This is important! Courtesy of Canadians for Democratic Media, a new coalition of media activists, labour groups, academics, civic organizations, research centres, and more.
-SIO
*****
Ensure a Diversity of Voices for our TVs, Radios, Newspapers, and Internet!
Media diversity is the cornerstone of democracy. But media ownership is more highly concentrated in Canada than almost anywhere else in the industrialized world. Almost all private Canadian television stations are owned by national media conglomerates and, because of increasing cross-ownership, most of the daily newspapers we read are owned by the same corporations that own television and radio stations.
This means a handful of Big Media Conglomerates control what Canadians can most readily see, hear and read. It means less local and regional content, more direct control over content by owners and less analysis of the events that shape our lives. It also means less media choice for Canadians and fewer jobs for Canadian media workers.
We must also be wary of the impacts mergers have on the diversity and neutrality of new on-line media. We need to reverse this trend before big media gets even bigger! Tell the CRTC what you think!
What you can do
Rules that truly curb media concentration in Canada are long overdue. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) - the body that regulates broadcast and telecommunications systems - is holding a hearing in Gatineau this coming September on how to ensure a diversity of voices in our media. The deadline for submissions is July 18, 2007. These hearings could in the long run lead to a more concentrated media and a relaxation of the foreign ownership rules leaving our media susceptible to take-over by even bigger U.S. Media Conglomerates. The airwaves belong to the public, and the CRTC needs to hear from you. Click here to let the CRTC know that media diversity matters to you.
Spread the word
Unless citizens speak out, the debate will continue to be dominated by large media corporations. Please forward this message to encourage others to participate in this crucial campaign. Tell your family and friends about this important campaign!
If you are not a Canadian citizen or resident, please do not send a message to the CRTC; visit http://democraticmedia.ca to find out about how you can support media diversity in Canada.