Media Mergers Threaten Community News

[Commentary] The federal government's media ownership policies have tremendous impact on the community media that has traditionally played an important role in fostering community awareness and involvement. The past 20 years have seen an unprecedented number of media mergers among TV, radio, film, publishing and online holdings. An oligopoly has emerged in which six massive corporations control enormous numbers of media outlets. In 2006, combined revenues from these companies were greater than many countries' economies -- even individually, the economic might is daunting.