Free the media

News and Observer; April 21; Marguerite Clark

We've heard of "popular" rallies organized by dictatorial governments. Are we moving toward that here?

According to Paul Krugman's March 28 op-ed page article, many of the recent pro-war rallies have been organized by Clear Channel Communications, a chain that controls over 1,200 stations and has a reputation for squeezing recording companies and artists.

The dominating control by Clear Channel has been made possible by the deregulation that opened the door to the company's growth and increasing monopoly. Further deregulation, as now being considered by the Federal Communications Commission, would allow further expansion of Clear Channel, especially into television. Naturally, Clear Channel supports the Bush administration and will do what it can to show that support as further deregulation is being considered.

A free society needs to steer away from monopolies in the media. We need many sources of information, with media free to differ in information presented to the public. The robber barons taught us the danger of monopolies. Evidently we have forgotten that lesson and need to relearn it!