stop the Fake FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski when Google and Verizon announced
this and other bogus Internet Freedom at the Facing Race conference in Chicago. News Invasion continues to waver on Net Neutrality their disastrous plan to build a private
Photo by amalia deloney.
industry claims. rules. Our street theater was a hit, Internet and gut Net Neutrality
Freedom is fighting to make sure that
Public Would Lose drawing public attention to an agency protections on wireless devices, we
Meeting with members
the Internet continues to serve as the
if Comcast Deal that appears unwilling to protect the launched a campaign that targeted
of Congress, the FCC and the White
“great equalizer” of our times. Is Approved open Internet. their underhanded efforts. More than
House, and reaching out to other
350,000 people signed a Free Press
organizations, Latinos for Internet To learn more, visit latinonetlibre.com Our waffle breakfast was staged just
petition urging Google to stand by
days after the one-year anniversary of
continued inside…
 LE t tER FROM th E P RESID EN t/C EO
Stop the Fake News Invasion Update: SavetheInternet.com
continued from the front page…
how Do You Want to Be
Remembered?
Dear Friend,
Free Press
Seven years ago, a handful of us took a bold step: In the face
T his is a public service announcement: Fake news is invading
our airwaves. In an age when consumers can mute and fast-
forward commercial breaks, advertisers are looking for ways to sell
spokesperson), who
was hired by DWJ
Television, which has in
its motto, “Don’t Be Evil.” And we
organized a public protest outside
the future of the Internet. But it was
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken who stole
If you had $1 million to give away, how
would you divide the money? What if you
Massachusetts Office of undeniable — and mounting — threats to critical journalism only had $100? How you answer these
40 Main Street, Suite 301 you products where you least expect it: in your local newscast. turn received big bucks Google headquarters in California that the show and told a cheering crowd that questions says something about what
and freedom of expression in the United States, we created
Florence, MA 01062 to promote toys via was featured on the BBC and The Daily Net Neutrality was the “free speech issue matters most to you. If you want better
a national media advocacy organization to defend and “Fake news” is advertising that is embedded in news segments
Ph 413.585.1533 satellite media tours. Show as well as in the New York Times of our time.” And a thousand people media and a stronger democracy to be
promote the public interest, no matter who is at the helm and disguised as real news. You’ve seen it before — though part of your legacy, making a planned gift
and the San Francisco Chronicle. were able to catch the hearing online
Washington Office in Washington. you might not realize it. A news story about popular cars or a Further research yields to Free Press is a great way to do it.
thanks to a live stream provided by the
501 Third St. NW, Suite 875 hospital offering a new cancer treatment is featured in a nightly plenty of other DWJ That same month, more than 750
Minnesota citizen journalist project,
Washington, DC 20001 What began with three staff and a handful of activists is today newscast. The problem is the segment was paid for by the car sales pitches. In one people turned out to show their support Why Join the Free Press Legacy Society?
Ph 202.265.1490 The Uptake.
a team of nearly 40 and a movement of half a million people working together to manufacturer or hospital itself and placed by a PR firm. And your segment, Lisa Beres, a for Net Neutrality and free speech
The Free Press Legacy Society allows you
www.freepress.net safeguard the universal, affordable, uncensored Internet and hard-hitting journalism that local station never disclosed that to you. “certified green building online at a public hearing that we And we’re just getting warmed up.
to take care of your loved ones and ensure
info@freepress.net our democracy depends on. expert,” touts products helped organize in Minneapolis. FCC Stay tuned, and stay involved. Visit
Or a paid “expert” will appear on live newscasts purporting to be that your values live on.
that purport to keep Commissioners Michael Copps and www.SavetheInternet.com to take
So much has changed because of our efforts. The public is no longer shut out of media an authority on something. Stations provide these spokespeople
Free Press and your home safe from Mignon Clyburn listened to hours of action now. Through our Legacy Society, you can
policymaking sessions where industry giants once wrote the rules behind closed doors. with a free platform to pitch products they have, in some cases,
the Free Press Action Fund dangerous toxins. She impassioned public testimony about make tax-wise gifts that provide Free Press
We have a seat at the table and a voice that cannot be ignored. Our accomplishments been paid over $10,000 an item to promote. These promotional with the resources we need to chart future
Boards of Directors goes from station to
