Once again, there are some strong voices of concern in Long Island Business News about the purchase of Newsday for $650 million by Cablevision.
In an unsigned editorial on "Cablevision's growing empire," the Business News' policymakers say the "acquisition of Newsday means that the cable operator so many Islanders love to hate now holds more power over us than ever before." The editorial says "Cablevision is now the chief gatherer and disseminator of general interest news on Long Island. That is a huge responsibility and it's landing in the lap of arguably the most clandestine company in our region." It goes on to criticize Cablevision for not making its executives available for interviews after the deal was announced (Newsday didn't get any access either).
The Business News editorial ends by saying: "Newsday belongs to Long Island. It's their [Cablevision's] job to return it to its rightful owners."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in its opinion section, Fair Media Council executive director Jaci Clement takes another swipe at the Cablevision deal. Clement has been one of the most vocal critics and she again denounces "such massive consolidation." She adds, "Anyone who believes in the fundamental freedoms that built America cannot be in favor of this deal. It's been billed as a way to save Newsday but, in doing so, we lose Long Island."
Meanwhile, it seems like the New York Times wanted to do a story on Newsday in its Cablevision era. But no one had any real answers for the reporter, Richard Perez-Pena, and the story was largely a recent history of Newsday, with details on ownership changes and impact on the paper.
--Noel Rubinton
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