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Washington, D.C. - In an effort to demonstrate the need for a strong, diverse, and independent news media, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) this week hosted a Capitol Hill screening of George Clooney's new movie, "Good Night, And Good Luck." A dozen of Hinchey's House colleagues joined congressional staffers for the showing of the film, which dramatizes journalist Edward R. Murrow's work to fight U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy's accusations in the 1950's that Communists and people with close ties to Communists were secretly working in the federal government.
"The film, 'Good Night, And Good Luck' does a remarkable job of demonstrating the need for an overhaul of our nation's media policies to allow for true independent journalism that holds government officials accountable for their actions," Hinchey said. "Unfortunately, Senator McCarthy's use of fear was not the first or last time politicians have used fear and the media to advance their political agenda. By using the news media to spread propaganda that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, the Bush Administration gained public support for an invasion of that country. The Bush Administration manipulated the media to spread fear across the country. We can never let that happen again."
In July, Hinchey introduced the sweeping Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA). MORA is a broad measure that seeks to undo 20 years of massive media consolidation. It restores the Fairness Doctrine, reinstates a national cap on ownership of radio stations, and lowers the number of radio stations one company can own in a local market. It further reinstates the 25 percent national television ownership cap, requires regular public interest reports from broadcasters and provides for more independently produced programming on television. The bill establishes new public interest obligations to ensure broadcasters are meeting the needs of local communities and requires increased and sustained public input and outreach so that Americans have a voice in the programming they receive.
"Current laws governing the news media enable a mere handful of corporations to own and control news organizations, which has the detrimental effect of limiting the American public's ability to receive a wide array of ideas and perspectives," Hinchey said. "The American people deserve an independent media and I will continue to find ways, such as the screening of films like 'Good Night, And Good Luck,' to demonstrate to my colleagues in Congress why media reform is so desperately needed."
Earlier this year, Hinchey founded the Future of American Media (FAM) Caucus with the goal of educating members of Congress and their staff about media issues before Congress and to ensure that all parties - especially the American public - have a chance to participate in the critical debate over media policy. In past months, the FAM Caucus has held a series of panel discussions on a variety of media policy topics. Hinchey chairs the FAM Caucus, which is composed of House Members who believe in an accountable, diverse, fair, and independent media. The FAM Caucus, which currently has 21 members, is open to members of both parties and it neither supports nor opposes any particular industry stakeholder.
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