Thirty years ago, 50 companies owned a controlling interest in America’s media  – today that number is six. Critics of media consolidation say it has sharply limited the perspectives that are presented, created a “dumbing down” of news content — and led to a marked decrease in local news coverage.

The U.S. Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated the industry, supposedly to “create a competitive communications market and deliver better services.” But the Act has many critics, including filmmaker Jean Philippe Tremblay, whose film Shadows of Liberty showed at Star Hall last week in a benefit for KZMU. Marty Durlin reports.

 

Shahid Buttar, executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, discusses current issues with NSA, FBI, and CIA surveillance of US Citizens. He is working to develop a grassroots network in Utah to push through important legislation and oppose the NSA data center in Bluffdale, UT.

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