The University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communications has earned the right task of preparing a review of literature concerning the information needs of Americans and barriers to entry the communications field. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn applauded both the project and the vendor chosen to execute it.
The FCC explained, “To develop policy that would advance the goal of diversity, including the promotion of greater women and minority participation in media, the Commission needs to conduct or commission research that illuminates the diversity of views available to local communities, the diversity of sources in local markets and the diversity of critical information needs of the American public, including women and minorities. This study is the first step, examining what prior research has been conducted with regard to how the public acquires critical information, how the media eco-system operates to provide critical information, and what barriers exist to participation.”
A factor the FCC said worked in Annenberg School’s favor was its assembly of a coalition of academics over 30 strong that will work on the project.
Clyburn congratulated the Annenberg School, and said, “I commend the Chairman and the Commission on this exploration and beginning the process of determining what barriers, if any, may exist in providing content and services to American communities. This is squarely in line with the Chairman’s commitment to the FCC working as a fact-based, data driven agency. I am optimistic and confident that through this study, the Commission will be able to more effectively meet its statutory and judicially mandated obligations, and I very much look forward to the results of the research.”
OMG: What a waste of public funds! So now we’re going to spend money to research the previous research that nobody paid any attention to in the first place? How many angels dance on the head of a pin? How many academics does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Who is John Galt?
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