Hawaii Localism Coalition

[BKHale2007]

Today's Ilind.net is the first mention I've seen of the Hawaii Localism Coalition. Does anyone know about this group?

July 21, 2004 - Wednesday

Sean McLaughlin, president and CEO of Akaku: Maui Community TV, will be a panelist in one of two sessions at this evening's meeting to discuss "broadcast localism", part of the Federal Communication Commission's special proceeding to evaluate how broadcasters are serving their local communities.

McLaughlin is appearing on behalf of the Hawaii Localism Coalition, an ad hoc group formed earlier this year to address the loss of diverse local media caused by media consolidation. McLaughlin previously has presented testimony on behalf of the Honolulu Community-Media Council in opposition to allowing Emmis Communications to continue its ownership of both KHON and KGMB, a "duopoly" generally prohibited by the FCC.

Official information about the FCC's Localism Task Force is available from the agency, http://www.fcc.gov/localism, and has also been compiled by SPJ Hawaii. http://www.flex.com/~spj/Emmis/emmis.htm

A message from McLaughlin to members of the Media Council about the FCC hearing and the localism proceeding, which included a solicitation for funds to cover travel costs, elicited a very chilly response from Mike McCartney, president and CEO of PBS Hawaii.

In two emails also copied to all council members, McCartney, writing as an individual and not on behalf of PBS Hawaii, repeated requests for the names of individuals and organizations making up the Hawaii Localism Coalition, an advance copy of McLaughlin's testimony, and information on fiscal follow-up and "an accounting of expenses".

"I just think people need more information, some insight about your associations with others and your intentions," McCartney wrote.

In this context, these seem relatively loaded questions. Apparently there's more going on here behind the scenes.

[pzarquon]

Re: Hawaii Localism Coalition

I've never heard of the 'ad-hoc group' either, but clearly its roots are entwined with those of the Media Council... if they're separate entities at all. Ian Lind's connection to the Media Council would also explain the ready access to Mike McCartney's e-mailed inquiries.

The way I read it, McLaughlin asked Media Council members for money to help cover his trip to the FCC event in Monterey, California. I'm guessing that solicitation included references to the 'ad-hoc group,' prompting McCartney - apparently on a Media Council mailing list but not in the know as far as the 'ad hoc group' goes - to ask who makes up the "Hawaii Localism Coalition."

I guess if McCartney is a member of the Media Council, and some faction of the Media Council makes up the "Hawaii Localism Coalition," he might feel entitled to know exactly who is in the 'ad hoc' group, what the group is doing and with what money.

The weird thing is, Ian Lind recently posted about some handwringing going on among Media Council members about the dwindling membership and lack of new blood and fresh perspectives. I'd frequently expressed interest in the Media Council and, after that post, outright asked if there might be a place for another frustrated wannabe e-journalist, a former J guy, like me. I never heard anything back.

Clearly, they've got enough life left in 'em to have a little kerfuffle!

[Erika Engle]

Media Ownership issue, 2006 edition

If you've read TheBuzz column in today's Star-Bulletin ...
http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/27/business/engle.html
... you may have been left wondering about participation in the public comment process.
Lack of space prevented URLs/procedures from being posted ... so here you go.

This is the FCC home page.

www.fcc.gov

You can go to the electronic comments MENU page ...

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload/

... and choose the issue you want to weigh-in on, OR,

go directly to the public comment page on media ownership, Docket 06-121:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload...&Send=Continue

This is the news release about the ownership issues -- in English:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-266033A1.pdf

If you prefer pages and pages of detailed government gobbledygook-speak, you’ll need to go to the July 25, 2006 FCC Daily Digest and scroll to the Quadrennial review information at the bottom.

The entry offers several links in various formats, for your clicking pleasure:

http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Da.../dd060725.html

There are also media watchdog organizations that are, well, monitoring this issue and encouraging and/or facilitating public comment.

One that has been brought to my attention is freepress.net. It has a pre-written letter to which you attach your name, etc. Please read the letter, of course, BEFORE affixing any personal information and clicking on send!

Correspondence you send to the FCC on this issue is PUBLIC RECORD and will be included, no doubt, in a database that is accessible to, and searchable by, EVERYONE.

[Konaguy]

Re: Media Ownership issue, 2006 edition

Correspondence you send to the FCC on this issue is PUBLIC RECORD and will be included, no doubt, in a database that is accessible to, and searchable by, EVERYONE.

I concur, whatever comments you submit to the FCC become public
record and are publicly searchable.