2013 August

CBS and Time Warner Cable Clash at Your Expense

As the CBS vs. Time Warner Cable blackout stretches into a second full week, a chorus of commentators, lawmakers and consumer groups has taken pains to blame both sides — or at least that’s what they say they’re doing. But many of these critics have focused on CBS’ exorbitant demands and ignored the real culprit: the cable-TV business model.

Tagged With: Aalok Mehta, analysis, benton, Broadcasting, Cable, Free Press, Headlines, Matt Wood, Media Ownership, Must-carry, Retransmission consent, Television

Legislation Would Use Tax Code to Stop Junk Food Ads Targeting Kids

Filed Under: Benton Headlines

The debate in Washington over which foods should or should not be marketed to children is far from over. And with Congress getting serious about taking up tax reform, there is a new opportunity for lawmakers to use the tax code to regulate food advertising under the guise of raising more revenue for the government.

Tagged With: Advertising, AdWeek, benton, Children and Media, Headlines, Health and Media, Impact of various media on health, Katy Bachman, reporting

GMP Rev. Geoffrey Black Praises FCC Prison Phone Vote Tomorrow

Filed Under: UCC Media Justice

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn scheduled a vote tomorrow on a long-pending petition to reform predatory prison phone rates. The United Church of Christ's media justice and communications rights ministry, called Office of Communication, Inc., has been active in promoting the cause of justice at the FCC. In anticipation of the vote tomorrow, Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ issued the following statement:

Less than a year ago, I joined inmate families as they rallied outside the FCC asking for an end to long distance predatory prison phone rates. Tomorrow the FCC will act under the leadership of Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn, who heard the call of justice. We offer Chairwoman Clyburn and her staff our gratitude for taking action and ending 10 years of delay. We are very proud of the role the UCC’s historic media justice ministry played in bringing about the FCC vote.

For more information about this issue, visit our web page, www.uccmediajustice.org/prisonphones.

Press contact: Cheryl Leanza, UCC OC Inc. policy advisor: 202-904-2168

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The United Church of Christ is a faith community rooted in justice that recognizes the unique power of the media to shape public understanding and thus society. For this reason, UCC’s Office of Communication, Inc. (OC, Inc.) works to create just and equitable media structures that give meaningful voice to diverse peoples, cultures and ideas. Established in 1959, OC Inc. ultimately established the right of all citizens to participate at the Federal Communications Commission as part of its efforts to ensure a television broadcaster in Jackson, MS served its African-American viewers during the civil rights movement.

The Cleveland-based United Church of Christ has 5,700 local congregations across the United States. It was formed by the 1957 union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

FCC will vote Friday to end predatory prison phone rates

Filed Under: UCC Media Justice

The Federal Communications Commission has heard the call of justice. The FCC has scheduled a vote on Friday to consider the 10 year-old petition of Martha Wright to end the high cost of long distance calls to prison.

We don't yet know how the vote will go, but under the leadership of Acting Chairwoman Clyburn, we are hopeful for a good ruling.

As the Commission was undertaking its final consideration of this question, we submitted our petition of religious leaders and organizations urging the FCC to act. Thank you to all who signed the petition!

The FCC will stream its meeting on Friday morning via the Internet. Or you can follow UCC OC Inc. on Twitter, and look for the hashtag #phonejustice. UCC OC Inc.'s allies at the phone justice campaign are also organizing phone justice viewing parties across the country to watch the FCC's live stream. Click here and let them know you will be watching!