Harry Potter vs. Big Media

In his rush to gut the nation's longstanding media ownership limits, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has not only angered the vast majority of Americans who think Big Media is already big enough.... he has angered a constituency with some serious clout: Harry Potter fans.

If that isn't a sign FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has gone too far, I don't know what is.

The Rise of 'Voldemedia'

In the epic Harry Potter series, one of the first things the bad guys did was to take over the major broadcast and print media so they could control the message and suppress other viewpoints.

As Andrew Slack, creator and director of the Harry Potter Alliance explains: "The Harry Potter books offer a vivid example of what can happen when too much media rests in the hands of too few. In the series, wizarding newspapers like the Daily Prophet put the magical community in serious jeopardy by denying Voldemort's return, failing to cover abuses from the Ministry and ultimately becoming a mouthpiece for Voldemort."

Sound familiar?

Even better is how Harry's followers fought back: They used an independent community newspapers and a low-power radio station to mobilize the opposition.

Potterwatch Fights Back with Wizard Rock

Today, reality and fiction are joining forces. The StopBigMedia.com Coalition has teamed up with the Harry Potter Alliance to launch Potterwatch -- a Web site that uses the Harry Potter series to illustrate the dangers of allowing giant corporations to swallow up local, diverse media outlets. We're building a real-world movement against "Voldemedia" -- the handful of companies that control most of what we see, hear and read every day.

The groups are urging fans and concerned citizens across the country to speak out against a plan by Chairman Martin to gut longstanding media ownership rules by Dec. 18 -- a move that would unleash consolidation in hundreds of local news markets.

The Alliance is spreading the word with the help of 10 "Wizard Rock" bands that collaborated on a digital album called "Rocking Out Against Voldemedia." The bands -- which include Harry and the Potters, the Remus Lupins and the Whomping Willows -- sing pop-punk songs based on the series, and warn about the dangers of media consolidation.

The free digital album can be downloaded at http://www.stopbigmedia.com/potterwatch

We Need More Than Magic

Kevin Martin -- who some say resembles a certain boy wizard -- wants to lift the longstanding ban that keeps one company from owning both a major daily newspaper and a TV or radio station in the same market. The 32-year-old prohibition on "newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership" has helped prevent media monopolies in local news markets.

Although Martin seems deaf to the tremendous public outcry, Congress is starting to pay attention. Last week the House held an FCC oversight hearing, and they've launched a formal investigation into the way the FCC conducts business. The Senate is holding its own hearing on Thursday.

The Senate Commerce Committee has already passed the Media Ownership Act of 2007 (S. 2332) legislation that would force the FCC to stop its rush and address the dismal state of female and minority media ownership. The bipartisan bill has 20 co-sponsors, but time is running out.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and across the political spectrum have protested, showing up at public hearings, writing the FCC and calling on Congress to stop a massive giveaway to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., Tribune Co., Gannett and the other media giants.

With enough public pressure, we can still stop this massive giveaway. Wizards and muggles alike should spread the word -- and call their senators today.

Comments

[daddysboy]

I wonder what Time-Warner thinks about this.

[Danny]

Without mentioning Potter, it is still imperative that you call your Senators and ask them to stand against the (even-bigger) media consolidation that Kevin Martin, the FCC Chairman, is advocating. This man should not be head of the FCC. It's too important an agency for this youngster to manage.

[Gatormouth]

Even kids are defending the Constitution. It makes me feel humble. How can our elected representatives continue to procrastinate and wave their Robert's Rules about when the very children are taking action? Shame on you, Nancy Pelosi!

[Qbear]

I would strongly suggest you get the approval of Warner Brothers studio, Scholastic Books and j k rowling before you appropriate any Happy Potter themes for your cause. Otherwise not only will you get the attention of BIG MEDIA, you'll get the attention of BIG MEDIA'S teams of lawyers.

[thinker&reader]

As an adult, a parent and a Harry Potter fan, I couldn't love the message in the books more. Tolerance, and our actions and choices defining us? What parent could ask for more from such a popular book series? My kids and I have spent hours discussing Potter topics and being as civic minded as I am, given a platform to introduce civil liberties, this is amazing! I've already downloaded the album and contacted my Senators and Congressional Representatives. For everyone and every Harry Potter fan- I urge you to do the same! Now is the time to choose between what is right and what is easy!! Daily Prophet be warned!

[ChrisInTennessee]

It seems hard to believe that the entire media hasn't been corrpupted already, with the little bit of actual fair and balanced real news we get, but we do still have something to lose if Martin and his pretend FCC get their way. Think fox "news" all day, every day - on every channel, every newspaper. The bloggers will be the only ones who get any kind of real news - but our small voice will be greeted with "That's not what I saw on the news last night..." Please, call your "representatives" while you still have a voice!

[LanceJetson]

Oh, you sillys, don't you know that JC Rowling is suing the pants off anybody who dares co-opt the Harry Potter name, that big media already owns Harry Potter, textual examples not withstanding...Good Luck.