Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network --------------------------------------------------------------------- ## author : GLessard@gov.nu.ca ## date : 18.02.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Journalists' federation warns on AOL-Time merger ------------------------------------------------- The blockbuster merger of Time Warner and America Online, as well as big combinations expected in the future, is fuelling concerns that the news is becoming increasingly homogenised and watered-down. The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) warned that the merger could threaten democratic values and freedom of speech unless editorial independence was protected. ''This merger may redefine the worlds of entertainment, communication and commerce, but it may also threaten democracy, plurality and quality in media,'' IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said in a statement. ''We are now seeing the dominance of a handful of companies controlling information and how that information reaches people. Unless action is taken to ensure journalistic independence we face a dangerous threat to media diversity,'' Mr White said. Information and information delivery systems should be regulated separately to ensure independence, the IFJ said. ''Otherwise we will have corporate gatekeepers to the flow of information who will define content to suit their market strategies,'' Mr White said. The $145 billion stock deal announced Monday allies AOL's 22 million online subscribers with a news and entertainment conglomerate that includes CNN, Time magazine, TBS, TNT, Fortune, Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly. Analysts expect this trend to continue as other Internet companies look for combinations with TV, film and news outlets. Source: http://www.mediacentral.com/channels//allnews/01_11_2000.reutr-story-L111248 34.html - Media Central / Reuters / AP ---------------------------------- Send mail for the 'huridocs-tech' list to 'huridocs-tech@hrea.org'. Mail administrative requests to 'majordomo@hrea.org'. For additional assistance, send mail to: 'owner-huridocs-tech@hrea.org'. Archives of previous messages posted to the list can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/huridocs-tech/markup/maillist.html
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