FCC Officially Launches "Future of Media" Inquiry
March 4 workshop will focus on TV and radio stations with pledge to keep First Amendment top of mind
By John Eggerton — Broadcasting & Cable, 2/19/2010 11:18:53 AM
The FCC formally launched its inquiry into the future of the media and the information needs of communities Feb. 18 with a pledge to keep the First Amendment top of mind.
"Formally" because Steve Waldman, who is spearheading the project, has already been on the job for several months putting together a cross-agency team and starting to gather information. (See related: "Waldman: No FCC Bailouts in Store for Media") Waldman gave a brief primer on the project at the end of the FCC’s public meeting Thursday.
The starting point of the FCC’s inquiry will be the First Amendment, he said, adding that any time the government looks at the media it must be "very, very careful."
Another starting point will be the first workshop on the issue, scheduled for March 4. Waldman said that it would focus on TV and radio stations, saying there had been a "newspaper centrism" to the future of media discussions heretofore.