Theater producer Joop van den Ende urges Dutch politicians to safeguard domestic media from the manipulative influence of American tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and X, citing their alleged exploitation of data and spread of misinformation. He advocates increased investment in public broadcasting, arguing that the current system, despite its popularity, faces undue criticism and underfunding. Van den Ende supports DPG’s acquisition of RTL, believing it will strengthen Dutch media against American dominance, despite concerns from the ACM regarding monopolization. This plea, appearing in major newspapers, emphasizes the critical role of a robust media landscape in upholding democratic values.
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Republican efforts to defund public media, ongoing for decades, are intensifying due to accusations of liberal bias and the changing media landscape. This new wave of opposition differs from previous attempts, as it’s fueled by a belief that public radio is no longer necessary in the digital age and that taxpayer funds are better spent elsewhere. While public media possesses established lobbying strategies and can leverage support from rural and moderate areas, the internal struggle to adapt to digital platforms and monetize new content hampers its ability to secure its future. The financial instability of several major public radio stations further exacerbates this challenge.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, appointed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new House subcommittee on government efficiency, plans to target programs perceived as wasteful, including NPR, despite its minimal direct federal funding. Greene’s proposed cuts reflect a misunderstanding of government budgeting, according to experts, who note that the plan to eliminate programs with lapsed authorizations is overly simplistic and inaccurate. This approach ignores the complexities of funding and the actual allocation of government resources. The initiative’s focus on eliminating perceived waste, however, has already generated significant online attention.
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John Q. Hosedrinker