Edwards Fights Media Consolidation

Today, John Edwards spoke out against the proposed Rupert Murdoch deal to buy the Wall Street Journal and the Dow Jones Company. Media consolidation limits the ability of diverse voices to be heard and threatens our democracy, and John Edwards knows it.

"News Corp's purchase of the Dow Jones Co. and The Wall Street Journal should be the last straw when it comes to media consolidation. The basis of a strong democracy begins and ends with a strong, unbiased and fair media — all qualities which are pretty hard to subscribe to Fox News and News Corp. The reality is that Americans deserve more news outlets — not fewer. It's time for all Democrats, including those running for president, to stand up and speak out against this merger and other forms of media consolidation.

"Moreover, given Fox News' consistent efforts to demean Democrats — they have attacked the character of Senator Obama, Vice President Gore, and many others — no Democrat running for president should accept campaign money from top News Corp executives. So, today, I'm challenging every Democratic presidential candidate to refuse contributions from News Corp executives and return any they've already taken, beginning with Rupert Murdoch. The time has come for Democrats to stop pretending to be friends with the very people who demonize the Democratic Party."

In case it's a little unclear exactly which Democratic candidates John Edwards is challenging, Hillary Clinton has taken over $20,000 from News Corp executives, Obama has taken more than $14,000, and Chris Dodd has taken $2,100. Edwards has taken less than $1,000 from NewsCorp executives, which he plans to return.

Edwards spoke out against media consolidation at least as early as March, when I recorded this video at Howard University: