It can be a little distracting talking media reform sometimes. This is because ultimately if we are going to grow a movement we have to be able to relate to the wider public.
Our job is made harder by the fact that the mainstream media has so far done a sterling job in leaving the real issues off the table when it comes to issues effecting their own industry. Meaning everyday people while hating mainstream media, have little understanding of the issues that confront the movement for change.
One area where this has been clearest is Net Neutrality.
For the uninitiated, Net Neutrality is about keeping the internet as an more or less equal space for websites and content. Some big companies (particularly Comcast in the States) are trying to (with the help of the overwhemingly supportive Republicans) slow down all content that does not pay special fees meaning the internet is turned into a two tier affair where access to mainstream corporate news sites would load up instantly, while access to news sites like DemocracyNOW! and TheREALnews would be delayed making it even harder for them to attract extra viewers and revenue.
Need a deeper understanding? Read what the Huffington has to say on the matter here
In response, Rock The Net, a cd featuring the likes of Wilco, Bright Eyes and We Might be Giants, has been produced by artists concerned about this clear case of the corporate takeover of the internet. All funds raised will go to the Save The Internet campaign. Check it out here http://www.thirstyear.com/rockthenet/
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Media Needs To Promote Climate Solutions
The fight against climate change is one of the greatest fights our planet has ever faced. The media still has the attention of the wider public. The responsibility of the media is therefore huge.
The way the media portrays the issues of climate change is therefore paramount in what path is taken in attacking the issue. We need real debate, as well as a media that will reveal the horrible truths of climate change, while not forgetting to tell us about those advancements that can give us hope. But will our media, with its own corporate backers to appease and look alike governments to cover really get to the real story we need... Time will tell.
It's a huge issue that needs to be addressed ASAP, even the Colombia Journalism Review is discussing it. As you can check out at: http://www.cjr.org/feature/climate_change_now_what.php
The way the media portrays the issues of climate change is therefore paramount in what path is taken in attacking the issue. We need real debate, as well as a media that will reveal the horrible truths of climate change, while not forgetting to tell us about those advancements that can give us hope. But will our media, with its own corporate backers to appease and look alike governments to cover really get to the real story we need... Time will tell.
It's a huge issue that needs to be addressed ASAP, even the Colombia Journalism Review is discussing it. As you can check out at: http://www.cjr.org/feature/climate_change_now_what.php
Iraq War Censorship Out of Control
The Iraq war has been met with fierce censorship from United States army officials keen to see the real story kept away from the U.S public.
Central to this has been the story of freelance journalist Zoriah Millar, who was barred from covering the marines after releasing photos of a suicide attack on U.S. marines on June 26.
Millar's decision to post the photos on his website resulted in him being forbidden from working in the marine controlled areas of the country. The United States Marine commander in Iraq, however, is still trying to have Millar formally banned from United States military facilities throughout the world.
Even the New York Times were forced to admit that media coverage of Iraq is turning out to be the "opposite extreme" of the Vietnam War, which is often descibed as the "television war".
We should not underestimate our need for quality and reliable information to make the right decisions and the importance of Millar's photos are only fragment of what we should be expecting before allowing our troops to say in Iraq one moment longer.
An interesting point to remember in a time when the worlds eyes are on China and assessing their censorship, while conveniently forgetting our own.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/world/middleeast/26censor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Central to this has been the story of freelance journalist Zoriah Millar, who was barred from covering the marines after releasing photos of a suicide attack on U.S. marines on June 26.
Millar's decision to post the photos on his website resulted in him being forbidden from working in the marine controlled areas of the country. The United States Marine commander in Iraq, however, is still trying to have Millar formally banned from United States military facilities throughout the world.
Even the New York Times were forced to admit that media coverage of Iraq is turning out to be the "opposite extreme" of the Vietnam War, which is often descibed as the "television war".
We should not underestimate our need for quality and reliable information to make the right decisions and the importance of Millar's photos are only fragment of what we should be expecting before allowing our troops to say in Iraq one moment longer.
An interesting point to remember in a time when the worlds eyes are on China and assessing their censorship, while conveniently forgetting our own.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/world/middleeast/26censor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
6,000 U.S. Newspaper Jobs Lost!...Now What?
Today, DemocracyNOW! features an interesting roundtable on the media crisis .
The roundtable involves Linda Jue, former head of the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter; Chris Hedges, a former reporter for the New York Times and now with the Nation Institute; and Bernie Lunzer, the new president of the Newspaper Guild.
One of the biggest issues to come out of the discussion was the question of how new media models currently being promoted on the intenet can be funded in order to be able to offer competitive high level journalism.
