The Icelandic media law

The government in Iceland decided to withdraw the so-called media law today (icelandreview.com). Their opponents cheer and say that because they wanted some other kind of media laws than those the government was trying to impose, and now since the government has withdrawn their version of a media law, then the opponents have won the battle. Ridiculous of course but typical.

But does that mean that the Icelandic media market has finally got its break from politicians? No. "Everyone agrees that some kind of media law is necessary", they say. "Everyone knows that although these laws were bad, some other laws are inevitable", they also say. In short: The Icelandic media market shouldn't celebrate its freedom from political interference just yet!

Why do we need laws for the media? They say that the risk exists that 'one man' will own 'all the media in the country/in the area', meaning of course that the public is likely to be brainwashed with propaganda which one man or one (non-governmental) power-block controls. Personally, I think that's absurd. In Iceland there is one 'big' media company owned mostly by companies where one man, Jón Ásgeir, is very influential. This company owns a few radio- and TV-stations and two newspapers. Together they add up to be the majority of all media in Iceland, with the second biggest one being RÚV - the government media company. Are Icelanders not in risk of being brainwashed by Jón Ásgeir? Isn't he killing of bad news about him and his companies and promoting the positive about himself by manipulating his medias? Aren't Icelanders sucking up everything he has to say?
- When people say there is 'great need' to impose media laws in Iceland, they are answering: Yes.
- If not, they are saying: No, Icelanders have a mind of their own.
I think Icelanders have a mind of their own. Icelanders aren't vulnerable to brainwashing, although believers of the great power of the State say so. Already when the ownership of one of the newspapers in Iceland became a hot debate, skeptics rose up everywhere, saying that news coming from this newspaper should be taken with care since it's most likely owned by a man with large interests in many big companies and would try to protect them from negative talk. Still there is talks about imposing laws to invoke skepticism, or better yet, eliminate the need to doubt the news depending on its source! I don't get it. Do Icelanders doubt the news, or don't they? Do they need babysitting and watching over like small children, or can they take care of themselves and think for themselves?

I hope Iceland will never have special laws about the media like they have with a lot of other things. I hope people are trusted to think for themselves, and that the government focuses on those who impose violence and don't hold up to their contracts. That's all.