A delegation of nine journalists organized by Media Alliance and Global Exchange visited Cuba for eight days in April and May. The U. S. government places severe restrictions on Americans who want to travel to Cuba–journalists are among the few who can freely travel there–but the Cubans (and their government) welcome visitors from their powerful northern neighbor. The delegation, hosted in Cuba by Radio Havana, met with Cuban and international journalists, representatives of women’s and community organizations, economists, health practitioners, and others–including some really good salsa dancers. In this article, one of the gals on the bus, ACLU News editor Elaine Elinson( front right), shares a few of her impressions.Continue reading HAVANA JOURNAL, by Elaine Elinson→
In the past few years a pattern has emerged from a string of explosive political campaigns in California that have sparked public debate across the nation. Launched in the form of ballot initiatives, these campaigns have attacked affirmative action, immigrants, bilingual education, and labor unions. They have divided traditional progressive coalitions, scapegoated marginalized communities, and revived formerly bankrupt social policies. The results of these battles contain profound lessons about the difference between winning and losing campaign strategies and media messages. Continue reading WHY PROGRESSIVES KEEP LOSING CALIFORNIA’S INITIATIVE WARS, by Hunter Cutting and Kim Deterline, photos by Scott Braley→
It’s a typical Wednesday evening in November and it’s raining again. I hear loud chants outside my office window, the same ones that pierce that air three times a week, every week: “Union–Yes! Marriott–No! Union bashing’s got to go! What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now! Hey there Marriott, you’re no good! Sign that contract like you should.” When I first heard the demonstrations, I searched the newspapers for an explanation. None was forthcoming, and by now I’ve nearly incorporated the chants into the usual street sounds wafting up from Fourth and Mission Streets. Still, I wonder: Why is a major, ongoing union demonstration not news? Continue reading FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS: why labor actions are not news, by Akilah Monifa→
Media bashing has become a reflex for many, but critical analysis of what we read, listen to, and watch is what’s essential. As Media Alliance’s mission statement puts it, “To ensure the free and unfettered flow of information and ideas necessary to maintain a truly democratic society, media must be accessible, accountable, decentralized, representative of society’s diversity, and free from covert or overt government control and corporate dominance.” The basic principle here was stated more succinctly by Jim Hightower, quoting unknown cowboys: “Always drink upstream from the herd.” It is with these thoughts in mind that we assembled this media criticism reading list. Continue reading READ ‘EM AND THINK (CRITICALLY): A media criticism reading list, by Gabe Martinez and Akilah Monifa→
Three Bay area organizations, Retro Poll, the Youth Media Council (YMC), and If Americans Knew have been using monitoring tactics to challenge mainstream media’s reporting patterns. Their efforts take media criticism a step beyond analysis and are beginning to turn frustration at the lack of unbiased information in the mass media into productive steps towards media democracy and public access to balanced news. “We’ve found the media is failing to deliver honest, accurate, and full coverage, hence creating a misinformed American public,” claims Scott Campbell, coordinator for If Americans Knew an organization dedicated to providing accurate information on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.The organization focuses on this issue because according to Campbell, “ Americans have a vested interest in the region and must be accurately and adequately informed about the issue.” Through their monitoring, If Americans Knew has found that the media highlight Israeli deaths while barely reporting on Palestinian deaths. The organization hopes that making these findings available will move the America public to “act in accordance with morality, justice and the best interests of their nation and of the world.” Continue reading BAY AREA GROUPS MONITOR MAINSTREAM, by Samantha Calamari.→
American newspaper readers traditionally haven’t taken much interest in “foreign” news. Nevertheless foreign news has been on newspaper front pages for a long time. And America has had foreign policy ever since the USA was formed. Where do the ideas and intents of those policies —– and the news shaped by them —– come from?
When it comes to the question of why most progressive national media outlets reach such a small percentage of their potential audience, progressive activists are conflicted. On the one hand, we’re exhilarated when we reach large numbers–whether it’s the Independent Media Center website getting 1.5 million hits during the protests against the World Trade Organization, or the Chronicle running a rare cover story on an issue we care about. On the other hand, we insist that progressive media must hold firm to their progressive missions regardless of how large an audience they draw. Continue reading NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE MEDIA: WHO’S LEFT? by Andrea Buffa.→
