On August 10, a press release was forwarded to the offices of Flagstaff Tea Party. The release confirmed a very troubling rumor that had been circulating in Flagstaff for some weeks: Pulitzer Inc. of St. Louis, the parent company of the Arizona Daily Sun, announced that it had purchased Mountain Living and Flag Live! In one fell swoop, the lion's share of Flagstaff's print media has come under the control of Pulitzer, a media conglomerate that owns 12 daily newspapers in 7 states, as well as dozens of other weekly newspapers. 

In just a few short years, beginning with the acquisition of the Arizona Daily Sun three or four years ago, Pulitzer has monopolized Flagstaff's print media scene. Though Mountain Living and Flag Live! were by no means bastions of progressive thought, they were at least locally owned publications that sometimes aired views that were at odds with those of the Daily Sun. Now, Flagstaff residents will be spoon-fed 90 percent of their so-called "news" by a company based 1,400 miles away. Not only is this sure to further limit the already narrow spectrum of opinions that are heard in Flagstaff, it will mean that more money from local advertisers will be siphoned off to fill the pockets of distant investors who care nothing about our community.

Never before has the local media scene been in such a sad state. Never before has Flagstaff so desperately needed an alternative newspaper. If you care about democracy and the diversity of opinions necessary to sustain it, I'm sure that you will agree that the increasing monopolization of the media poses a dire threat to the future of our country, our community, and even our individual conversations. What we don't know can hurt us, and it is already doing so. In the cold war era, we all understood that communism was the biggest threat to democracy. Today, the battle lines are being drawn in a different kind of war, a corporate war. Unfortunately, thanks to the corporate propaganda machine, many supposedly informed citizens do not even realize how today's powerful corporations are slowly but surely molding us into consumers, transforming us into pawns in a corporate-controlled state that would have made George Orwell shudder. Yes, Big Brother is watching us, and he's telling us what to buy, what to wear, and what to think.

In the spirit of the movie "Network," the time has come for every Flagstaff resident who can still think for herself to stand up, go to the window, and shout, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!" And if you really want to make a difference, do something really radical: Make a generous donation to Flagstaff Tea Party - a locally controlled newspaper written by Flagstaff residents for Flagstaff residents. We promise you we'll never sell out. If you've already made a donation, it's not too soon to make another one. The future of the free world is depending on you. Remember, with your donation of $25 or more, you will receive the next 12 issues of Flagstaff Tea Party by mail (if you wish). We accept cash, checks, and credit cards. Up to $5 of your donation may be made using a 1/2-hour Flagstaff Neighborly Notes bill.
Thanks for your support!

Dan Frazier is an eight-year resident of Flagstaff. Prior to launching Flagstaff Tea Party, he worked at the Arizona Daily Sun as an editor. He is the husband of Lisa Rayner, the publisher of Flagstaff Tea Party.