Chris Hedges, while clearly very pessimistic about the future of journalism, understands the importance of decent budgets in being able to provide high quality journalism. The mainstream media has straggled at the sight of new technology, while alternative sources are held back by lack of resources.
The question is ultimately around what value will our society put into journalism in the future. Will either corporations or governments make the important investments needed to provide this and what will they expect in return?
These are all important issues that need to be discussed within the media reform movement as we fight towards a better (quality, structured and funded) media environment.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/29/newspapers_suffer_spate_of_layoffs_decline
The roundtable involves Linda Jue, former head of the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter; Chris Hedges, a former reporter for the New York Times and now with the Nation Institute; and Bernie Lunzer, the new president of the Newspaper Guild.
One of the biggest issues to come out of the discussion was the question of how new media models currently being promoted on the intenet can be funded in order to be able to offer competitive high level journalism.
Chris Hedges, while clearly very pessimistic about the future of journalism, understands the importance of decent budgets in being able to provide high quality journalism. The mainstream media has straggled at the sight of new technology, while alternative sources are held back by lack of resources.
The question is ultimately around what value will our society put into journalism in the future. Will either corporations or governments make the important investments needed to provide this and what will they expect in return?
These are all important issues that need to be discussed within the media reform movement as we fight towards a better (quality, structured and funded) media environment.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/29/newspapers_suffer_spate_of_layoffs_decline
Nine Throws Axe on News
Nine's decision to axe its Sunday and Nightline news programmes has sent revirbirations around Australian newsrooms this week.
It causes also could not have been simpler, with Nine bosses clearly labelling profitability and a competitive marketplace as being the fallguys for the shows, after over a decade on air for both shows.
The move marks a clear trend of commercial stations cutting back on news content and being slow in their willingness to take on new organisational models demanded by the new technological age we are entering into.
It causes also could not have been simpler, with Nine bosses clearly labelling profitability and a competitive marketplace as being the fallguys for the shows, after over a decade on air for both shows.
The move marks a clear trend of commercial stations cutting back on news content and being slow in their willingness to take on new organisational models demanded by the new technological age we are entering into.
Friday, July 25, 2008
U.S. Unity Conference Takes on the Media, Race & Politics
Over 10,000 journalists gathered for the Unity Conference in Chicago to take on the issues of Race, Politics and the Media.
The Conference brought together members of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association.
For the latest visit http://unitynews.org/
For a roundtable discusion on the topics of discussion this weekend on Democracy NOW!: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/25/race_politics_and_the_media_a
**Update**
Senegalese President Brings Controversy to Unity08
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has caused plenty of controversy prior to his address to the Unity Conference in Chicago.
Souleymane Jules Diop, a Senagalese journalist, and Wade opponent, currently living in Canada, was punched in the face by a supporter of President Wade. The protest and counter-protest outside involved up to 100 people.
Wade's involvement in the G8 earlier this month has, however, lead to the Senegalese Democratic Party being viewed, by the Europe and the United States, as a leading democratic light in Africa.
The Conference brought together members of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association.
For the latest visit http://unitynews.org/
For a roundtable discusion on the topics of discussion this weekend on Democracy NOW!: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/25/race_politics_and_the_media_a
**Update**
Senegalese President Brings Controversy to Unity08
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has caused plenty of controversy prior to his address to the Unity Conference in Chicago.
Souleymane Jules Diop, a Senagalese journalist, and Wade opponent, currently living in Canada, was punched in the face by a supporter of President Wade. The protest and counter-protest outside involved up to 100 people.
Wade's involvement in the G8 earlier this month has, however, lead to the Senegalese Democratic Party being viewed, by the Europe and the United States, as a leading democratic light in Africa.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Stokes moves in on West Australian
The Australian Seven Network, owned by Kerry Stokes, has increased its stake in The West Australian Newspaper to 22.3%, with a buy up of 4 million shares today.
The buy up follows a failed attempt to divide the present WAN board and win Stokes a seat in April. The implications of the move on the media barren west coast seem clear enough for anyone interested in media diversity.
Also clear is the way it brings into sharp focus the cross media ownership restrictions that the Howard government was able to abolish that made Stokes' expansion possible. We need the Rudd Government to finally take the chronic state of Australian media seriously. But it seems for now, it suits their purpose of quietening dissent...
The buy up follows a failed attempt to divide the present WAN board and win Stokes a seat in April. The implications of the move on the media barren west coast seem clear enough for anyone interested in media diversity.
Also clear is the way it brings into sharp focus the cross media ownership restrictions that the Howard government was able to abolish that made Stokes' expansion possible. We need the Rudd Government to finally take the chronic state of Australian media seriously. But it seems for now, it suits their purpose of quietening dissent...
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