Comments on: What Next For Media Reform? http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/ As The Media Watches The World, We Watch The Media Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:54:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Lewis Johnson Jr http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-245 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:20:04 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-245 Have to agree with Molly, AAR will make it. But I do share your fustration and concern. Where is the big money for progressives? Hang on Media Channel. Have to agree with Molly,
AAR will make it. But I do share your
fustration and concern. Where is the
big money for progressives? Hang on
Media Channel.

]]> by: Rita Jones http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-161 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 12:22:22 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-161 I am surprised that instead offering any input on media reform, Mr. Kincaid is dismissive of laudable endeavors like NCMR and is bent upon on finding faults (even inventing) with fellow media activists, calls to gag media outlets. Is it by any chance a case of sour grapes? I am surprised that instead offering any input on media reform, Mr. Kincaid is dismissive of laudable endeavors like NCMR and is bent upon on finding faults (even inventing) with fellow media activists, calls to gag media outlets. Is it by any chance a case of sour grapes?

]]> by: Gordon Stephan http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-120 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:39:14 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-120 Danny, Thanks for attending and the commentary. You've made me feel much better about missing this confab only 120 miles away. In the absence of a single defining issue and in the presence of fragmenting media proliferation, it is not hard to predict the outcome you decry. I sometimes feel like a very small cog in the very machinery which is wringing the life out of our civil discourse, but, I encourage you in the modest way I can to carry on in your daily quest. It's rarely the big events that change empire, but, the little moment to moment exchanges of one person to another. Thanks again, Gordon Stephan Sherwood, AR Danny,
Thanks for attending and the commentary. You’ve made me feel much better about missing this confab only 120 miles away. In the absence of a single defining issue and in the presence of fragmenting media proliferation, it is not hard to predict the outcome you decry. I sometimes feel like a very small cog in the very machinery which is wringing the life out of our civil discourse, but, I encourage you in the modest way I can to carry on in your daily quest. It’s rarely the big events that change empire, but, the little moment to moment exchanges of one person to another.
Thanks again,
Gordon Stephan
Sherwood, AR

]]> by: Molly Sullivan http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-117 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 07:32:17 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-117 "The failure of Air America?" Why are you repeating this right-wing talking point? Air America hasn't "failed." It's programs are still being broadcast on XM, on the Internet, and on more than 80 terrestrial radio stations, including stations in most major markets. Yes, it's operating under "bankruptcy protection," but so are Delta Airlines and thousands of other businesses. “The failure of Air America?” Why are you repeating this right-wing talking point? Air America hasn’t “failed.” It’s programs are still being broadcast on XM, on the Internet, and on more than 80 terrestrial radio stations, including stations in most major markets. Yes, it’s operating under “bankruptcy protection,” but so are Delta Airlines and thousands of other businesses.

]]> by: Rik Panganiban http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-111 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:58:53 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2007/01/16/what-next-for-media-reform/#comment-111 Danny, you raise some important points about the limits of the Media Reform Movement(s) that deserve discussion. But a lot of the "Web 2.0" activists were in the house, including Green Media Toolshed, the Youth Media Council, Third World Majority, several prominent political bloggers like Eric Stollers and Scott Goodstein, and many others. The event I helped organize, the Media Policy Research Pre-conference, was focused on just the kind of strategic, informative, and frank discussions that you call for, albeit for a smaller audience of academics and some activists and policy-makers. These more targeted, informed, strategic discussions are hard to pull off in the midst of a jamboree of 3,000 diverse activists with hundreds of different concerns. But its true it would have been better if we had all gone home with a clearer answer to "what now?" I also agree that I wish that the Media Reform Movement could have a much more international face. In my work with NGOs working on telecom policy from around the world, I have found that there are few issues that can galvanize and sustain international action in this field. Activists get caught up in their own local, regional and national fights, even when there are global forces at work. The Communications Rights and IP justice people are starting to lay the groundwork for something that could become the "Global Media Reform Movement" but we are far from there. Lastly, taking place in Memphis, I was disappointed to see that the movement is still largely white and largely disconnected from the larger civil rights and social justice movements that should share these concerns about access to the media. Danny, you raise some important points about the limits of the Media Reform Movement(s) that deserve discussion.

But a lot of the “Web 2.0″ activists were in the house, including Green Media Toolshed, the Youth Media Council, Third World Majority, several prominent political bloggers like Eric Stollers and Scott Goodstein, and many others.

The event I helped organize, the Media Policy Research Pre-conference, was focused on just the kind of strategic, informative, and frank discussions that you call for, albeit for a smaller audience of academics and some activists and policy-makers.

These more targeted, informed, strategic discussions are hard to pull off in the midst of a jamboree of 3,000 diverse activists with hundreds of different concerns. But its true it would have been better if we had all gone home with a clearer answer to “what now?”

I also agree that I wish that the Media Reform Movement could have a much more international face. In my work with NGOs working on telecom policy from around the world, I have found that there are few issues that can galvanize and sustain international action in this field. Activists get caught up in their own local, regional and national fights, even when there are global forces at work. The Communications Rights and IP justice people are starting to lay the groundwork for something that could become the “Global Media Reform Movement” but we are far from there.

Lastly, taking place in Memphis, I was disappointed to see that the movement is still largely white and largely disconnected from the larger civil rights and social justice movements that should share these concerns about access to the media.

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