2006

MDC conducted a smaller scale campaign in the state of Montana, and our campaign work was led by local organizers contracted through M + R Strategic Services. Organizers focused their efforts on building media reform alliances in the state of Montana, meeting with state legislators to discuss our campaign issues, and establishing relationships with Montana media outlets to ensure fair and accurate coverage of our issues and research.

Montana organizers worked with MontPIRG, Montana Common Cause, Reclaim Democracy, United Church of Christ, local Community Access TV stations, Montana League of Women Voters, and Journalism Department faculty at several local Universities.

As a part of the October 19th nationally coordinated press activities, Montana organizers released the How Bigger Media Will Hurt Montana report [0]and fact sheet [0] and received press hits from various local media outlets, including Montana Public Radio, the Missoula Independent, Livingston Enterprise, Queen City News, and the Helena Independent Record.

In addition, organizers conducted outreach to local Montana musicians around a documentary film screening touring the nation. The documentary, “Before the Music Dies,” illustrates the current state of the music industry and the negative impacts that the FCC’s deregulatory actions had in shaping the industry. At screenings of the documentary, attendees were encouraged to fill out comment cards to the FCC, and signatures were collected for a musician sign-on letter to the FCC.