According to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters(CBA) diversity is alive and well.Because we bloggers are picking up the slack when Broadcasters drop services.
At least thats the argument the CBA is using to justify/downplay further consolidation of Media outlets into fewer and fewer hands.
The CRTC launched the hearings after concerns were raised about consolidation because of CTVglobemedia’s $1.7 billion take over of CHUM Television, which resulted in the layoff 281 news staff and the cancellation of several local newscasts across the country.
The big media companies are trying to convince regulators that reductions in local news coverage is being offset by bloggers or videos on YouTube.
Utter nonsense of course…
Mary Agnes Welch, president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, scoffed at the idea that the Internet was diversifying voices at a local level during her appearance before the CRTC.
Seems this self serving argument of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters misses or ignore certain facts…
“The internet can’t be relied on yet to fill any voids in local coverage created by horizontal integration or cross-media ownership,” she said.
“There are few local internet sources that provide the same kind of original, accurate, fair and balanced independent news content offered in more traditional mediums. Blogs or internet news sites haven’t, to any great extent, provided a critical mass of original local news gathering, at least not yet.
On a personal note,I would like to say to the CAB.That most bloggers are just reacting to the stories and commentary published by the mainstream media outlets.Bloggers can never hope to compete with the MSM nor should they be expected to.
I fail to understand how limiting diversity of ownership even further helps matters.Other than the broadcaster’s bottom-line of course.