have come about through the activism and financial support of hundreds of thousands spots are never disclosed to viewers as paid advertisements, and programs and reach our goal of building a
station with her table of
Tim Wu, Chair of individuals and foundations across the country. understaffed newsrooms all over the country are increasingly more diverse, democratic and accountable
goodies, making claims
Columbia University Law School airing fake news because it saves them the time and expense of media system.
that an air purifier
And yet, so much remains to be done. For America to continue to be a global leader, producing real news.
Marcy Carsey (available at Lowes. How Do I Make a Planned Gift to
our media system must be democratic, diverse and trusted. But our media policy is too
Carsey Werner Company Fake news has no place in our newscasts, and it’s clearly against com!) in every room will protect you from a newly constructed Free Press?
tightly tethered to the influence of industry. The result: Our media system is holding us Federal Communications Commission rules. The FCC, however, home that is releasing chemicals. Whatever your opinion on
Liza Cohen Pike back instead of serving as the engine that propels us forward. It’s easy. Plus, you don’t have to be
has left a large, well-documented body of complaints lingering green-washing, this ain’t news, folks. It’s advertising.
Resource Media wealthy to do it. People of every age and
and has yet to stop the practice. The longer the agency sits on its
As I look ahead to our next seven years, I anticipate many new challenges that will income level can make a planned gift —
Olga M. Davidson hands, the further the fake news invasion spreads.
test our commitment and stamina. Huge mergers like Comcast-NBC continue to pose and every dollar makes a real difference.
Wellesley College
a threat; powerful corporations like Comcast and AT&T are spending tens of millions
Kim Gandy to put up toll booths on the Internet; and newsrooms are closing every year, leaving
Disappointing Results Join the Free Press Legacy Society
Feminist Majority by including Free Press, our 501(c)3
Americans with fewer and fewer sources of original reporting. In 2006 and 2007, Free Press and the Center for Media and Save the Date April 8-10, 2011, Boston organization, in your estate plans. This
Democracy (CMD) led the charge against fake news and sent a
Maxie C. Jackson III can be as simple as including Free Press in
We know that every issue we care about, from education to the environment, from petition to the FCC, backed by tens of thousands of supporters,
National Federation of Community Broadcasters your will; listing Free Press as a beneficiary
health care to the economy, depends on the work we are doing to foster a connected, urging the agency to curb the practice. CMD’s research found of your life insurance policy, retirement
Martin Kaplan informed electorate. But we need to get the word out to an even broader audience and 110 TV stations that had aired fake news, and documented 138 plan or bank account; or donating a
University of Southern California get them involved. So please, tell your family, friends and anyone else who will listen instances of undisclosed fake news. publicly traded security.
Annenberg School for Communication about Free Press and media reform. Forward our e-mails, blog posts, tweets and more
Five years later, only two of these 138 complaints have resulted And if you’ve already included Free Press
Robert W. McChesney — and ask them to join this movement.
in action by the FCC, totaling a measly $20,000 in fines that have in your estate plans, we’d love to know
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
And finally: Thank you for your tireless support and profound commitment to better never been paid. Hardly a stellar record of enforcement. Protest at Google headquarters. Photo by Steve Rhodes. about it.
John Nichols media and a better democracy. It’s because of you that Free Press has built a reputation And while the FCC drags its feet, fake news continues to fester. Last For more information and specific
Capital Times as a tireless public watchdog. Here’s to the next seven years! month, after the Los Angeles Times revealed new instances of fake instructions on how to make a
Loris Ann Taylor
Native Public Media
Onward,
news, we again asked the FCC to hold broadcasters accountable.
“Net Neutrality planned gift to Free Press, please visit
www.freepress.net/donate/planned_giving

About
More Documentation Needed Media. Technology. deMocracy.
is the First or contact:

Little threat of disciplinary action means it’s open season for the National Conference Yesenia Perez
Media Reform News is published
by Free Press, a national, nonpartisan
broadcasters to keep airing fake news. The Los Angeles Times
for Media Reform Amendment issue Development Coordinator
40 Main St., Ste. 301, Florence, MA 01062
has documented new instances of fake news on 10 TV stations
organization working to reform the media.
Contents ©2010 Free Press.
Josh Silver
President and CEO across the country. Elizabeth Werner is a “toy expert” (read: of our time.” 413.585.1533 ext. 502
yperez@freepress.net
Register now at www.freepress.net/conference – Sen. Al Franken

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