Discussed briefly at last week’s localism hearing, now civil rights leaders have put their request in writing: Twenty-one groups are urging FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to form a task force to study the media diversity “crisis.”
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said at the hearing last week that the Rev. Jesse Jackson, leader of the Rainbow/Push Coalition, has offered to participate in such a group. That offer is reiterated in the letter, signed by such groups as the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the Urban League, the Asian American Justice Center and Native Public Media.
In the letter, the groups state that the FCC suffers from “a credibility deficit” on the issue of media ownership. The chairman has not said whether or not he will form such a group as he tries to get the new rules completed by year-end.
