A draft government proposal would wipe out almost all media ownership limits in Australia -- giving Murdoch free reign over what we read, see and hear! We have just two weeks to flood the government with comments rejecting this proposal -- before Murdoch's dream becomes a reality. Click here to send your message and forward to everyone.
Free reign to control every last newspaper, TV and radio station in Australia -- Rupert Murdoch’s fantasy could become a frightening reality unless we stand in his way right now.
A government review is recommending we eliminate ownership limits -- exactly what Murdoch asked for. But we have two weeks to flood the review with objections to their plan during the public comment period before they finalise the report. Unless thousands of us speak out, the recommendations could go forward unchallenged.
Nobody -- especially not Rupert Murdoch -- should be allowed to own all of our media. Let’s wake up the review with our call -- and prevent the Murdoch Mafia from growing even larger.
Last month, more than 12,000 of us sent comments to the Independent Media Inquiry and kept attention focused on the need for greater media diversity. But now, a lesser-known industry review process has tabled recommendations that would undo our hard work and undermine the major media inquiry we won just months ago. The industry review, not surprisingly, sides with Murdoch -- claiming that the digital age renders media ownership limits irrelevant, and asking for a weak ‘public interest test’ as the only safeguard against another media mafia -- this, even though Australia already has the most concentrated media ownership in the Western world.
The review will help shape the future of media in Australia, and Murdoch’s hoping for a big lobbying win. To make sure our voice is heard above his, we need to submit a wave of comments to the review in the next few days.
Let’s show that the public opposes media monopolies.
Together, Avaaz members are turning the tide on Murdoch in Australia and around the world. We won the Media Inquiry he tried to kill, and then derailed his bid to snatch a $223 million contract away from ABC. Let’s come together again to end the Murdoch dream come true, defend our democracy from his lobbyists, and promote a more sane and independent media.
With hope,
Emma, Brant, Paul, Alice, Ricken and the rest of the Avaaz team
P.S. See below for the full submission to the major media review from Avaaz.
SOURCES
Australian Government Convergence Review:
http://www.dbcde.gov.au/digital_economy/convergence_review
Avaaz detailed submission to the Convergence Review:
http://www.dbcde.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/143235/Avaaz.pdf
Media ownership laws in firing line (Sydney Morning Herald):
http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/media-ownership-laws-...
Media ownership laws destined for the dustbin (The Power Index):
http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/analysis/media-ownership-laws-headed-for...
Review recommends axing cross-media laws (ABC):
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-15/review-recommends-media-shake-up/3...
Comments
I hope we can have our own Arab Spring in the US one day
I just don't get it. When is enough ever enough for people like Murdoch? Shouldn't
allow any monopolies. The government is enough of a monopoly. Especially shouldn't
allow monopoly of press. I just don't get it -- what makes people like this tick?
Are they monomaniacs? How about have a good psychological assesment done on this guy
and if the shrinks say he's nuts, put 'im in a mental hospital where he likely belongs. Surprised someone hasn't just offed this guy? I don't recommend that, yaar,
don't get me wrong. I'm just surprised someone hasn't just done it, him and alot of
other global capitalists. The world they created sucks. How much more of this do
people have to put up with? I hope we can have our own Arab Spring one day, because
it's long overdue in my view. I'm an american, but that's not my fault, was born
here, don't hold it again' me, yaar?