[cma-l] Fwd: 24 hours left! The Murdoch Media Menace

[Phil Shep]

Phil Shepherd
Somerset Film
Chair, UK Community Media Association

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Alex Wilks - Avaaz.org" <avaaz at avaaz.org>
> Date: 30 December 2010 09:51:33 GMT
> To: "phil at somersetfilm.com" <phil at somersetfilm.com>
> Subject: 24 hours left! The Murdoch Media Menace
>

> Wow - in just 2 days, nearly 30,000 of us have signed the petition  
> for an impartial investigation in the BSkyB Murdoch's decision. The  
> next 24 hours are crucial, let's get to 50.000! Sign below and  
> forward this email to everyone:
>
> Dear friends across the UK,
>
>
> Rupert Murdoch wants to buy his way to more media and political  
> power with his bid for full ownership of BSkyB. We only have 4 days  
> to press the government to initiate a full review of what this would  
> mean for our media.
>
>
> This week sees a vital test for our democracy. How we act now will  
> determine whether – in new years to come - our media is dominated by 
>  a few corporate bullies or sustained by diverse independent voices.
>
> The Prime Minister has stripped Vince Cable of responsibility for  
> judging the BSkyB media takeover because Cable stated strong views  
> on Rupert Murdoch. But – ridiculously – David Cameron has given  
> the task to another minister who’s clearly biased. Jeremy Hunt says  
> he is a massive Murdoch fan. We can’t trust Hunt to stop Murdoch dra 
> gging our public debate into the gutter, as he has done in the US.
>
> Let’s urgently show Jeremy Hunt and David Cameron how we feel. If we 
>  make a big fuss the government won’t be able to wave through the Mu 
> rdoch deal and will be forced to order a full and fair review by the 
>  Competition Commission. Sign the petition and send to friends and f 
> amily -- Avaaz and 38 Degrees will deliver it this Friday.
>
> https://secure.avaaz.org/en/murdoch_bskyb/?vl
>
> If it buys the rest of BSkyB TV on top of the many newspapers it  
> already owns, Murdoch’s News Corporation could soon control half of  
> UK national newspapers and television. This would fly in the face of 
>  the law guaranteeing ‘media plurality’. But this law is new and  
> untested, and the government needs guts to uphold it in the face of  
> Murdoch’s powerful political machine.
>
> Regulator Ofcom is due to submit its assessment of Murdoch’s plans o 
> n new year’s eve. Then it’s up to Jeremy Hunt to decide what to  
> do next. He can either say OK to the deal, or refer it to the Compet 
> ition Commission – for a full assessment that includes plurality, or 
>  a limited commercial review, as if this was the market for washing  
> machines. Worryingly Hunt seems to see the media that way – his webs 
> ite states that Rupert Murdoch “has probably done more to create var 
> iety and choice in British TV than any other single person”.
>
> We know that the Murdoch family doesn’t just own newspapers, but wie 
> lds major political influence. Rupert Murdoch and his son James have 
>  had several meetings with David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt since the e 
> lection. The Murdochs presumably pressed for concessions to increase 
>  their commercial empire – including by attacking the BBC.  
> Murdoch’s Fox News has pushed an aggressive line against action on c 
> limate change and for the war in Iraq.
>
> This decision is one of the most important that this government will  
> take – and can’t be based on one minister’s opinion following a  
> rushed portfolio swap. To keep our media in safe hands let’s sign th 
> e petition calling for a review that will guarantee a diverse and fa 
> ir media.
>
> https://secure.avaaz.org/en/murdoch_bskyb/?vl
>
> In the world we are striving to create vital decisions will be taken  
> on the basis of heartfelt principles, not high politics. This review  
> is our chance to ensure our media can hold our politicians and  
> businesses to account for many years into the future.
>
> Determined to end the year with another great campaign,
>
> Alex, Ricken, Luis, Brianna and the whole Avaaz team
>
> MORE INFORMATION
>
> Murdoch's BSkyB Deal Chances Improve as Conservative Hunt Is Given  
> Review (Bloomberg)
> http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-22/murdoch-s-bskyb-deal-chances-improve-as-jeremy-hunt-takes-over-review.html
>
> Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt allowed to rule on Murdoch's Sky bid  
> despite claims of bias (Daily Mail)
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1340994/Culture-Secretary-Jeremy-Hunt-allowed-rule-Murdochs-Sky-bid-despite-claims-bias-Labour.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
>
> Conservative links to Murdoch under scrutiny as private meeting  
> revealed (The Guardian)
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/22/conservative-links-murdoch-private-meeting
>
> Fox boss ordered staff to cast doubt on climate science (Media  
> Matters)
> http://mediamatters.org/blog/201012150004
>
> Rupert Murdoch’s growing media empire (BBC)
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10317856
>
> Official memo on why the Murdoch bid would damage the media  
> (BEEHIVECITY)
> http://www.beehivecity.com/television/why-murdochs-bid-for-sky-should-be-blocked-memo-in-full/
>
>
>
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>
>
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