Josie -- My focus is on corporations, not "big business" though I might have used that combination of words. As I said, I"m not anti-business, but anti-corporate control of media. One of the points I made was that corporations are granted the right to free speech in this country. I think that's a problem. I can give you examples for why I think that, but you can also figure it out.

Of course you're more afraid of big government than of big business. After all, media messages are not created by government in this country.

Gims, I totally agree that the bottom line is that individuals are the ones that can make the change. That's what I said in my very long post.

This is what I said: "The solution: We the public need to recognize our collective power. We need to hold these corporations accountable."

from Gims: "The major media are all owned by corporations, which contract with government - government being the go or stop point."

True, Congress makes the laws. They set up the FCC which grants broadcast licenses (and have limited authority over cable) and the FTC has some authority over broadcast advertisements (it's only supposed to step in if they're fraudulent). And yes, the licenses technically belong to the people. And even though since the 1920s citizens have wanted public stations (starting with radio) -- like NPR and PBS that everyone is praising on another string in this forum -- Congress has crumbled to the lobbyists for Corporations -- first the networks (CBS and NBC) and then the National Association of Broadcasters (laws passed in 1927 and 1934). Congresspeople are afraid to go against broadcasters -- after all, who really has more power? It all happened again in 1996 -- How many of you heard about that new law? Probably not many, if any, because it happened without citizen input and without reporters knowing about it. Print media have nothing to do with government contract.

From Josie: "My opinion? I agree with gims. WE let it happen. WE elect our Washington representatives (those of us who actually bother to vote.) WE add to the ratings of the cheaply-made reality shows and other forms of non-quality programming. WE buy the latest and greatest from the biggest companies, whether the products are made in the USA or not.
It all starts with us."

That's what I said, but more tersely.

from Jabber:
"Big business owns the media because big business is the only
outfit that can afford large-scale advertisements!
The average, everyday citizen cannot pay 33 million dollars
a minute to sell something during a Super Bowl Game."

Lots of assumptions here: It's not a given that the system of TV we have -- with large-scale ads reaching a national population -- is the only possible one. What about public broadcasting? What about small-scale, low-powered broadcasting? What about locally owned stations as opposed to networks? What about taxes on TV sets like they do in some countries, rather than advertisement-supported broadcasting?

People power is not the same as socialism or communism. Right now, for example, the internet is relatively free, but pay attention because media companies are trying to change that (the legislation that has a tiered system, that gives preference to phone and cable companies rather than anyone who wants to start a blog of a web site.