But it also puts an emerging media company directly in the business of journalism, says Adam Clayton Powell III, new-media analyst with the Freedom Forum. What you're seeing now is the acquisition of one of the largest journalism companies in the world by a company which, at least until now, has been careful to say it's engaged in many businesses, but journalism isn't one of them. On the Internet, everyone can have a voice. But you could give yourself an edge, with your Web sites favoring your or your partners' material. Then it becomes a problem.
Some consumer groups are opposed to the merger.
We will immediately ask the FCC to initiate a rule-making proceeding to require open access to the Internet. Consumers should be quite alarmed about the increasing concentration of control over news media. The Internet is becoming like network television - where only few giant conglomerates dominate. Reported by Edward C. Baig, Josh Chetwynd, Lorrie Grant, Bruce Haring, Gary Levin, Andy Seiler and C sar G. Soriano.