The People's Action for Media Reform is again going after the "improprieties" of the newspaper market. On Wednesday it called on the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to engage in a full and instant official investigation into the unfair sales practices of newspapers. The improprieties of the newspaper market leave us with complicated emotions. Newspapers are supposed to be about the pursuit of justice.
A recent study by the group confirms that the newspaper market is still moving according to the "rules of the jungle." It is saddening to learn that "prizes" such as bicycles given to new subscribers are the most widely used weapons in the effort to expand market share. It is preposterous for them to think they can seize the "market of public opinion" with the strength of capital. It is also a shock to learn that the newspaper companies that enjoy massive amount of power are forcing all sorts of irrational and unequal practices on their distribution centers. It is not a normal phenomenon of the capitalist system to have unequal contracts based on differing degrees of power. The way newspaper companies control the fate of their distribution centers goes against the principles of democracy and justice. It is a phenomenon that is completely out of step with the liberal democratic system.
What the FTC must do now is clear. It should remember that the secret of democracy is breaking away at illegal and wrongful power. It is time to hold newspapers responsible for illegal activities. It should be done according to the law, with no excesses or restraint. Now that it has been confirmed that the newspapers that said they would clean up the market themselves did not really mean it, doing things according to the law is what should come next. The FTC should engage in direct investigations of the headquarters of the newspapers and clean up the dizzy newspaper market. We believe doing so would be an unavoidable step in normalizing the newspaper market and helping end the "newspaper crisis."
The Hankyoreh, 5 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
Do Not Be Scared of Powerful Newspapers! |
