In just 2 days over 36,000 of us have sent messages to Ofcom. We'll deliver tomorrow morning. Tell everyone!
Dear friends in the UK,
Rupert Murdoch is trying to take over British media with his bid for full ownership of BSkyB. We only have 1 day to tell regulators that this deal is bad news!
Rupert Murdoch is on a fast track to control over half of this country’s newspapers and television. We have just 2 days to get regulators to stop him and defend our democracy.
Britain loses if Murdoch wins. The BSkyB TV network would entrench his massive dominance of our media and extend his power and political influence. Murdoch has used his reach to promote climate change denial, the persecution of minorities, and the dangerous lies that led to the invasion of Iraq.
We have until Friday to stop this! Let’s flood the regulator with thousands of submissions opposing the take over. We’ll deliver the tens of thousands of comments in boxloads to Ofcom’s offices on Friday, making a media splash. Click here to send a message now, and encourage everyone you know to do the same today:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/ofcom_no_bskyb_takeover/?vl
Murdoch’s News Corporation already owns 39% of the BSkyB television company and four of our best-selling newspapers. His new expansion bid rides roughshod over the ‘media plurality’, which the government has a legal duty to uphold. Regulator Ofcom is accepting public comments on Murdoch’s plans for just a few days.
This deal would allow Murdoch to cross-promote his different outputs and increase his political roles. For 30 years no British political party has won an election without Murdoch's blessing. This ability to get voters’ attention gives him frequent access to the prime minister - hence his nickname the ‘24th member of the cabinet’.
This is a fight for the soul of British democracy. We cannot afford to have one company dominate half of our TV, newspaper and online news. From illegal spying at the News of the World here to his hate-filled Fox News empire in the U.S., Murdoch’s media erodes the values we hold dear and shows few scruples when attacking political or commercial rivals - now including the BBC.
The Avaaz movement in Canada recently proved that determined campaigning can get regulators to oppose dangerous media moves. Let’s do it again here. Ofcom has given until this Friday for anyone to submit comments on whether this deal is in the public interest. Let’s send a message today and tell everyone we know.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/ofcom_no_bskyb_takeover/?vl
In the world we are striving to create, citizens will be empowered by a media telling truth for the public good. Countering this deal is vital if we are to leave space for such a media in our country, and the world.
With hope,
Alex, Ricken, Brianna, Mia, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
PS Avaaz has a new website! Your feedback will be very valuable to help us improve it. You use the pink buttons on the left hand side of any page to report any problems you find.
MORE INFORMATION
UK invites views on Murdoch's BSkyB buyout proposal (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A44AZ20101105
News Corp notifies Brussels of BSkyB takeover bid (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/03/news-corp-bskyb-takeover-europe/print
Rupert Murdoch’s growing media empire (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10317856
Official memo on why the Murdoch bid would damage the media (BEEHIVECITY)
http://www.beehivecity.com/television/why-murdochs-bid-for-sky-should-be-blocked-memo-in-full/
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