Diversity, localism and the public interest: the politics of assessing media performance

During the summer of 2003, the Federal Communication Commission conducted a biennial review of media ownership regulations. This review process, mandated by the US Congress under the terms of the 1996 Telecommunication Act, assesses the efficacy of current regulations limiting television and radio ownership, as well as cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcast stations, in serving the public interest. These questions rest on the ability of policy-makers to assess two distinct, but related aspects of media performance: diversity and localism.