advocacy resource

Pentagon Pundits Jeopardize America's Free Press

jsilver — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:35:00 -0700

Yesterday, the New York Times exposed a secret Pentagon campaign to infiltrate the media with pro-war propaganda.

The scheme reaches all the way to the Bush White House, where top officials recruited dozens of "military analysts" to spread favorable views of the war via every major news channel -- without revealing they were working from Pentagon scripts and often lobbying for major military contractors.

Spreading "covert propaganda" is illegal under federal law. Congress must investigate these military pundits and their ties to the Bush administration, defense contractors and our national news media.

You Know They're Lying When They Say . . .

tompoe — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:09:00 -0700

You Know They're Lying When They Say . . .

The next time your mayor (like Jim Erbs), or your governor (like Chester Culver), or anyone in your community (like Charles City, Iowa), says they're not technically savvy, and have to rely on their computer experts to brief them on whether they will be doing the right thing about bringing community broadband infrastructure to their citizens, try to be a little respectful (like I am) and not guffaw in their faces. These officials are under the impression that they're clued in, and the Public (that's you and me) are just plain stupid. Now, I guess it's all right if you go ahead and guffaw in their faces.

The First Advocacy Corporation, or Anti-Corporation type of business

AdvocacyCorporation — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:48:00 -0800

It is my belief that the role of the advocate, the people who believe in things, do things and passionately stand for things, is not structurally protected in this system. The consequences of this is the death of democracy itself and all you need to do is look at the project censored - 25 most censored stories of the year to see this is happening right now. This is a bigger problem than just media consolidation.

Media, Democracy and Justice - a Southern California Regional Summit

JonB-CC — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:26:00 -0800

Common Cause is pleased to announce that we will be holding a media reform summit on March 29th in Los Angeles at Caltech.

http://www.commoncause.org/mediasummit

Media Manipulation of the 2008 Presidential Race

Newt — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:40:00 -0800

Why is the 2008 Presidential race suddenly about gender and ethnicity? It’s no surprise that people base their impressions of others on familiarity and subconscious comfort levels. But when does the media focus change start affecting the news instead of reporting it?

PEG ACCESS is also a key issue and should be one of the action projects!

dhalleck — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:20:00 -0800

I don't understand why PEG (public, educational and government) access is not listed as one of the "PROJECTS AND ACTIONS". HELLO??? Is this not a key media reform issue? It is not even listed as a tag. I wonder how much the cable industry has donated to Free Press? It's the only reason I can think of that you would so blatently leave out this important issue.

New York City Community Media News

Stevie Converse — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:55:00 -0800

Two important New York City Community Media stories were in the news this week.

NYC to Hold Cable Franchise Renewal Hearings

Setting the Stage for a People-Powered Web in 2008

Timothy Karr — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:59:00 -0800

In the dimming days of 2007, we bared the Telcos' ugly side for all to see. Powerful communications companies including AT&T, Verizon and Comcast brought us a year of privacy invasions, threats to free speech and the deceptive blocking of Internet applications and access.

Report from the December 7, 2007 Chicago Media Action Holiday Singalong at Tribune Tower

Chicago Media Action blog — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:33:00 -0800

On Friday December 7th from 5:00 to 6:30PM, about a dozen media activists braved freezing temperatures, a blockade of violence-prone Chicago police, and thousands of mostly indifferent holiday shoppers, to take part in the 2007 Chicago Media Action Holiday Singalong. It was held outside of Tribune Tower, the national corporate headquarters of the Tribune Company. The media giant's TV station and newspapercross-ownerships have come under an increasing level of scrutiny by the public and Congress due to FCC actions concerning the pending sale of the Tribune Company to billionaire Sam Zell.

FCC from a Disabled/Retired point of view!

nickster2 — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:20:00 -0800

Net neutrality is everyone's business but most people don't realize something until it is gone!

This week on Media Minutes...

candace.jeanne — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:01:00 -0800

A new report says media consolidation is continuing to squeeze out
minority TV station owners, with African-American-owned stations the
hardest hit. And the FCC held a rare hearing for a New Jersey TV
station's broadcasting license renewal.

Download Transcript |
Download Audio

Why Organizing Against Media Consolidation -- On Facebook -- Makes Sense

josh_nelson — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:20:00 -0800

Last Sunday I created this facebook group to build opposition to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal to further deregulate media. The description was simple:

We need your help to stop the FCC from implementing a rule change that would amount to the most egregious act of media consolidation since the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Stand up for access to diverse sources of information. Contact the FCC and your Senators today to voice your opposition to further consolidation of American media.

In less than 10 days, the group is already nearing 2500 members.

This Week on Media Minutes...

candace.jeanne — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:53:00 -0800

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is paving the way for the agency to more
closely regulate cable TV companies. And the FCC must rule on Verizon's
forbearance petition by Dec.5. Further "deregulation" could mean higher
prices and less competition for phones, DSL and other broadband
services.

New Jersey Citizens Fight for Their Voice

Josh Stearns — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:53:00 -0800

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 28th, there is going to be an unprecedented
hearing in New Jersey. Concerned citizens and public interest groups have petitioned the FCC to deny WWOR-TV 9's license to broadcast on the public airwaves, asserting that they have not lived up to their commitment to serve New Jersey communities.

A User-Backlash Against New Advertising Practices by Social Networks

Kathryn Montgomery — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:02:00 -0800

As the controversy over new online marketing plans by social networks continues, there is evidence of growing user backlash. Both Facebook and MySpace have recently announced the launch of new interactive marketing schemes on their platforms, even after the Federal Trade Commission and consumer groups had expressed concerns about the privacy threats posed by behavioral profiling on social network sites.

How to Change the World: Step One

StaceyLB1987 — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:43:00 -0800

Mahatma Gandhi remains a well respected
figure in our world after decades of advocating nonviolent protesting. One of
his most famous quotes lives on today and happens to be my favorite of all
time: “You must be the change you

Stopping Big Media at the FCC

Stevie Converse — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:41:00 -0800

Media Minutes, the weekly 5-minute podcast produced by Free Press has a 30-minute special edition on
Pacifica Radio's weekly program, Sprouts Radio from the Grassroots.

The Media Minutes' Sprouts program, Stopping Big Media at the FCC, puts you in the middle of the raucous
media ownership rally that was held in DC on Halloween and then takes you
inside the hearing room.

Your Invitation to Secure the Future of Progressive Talk

NonStop — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:33:00 -0800

As you may know, NonStop Radio is an organization dedicated to securing the future of Progressive Talk across America. From its inception, NSR has responded to problems as they arose: this market's Progressive Talk outlet is threatened, that market's just got flipped, etc. It's

Social Networks, Behavioral Targeting, and Democratic Communication

Kathryn Montgomery — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:35:00 -0700

Online social networks – MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, and the like – are becoming important arenas for youth political engagement, as teens and young adults use them to mobilize others to vote, challenge corporate authority, and fight for new laws.

Big Media, Little Kids

Stevie Converse — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:05:00 -0700

Media consolidation has had a detrimental effect on
children’s television programming, according to new research by Children Now, a California-based advocacy
group focused on making children a top priority in public policy.