What the FCC isn't telling about Local News

TPMmuckraker points to misconduct by the Republican controlled FCC.

AP: FCC Hid Data on Media Ownership
By Justin Rood - January 25, 2007, 8:11 PM

At the Federal Communications Commission reports were altered, and studies were blocked from release that showed local ownership was beneficial for local news coverage. The panel is still withholding hundreds of pages on media ownership research from release to the public. So says the Associated Press: ...

So they've tried to cover up the fact that local ownership means better local news coverage. It might be coincidence that this story came out at the same time that Clear Channel decided to kill off the already downsized News operation at KVOS channel-12 in Bellingham.

KVOS drops News View
Station cites lack of ad support
... By pulling the plug on News View, KVOS left Whatcom County without a local television newscast for the first time in decades. The station began broadcasting in 1953. ...

And course, Clear Channel says it was a decision made by local management. But you just have to wonder if the rules laid down by the headquarters in San Antonio weren't designed to assure that news programming would get the axe.