Lacking good smoke, Xan asks the very important question: how are we to tell the Dems to reform the media? You know that I think it's very important, and if you don't, you need to rethink things.

It's plain and simple to anyone paying attention: the SCLM and even the "balanced" media are organs of the Republican party at worst, and large corporations at best. It's so horrifying to me when I have to make the case to people who don't follow the media's many blunders and lies. I have American friends who honestly believe that the media is equally critical of Democratic and Republican interests. My European friends are fearful and terrified by it; more than one has remarked on the similarities to German press under the Nazis; given that their educational system actually teaches them about the past, I tend to be unsurprised by their reactions.

But Xan raises several important points, ones I've grappled with for years. How to get around the (totally sacrosanct and worth preserving) First Amendment guarantees? Nationalizing the press isn't going to happen even with a Congress full of Kuciniches and Feingolds (well, maybe); and the Supreme Court has repeatedly screwed us by equating money with speech. I followed what happened to Dean very closely, and to this day I remain furious and shocked by the brazen application of the media's power to his cause and case. That they rubbed his face in it and gave him a cutesy T-shirt afterwards commemorating his loss only makes me want to firebomb every last corporate media HQ.

But that's not an option. So what is? And how do we get the most recent set of Democrats in Congress to get on board? In the past, we were somewhat hampered by accusations that we're just "jealous" and "irrationaly hateful" of the media. Today, not even a week after the Democratic sweep, that argument should have less force. I think we've got a slim opening in the halls of power, and that the more savvy Democrats are going to lend (some of) us in the blogosphere an ear. So what should we say?

My suggestions:

-Bring back the Fairness Doctrine. They can be lazy and just dig up the old version, or find a some stones are write an even stronger one, I don't care. Make sure it applies to the cable news services as well.

-Restructure publically funded media organizations like NPR, and remove all political appointees. Re-charter them to mandate they are apolitical, balanced, and representative of the whole of our government and society, when they report. It's easy enough to legislate organizations that serve under Federal charters and receive Federal monies; free speech concerns are less of an issue.

-Increase media ownership and diversity. Expand the number of women/minority owed voices on the airwaves, bring back set-asides for these groups when the public airwaves are bid upon.

-Increased federal funding for media studies and communications departments. Get more critical academic discourse about the media into the mix, along with better trained students and future journalists. When students can afford to go to school to be journalists, we'll have less of an all-trustifarian media again.

-Put real watchdogs at the FCC. Do as the Republicans have done; punish those organizations who fail to follow a Fairness Doctrine, as well as those who cloak paid propaganda in the guise of 'unbiased' journalism and reporting. Levy real fines against offenders, take away broadcasting rights for repeat offenders. While they're at it, legislate a little decency, the real kind, and get rid of the superviolent programming that show up more and more on public channels.

-Increase the amount of required educational and informational programming on all channels. Make standards real; no more McDonalds-sponsored "edutainment."

-Tax the shit out of Big Corporate Media. They can afford it. No one would complain, the Right and Left would both love to see a little punative taxation upon the "smut peddlers" and liars.

and finally

-Get a fucking spine, and fight back. Democrats who go on TV or speak with reporters need to act like they care about truth, and having their views correctly represented. Republicans act with one voice any time one of their own gets tough critique from the remaining members of the liberal media; it's time for Democrats to take a page out of that book. When the Times or CNN misrepresents a Democratic pol or policy, hit back. If you need help, ask the bloggers. We can write some hard edged, biting copy for you. We can even avoid profanity.

Those come to the top of my head. What about you? The other idea I have is related, and has to do with a Constitutional amendment regulating campaign finance once and for all. But that will have to come from the people; I don't expect even progressive Democrats to be able to do that on their own.

Readers: your ideas?