Page Turner

Washington Monthly, Oct, 2004 by David M. Fox, Roderick Powell, Alan White, Ian Alterman, Clarence Ebersole, Phyllis J. Brown

The Mouth from the South has roared ("My Beef With Big Media" by Ted Turner, July/August) and--this time, at least--deserves to be heard. Iconoclastic and plugged in as ever, Turner has zeroed in on one of the greatest threats to our individual liberties: the right to hear the truth. In a culture where profit is king and differing view points are discounted as irrelevant, even unpatriotic, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find all the facets to a story. I am reminded of the classic parable of the six blind men who attempted to define an elephant based on what body part they touched. Much the same picture is emerging today--only worse.

David M. Fox

Via email

I would like to commend you for publishing Turner's excellent article on big media. I have worked as an independent film producer for the last six years. Ted's article was right on the money concerning the difficulties faced by media entrepreneurs and independent producers like myself in this David versus Goliath media environment.

I hope that Ted's article will serve as a wake-up call to legislators and the public about the dangers of too much concentration in the media industry.

Roderick Powell

President, R.A.P. Filmworks, LLC

Via email

Turner is correct about the state of decline in the media business. The dearth of long-term creativeness is apparent, and he has helped explain the root cause. The early days of ESPN were the funniest thing ever, with the bad sets and the endless tractor pulls, but it was a chance by those who had a dream.

The big guys wait until these cable networks mature and then buy and ruin them. They enjoy the ad revenue but do not push the intellectual envelope. They would never do the original aspect on their own.

Alan White

Principle, Ideational Fluency

Phoenix, Ariz.

Turner is a day late and a dollar short. Despite his claims of "independence," Turner helped create the problem he now sees. Indeed, by the time he sold Turner Broadcasting to Time-Warner, he also owned TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, and at least 10 CNN subsidiaries, including CNN Airport Network, CNN Radio, CN Nfn, and Sportsouth. And this does not include his ownership of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Entertainment, Turner Pictures, Turner Publishing, and at least a dozen other media-related companies.

Ian Alterman

New York, N.Y.

I rarely agree with Turner, but on this subject I do. Turner is right on the button with his analysis, and I think the government should consider some major changes in the FCC.

Clarence Ebersole

Via email

After reading Turner's article today, I would like to propose Ted Turner as head of the FCC under John Kerry's presidency.

Phyllis J. Brown

Via email