Greek Protesters Occupy TV Stations

Today we live in a media controlled society, which many people mistakenly believe they cannot challenge. As we have seen over recent years activists have taken action in the most diverse means to get their word out there and raise the banner for not only a new media system, but a whole new society.

After the tragic death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old Anarchist, who was murdered in cold blood by Greek Police, protesters have been fighting in the streets for justice. One method they used was to occupy the means of communication. This has included state and commercial television stations. In one, protesters hold a banner in front of the camera reading: "Stop Watching. Everyone to the Streets!". While in another protest leaders speak to camera explaining their motives and asking for solidarity.

In response, a government spokesperson described the State TV occupation as “an attempt to overthrow democracy”. The action was also condemned by the old school, stalinist communist party (KKE).

Nepal debates "Revolutionary Journalism"

With the new Maoist government locked in vital debates over the future direction of their revolution the practice of journalism has not been left out.

This is a vitally important debate after recent worker mobilisations against an unreceptive parts of the mainstream media, in particular, the Nepali Times. The debate also seeks to clarify the position of revolutionary journalists to mainstream journalist associations who may be, in effect, upholding the old media system and undermining true media freedom

Photo: Anti-Maoist journalists protest

Check out a report on the Revolutionary Journalists Assoc of Nepal here

McChesney and Nichols on the Media Reform Movement

In this four-part video, prominent United States based media reform activists Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols talk about the issues confronting the media and their movement today.










Thanks to dangerousintersections.org for this all important vision from the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform.

Nothing But the Truth...from Venezuela!

Writer/Director Rod Lurie has attempts to provide a story that can put hope into the hearts of progressive writers across the globe with a film ripped from the news pages, with a slightly different twist.

In Nothing But the Truth, mainstream journalist Miller (Kate Beckinsale) convinces the world that Venezuela weren't involved in an assassination of the U.S. president, an attack which pre-empted a U.S attack on Caracas by outing a CIA operative within her newsroom. Miller's exposure of a CIA agent drew the ire of a warhawked administration intent on a war with Venezuela. Her decision to withold her source to protect them from the wrath of the United States government resulted in her jailing.

But with restrictive access to films being released in Australia of late (Battle of Seattle, for example), we'll just have to see if it able to gain a release down under anytime soon....