NOW Promotes Diversity in Media Ownership

Not a day goes by that women don't call and write to us to express their frustration at what they see, hear and read in the media. They are outraged by sexist, racist, homophobic comments. They are disturbed by the high level of sexual exploitation and violence. They ask why more women experts aren't featured on news and political talk shows. They are dismayed at the lack of substantive coverage of women's issues. And they long for better role models for their daughters and sons.

I believe this condition is a direct result of the lack of diversity in ownership Women own just five percent of commercial broadcast TV stations and six percent of all full-power radio stations. Whenever the FCC allows big media companies to gobble up more stations, it leaves fewer and fewer outlets for women and people of color to purchase. And often the big companies are buying stations from women and people of color.

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