Media, Culture & Society

For my last post, I thought I’d share this little video, produced by a former Chicago-area radio producer. Clearly, he’s not a fan of media consolidation–and he’s not alone…

This is just a little something extra on coporate golbalization. http://informationclearinghouse.info/. underneath the title is says “news you won’t find on CNN” I thought that was funny. (search corporate coporate globalization because I couldn’t get the article to work or the link)

From today’s edition of Democracy Now! here is a sterling example of the value of public media. Consider this. The news peg is an acknowledgment of May Day–a day celebrating worker activism. This is solid producing–the lead in provides an elegant (and informative, historical and engaging) set up to an investigative report on Walmart’s anti-union tactics. The story itself is significant and, outside of the business pages, probably hasn’t received much play in mainstream media (MSM). Finally, consider that DN! is produced at a fraction of the cost of your evening newscast.

Listen/Read/Watch

From Democracy Now!

Legendary Broadcaster Bill Moyers Returns to Airwaves With Critical Look
at How U.S. News Media Helped Bush Admin Sell the Case for War

Legendary broadcaster Bill Moyers is returning to the airwaves of PBS
tonight to launch his new series Bill Moyers Journal. The debut episode is
titled ‘Buying the War.’ Moyers makes the case that the press has yet to
come to terms with its role in enabling the Bush Administration to go to war
on false pretenses. Two and a half years ago Moyers retired after a 30-year
career where he became one of the most recognizable faces on public
television. Moyers joins us to play excerpts of ‘Buying the War’ and talk
about the media, the late journalist David Halberstam, corporate
consolidation of the airwaves, and the hope he sees from the grassroots.

Listen/Watch/Read

The impulse to ‘reclaim the airwaves’ is not a uniquely American phenomenon. For a quick overview of community-based radio movement in UK, check out this news item in The Guardian about an illegal broadcaster, with a community spirit, in London. [Registration Required]

Something of a ‘mash up’ of a news report from Democracy Now! featuring journalist Amy Goodman and our friend, Bob McChesney.

Our Media is a web-based resource for independent, participatory media. This page features resources for making your own media: audio, video, multi-media. This is an excellent resource as you begin work on your public service announcements.

Video on the significance of “media access” and “media literacy”–broadly defined–especially for young people. This video, and the programs it describes, demonstrates the potential media education holds for popular participation in civic discourse and public culture.

An interesting article from FAIR discussing what the author refers to as a centrist bias. He challenges the apparent neutrality of the “neutral” and nonpartisan median.

Video response to problematic reporting on Fox News regarding 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama.