Solidarity Against Big Media

by: Matt Stoller

Sun Nov 11, 2007 at 12:41


This is an entertaining take on local media coverage of the writer's strike.

So, did you hear about the big WGA rally Friday? Unfortunately, if you weren't there, the answer is probably no.

After attending Friday's very inspiring and impressive event two days ago, I sat down at 11 p.m. that night to watch the Channel 4 news. I couldn't wait to see the coverage.

But wait I did.

And wait.

Past the segment about stolen copper causing a street light to be out on a popular bike path.

Then I waited some more.

Past some story about cats brought in to chase rodents at a police station (I'm not kidding). Until about 11:29 when they had -- no joke -- a 15 second snippet.

Yeah, yeah, I know KNBC is owned by one of the companies on the other side of the negotiating table. But come on!

You're telling me when 4,000 people show up in the streets of LA, shut down a main thoroughfare in the city, a laundry list of celebrities are on hand, Jesse Jackson addresses the crowd and the subject is an industry-wide strike some experts say could cost the local economy hundreds of millions of dollars, such an event only warrants 15 seconds at the end of the newscast?

Wow. I mean... wow.

You think if 4,000 striking UAW members took to the streets of Detroit after shutting down the automobile industry, it might make the local news before the high school football scores?

On the positive side, you'll be happy to know the cats are proving to be very successful at catching the rats. I know this because that segment was about four times longer than the one 20 minutes later dealing with a story that could affect the entire economy of Southern California.

In a completely unrelated outpouring of public frustration, betweeen 750-1000 people attended an FCC hearing against local media consolidation in Seattle put on by Chairman Martin with only five days notice.

All labor struggles face similar dynamics, including a hostile press.

Matt Stoller :: Solidarity Against Big Media

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