May 3.2007

National Press Club, 529 14th St., N.W., 13th floor
Washington

When a cloud of poisonous gas from a train derailment drifted toward Minot, N.D., in 2002, none of the six local radio stations warned residents in time to prevent one death and a thousand injuries. Why? Author and sociologist Eric Klinenberg contends Minot was a victim of the "big media" takeover of local news outlets. Join Klinenberg for a discussion of his book Fighting for Air, which looks at how corporate control of local media has hurt communities by limiting local reporting and how activists and citizen journalists can demand and create better coverage. A question-and-answer period will follow the discussion and books will be on sale. No outside books will be permitted. This event is free and open to the public, however space is limited, and reservations are required.