FCC's Report Calls For More Local Journalism

Report: The Future of Media

The FCC Working Group on the Information Needs of Communities today delivered an in-depth analysis of the current state of the media landscape along with a  broad range of recommendations.  The staff-level report, titled “Information Needs of  Communities: The Changing Media Landscape in a Broadband Age” was delivered to the FCC at an open commission meeting.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “The report’s findings and recommendations contain a strong and hopeful throughline: there has never been a more exciting time than this broadband age to achieve our Founding Fathers’ vision of a free democracy comprised of informed and empowered citizens.  As the report identifies and celebrates the potential of new communications technologies, it also highlights important gaps that threaten to limit that potential and harm communities.”

Addressing the gap in reporting, Chairman Genachowski continued, “Foremost is the disruptive impact the Internet has had on local news gathering.  This is an emerging gap in local  news coverage that has not yet been fully filled by other media.  And the less quality reporting we have, the less likely we are to learn about government misdeeds.”

The report was produced by a group of journalists, scholars, entrepreneurs and government officials, led by Steven Waldman, a successful digital media entrepreneur and former journalist.  Waldman worked for many years as a highly-respected reporter and editor at Newsweek, U.S News & World Report and WallStreetJournal.com.  He was also the cofounder and CEO of Beliefnet.com, which won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence Online and was later acquired by FOX Networks Group.

Key findings and recommendations include:

• Fueled primarily by broadband-enabled innovation, the news and information landscape  is more vibrant than ever before.  Digital technology is creating a world of opportunity to keep the public informed in ways unimaginable just a few short years ago.
• The disruptive impact of the Internet has enabled an unprecedented free exchange of  ideas and information.  Breakthroughs in hyperlocal news and citizen journalism are on the rise, empowering individuals with a wealth of new information to better inform decisionmaking and engender more accountable government.
• There are nonetheless serious gaps, including in local accountability reporting.  These deficits increase the likelihood of corruption, wasted tax dollars, worse schools and other problems for communities.
• Accelerate move from paper to online disclosure. Disclosure information required by the FCC should be moved online from filing cabinets to the Internet so the public can more easily gain access to valuable information.  FCC should eliminate burdensome rules and replace the current system with a streamlined web-based disclosures focused on providing information about local programming.

To download the full report, click here.

Also Read:

NYTIMES: A Federal Study Finds That Local Reporting Has Waned

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FCC Chief Julius Genachowski Under Fire As Activists Slam Report On Local News