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LOCAL Announcement :: Media

MAKE TV NEWS BETTER

Media Democracy Chicago, a broad-based group which advocates for media diversity and accountability to the public interest, is fighting for improvements in television news programs in the Chicago area. The TV station licenses are up for renewal now, so this is a good time to put pressure on them! Please call or write your local TV stations NOW!
PHONECALLS, LETTERS, and E-MAILS URGENTLY NEEDED !!! NOW IS THE TIME !!!

Hate TV News? Want to help make it better? This is the time. All Illinois TV Stations are in a license renewal process right now. This only happens once every eight years. Stations are more receptive to community input and pressure now than at any other time!

Please take a moment to send a letter to local TV stations and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) before December 1st. Visit our website:
www.mediademocracychicago.org
for a sample letter (you can send an email from our site), contact information, and to see our recent study of local TV news.

If you and/or your organization would like to get more involved in holding TV stations accountable, please contact us at:
info (at) mediademocracychicago.org
Thank you!

WHO WE ARE
Media Democracy Chicago (MDC) is a broad-based group that advocates media diversity and responsibility to the public interest. We intend to bring people together from all walks of life to do something about making media better, now and in the future. We work on challenging mainstream media to improve their performance; supporting and promoting independent media; and media policy.

KEY FACTS FROM OUR RECENT MONITOR OF LOCAL TV NEWS:
A one-week study of all local TV stations’ late local news shows a serious deficiency in covering what’s happening in the African-American community.

* The majority (62%) of African-Americans appearing on camera were either members of the general public (51%) or athletes (11%).
* More than a quarter of the African-Americans appearing on camera (26%) were members of the public commenting on the Michael Jackson verdict.
* Only 5% of the stories were about the South Side and 1% West Side.
* 79% of the South Side stories were about disasters (fires, car crashes, etc.) or crime (murders, robberies, etc.)
* Only 8% of all sources were from public interest groups (community, labor, civil rights, etc.)
* There were no stories focusing on important issues like poverty, unemployment, or the lack of affordable housing in the city.

WHY SHOULD YOU GET INVOLVED?
* No matter what your primary issue is, you need to let people know what’s happening and what you’re doing about it.
* If the news media aren’t doing their job, important news won’t reach the people who need it.
* Right now is an opportunity to tell TV stations what we need from news, as their licenses are all up for renewal – which happens once every 8 YEARS. They are required to serve the public interest and are more sensitive to community pressure at this time.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
* Tell us how you think this information can best be used to organize.
* Help us get at least 500 letters sent to local TV stations by December 1, demanding better coverage of important issues on local newscasts. Put an item in your newsletter, send an email alert, and forward to other people and organizations that would be interested and concerned.
* Join us in working to formulate community standards for news, and in continuing to hold stations accountable into the 2006 and 2007 election cycles.

773-517-6433
www.mediademocracychicago.org
info (at) mediademocracychicago.org
 
 

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