Robert Gottlieb is the Henry R. Luce Professor of Urban Environmental Studies and the director of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He also contributes to the Free Press Action Fund, to support our work toward media justice and media democracy.

How did you first get involved with Free Press?

One of the staff members of our Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, Amanda Shaffer, is a supporter (and member) of Free Press, and has helped facilitate two UEPI-hosted media reform conferences and two free “video activism” workshops for community-based organizations. It was through Amanda’s media justice-related work that UEPI (and I) became aware of Free Press.
 
What media issues do you care about most?
 
media justice and media democracy (ownership, control and public and community access issues); challenging media commercialization (both traditional media and new media)

How are you or people that you know affected by media policy issues?

As a group involved in policy issues, innovative program development and action research, we have a need to have effective media/information tools and address how the media influences people’s everyday lives (e.g., the food we eat).
 
What do you hope to see change in our media?

The media (particularly traditional media like newspapers and broadcast) are going through a major transition, a change that is both concerning but one that also provides opportunities. Media reform and media justice movements can play a major role in helping influence the direction of those changes.
 
We are grateful for your ongoing support; why do contribute?

As ED of the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, I had developed the practice of providing small holiday gifts for everyone on staff. About three years ago, I asked staff members if they would prefer that I contribute, in each staff member’s name, the equivalent amount spent on a gift to a social justice-type group or movement. Everyone enthusiastically agreed that was a good idea. With UEPI’s strong interest in media-related issues, providing the donation this year to Free Press was a natural fit for our holiday gift approach.