A new Darkfin chapter is coming this week but I wanted to take this opportunity to pass along some vital info to my U.S. Darkfin readers. Freedom of our airwaves continues to be gutted and June 2nd is shaping up to be another day of destruction!

When I was earning my journalism degree back in college, I wrote a thesis on the demise of the Fairness Doctrine and all of the corporate media nightmare scenarios that were predicted at that time came true. Please read the FWD and links below -- educate yourself. By the way, the head of the FCC just happens to be Colin Powell's son...

> Help Save Our Airwaves - Stop Media Consolidation!
>
> Who Controls What You Watch?
> Who Controls What You Hear?
> Who Controls What You Read?
> Who Controls What You Think?
> You Do! Urgent Action Needed!
>
> The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering sweeping
reforms to
> the media ownership regulations that will affect what every American
hears,
> sees, and reads and may shape the future of our media for generations to
come.
>
> Despite the immense impact of the proposed changes, the FCC has held only
one
> official public hearing on the issue. The press has not closely covered
the
> process and the majority of Americans are unaware of the changes that
could
> have a drastic impact on the information they receive from the media.
>
> Under the leadership of Chairman Michael Powell, the FCC is set to vote on
the
> changes June 2, with little public review or input.
>
> While the public has largely been unaware and uninvolved in the issue, the
> nation's largest broadcast companies - which could reap huge benefits from
the
> elimination of these ownership rules - have spent more than $81 million on
> lobbying and political contributions in Washington.
>
> These Changes May Drastically Affect
> The Nature And Quality Of Media In Our Country Changing the Rules? What
Rules?
>
> You can help!
>
> Visit our website and SIGN our online petition urging FCC Chairman Michael
> Powell to postpone the June 2 deadline to allow for more public education,
> review, and comment.
>
> PASS IT ON! The mainstream press has largely ignored this issue and our
> ability to get the word out depends on your involvement. Please forward
this
> alert and the attached "Facts on Media in America - Did You Know?" to
friends
> and family and encourage them to sign the petition and pass it on.
> Send them to: http://www.commoncause.org/action/fcc.htm
>
> Common Cause will be following developments closely and will keep you
informed
> about what is happening and how you can participate.
>
> FACTS ON MEDIA IN AMERICA-DID YOU KNOW?
>
> FACT: Viacom owns CBS; GE owns NBC, Disney owns ABC and News Corporation
owns
> Fox Broadcasting Company, which in turn, runs Fox News Channel. News
> Corporation also owns the New York Post, the publisher HarperCollins, and
film
> production company, Twentieth Century Fox.
>
> FACT: What happened to radio could happen to TV. Clear Channel Inc. now
owns
> more than 1,200 radio stations across the country. Several large stations
> owned by Clear Channel briefly banned the music of the Dixie Chicks
because of
> their critical comments about President George W. Bush.
>
> FACT: To their corporate owners, media outlets do not exist to promote
the
> public interest; they exist to make profits. But media companies don't
> manufacture widgets; they provide information. And information from
diverse,
> competitive, and independent sources is vitally important to the health of
a
> democracy.

http://www.cjr.org/owners/index.asp

http://www.commoncause.org/action/fcc.htm