New media power to help further the cause

[feelthebreeze]

Finally a challenge to be thrown at the lack of news we're getting. State sponsored media is in full effect and thank heavens there are institutions being formulated to fill the glaring vacuum of blatant propaganda that is being shoveled down America's throats. Pass it on...
Yours in the battle,
Feel the breeze
The winds of change are blowing... do you feel the breeze?

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=63
2/11/2005
Writers, publications to launch open source alternative press association

Writers and Progressive Publications to Launch Alternative Press Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Larisa Alexandrovna | Associate News Editor – Raw Story
http://www.rawstory.com | [email protected]

February 10, 2005 – Raw Story editors, along with several other independent progressive journalists and publications, will be launching the Open Source Press Association (OSPA) as an alternative to media agencies such as the Associated Press.

The OSPA will function on four levels: ethics in journalism, alternative press membership, networking and projects, resources, anti-smear council, and resources and distribution.

The Ethics in Journalism Board will vet journalists, publications, freelance writers and organizations for free membership, monitor unethical reporting, and present annual excellence in writing, reporting and publication awards. The board will be made up of founding publications, journalists, blogs, and organizational representatives that run the gamut of progressive press.

The alternative press, including publications, journalists, writers, and organizations, will allow for members to share resources, funding and act as a more inclusive fourth estate. This body will not be a corporate; it will not be beholden to anyone to report on certain topics. The ethics board will provide stringent reporting standards for journalists, publication, etc., and various other standards to be followed by other writers writing in different sub-genres of journalism.

-SNIP-

is designed so that journalists like the late Gary Webb are able to find work; so that publications working hard to get the truth out are not silenced by financial burdens or smear campaigns. It is designed to allow for the true fourth estate – the media – to be reborn in truth and founded in ethical principles, not corporate bottom lines.

Journalists, publications, and reporting organizations are welcome to submit statements of interest. OSPA hopes to begin credentialing membership organizations soon.

Contact Larisa Alexandrovna at [email protected] to express interest. The group will be setting up an autonomous website soon.

[stray cat]

1. Thanks and welcome to DU

[Misskittycat]

2. This is great news.

Associated Propaganda has been a serious problem for some time now.

[Tigress DEM]

16. ROFL (AP) Ass-ociated Propoganda (hyphen mine)

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. A very important step. Nominated for HP.

Welcome to DU! And may your username prove prophetic.

I do recommend that after a day or two, when posts are starting to drop off, you repost this news in the Media Forum, where it will be seen by additional people with a special interest in the media.

The Media Forum's Topic Page is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=109

[feelthebreeze]

7. Thanks for the tip NWH

I'll bring it over to the media thread. Love to get this more play on the DU site.
The winds of change are blowing...do you feel the breeze?

[GetTheRightVote]

4. This is great news, keep reporting on it and keep us up to date

:kick:

[LibertyorDeath]

5. Welcome and thanks for the Good News!

[emcguffie]

6. there's also low power FM and now broadcast TV

I have to go look it up, it's in my e-mail. There's a fellow in California that started his own radio station, and now he teaches others how to do it. Well, except NOW he's teaching people how to start their own little local TV broadcast stations.

I'm on the other coast, but somebody in DU is out there.

It's a very appealing idea, truly independent broadcast TV. It has to be very local, but gee, it isn't even public access cable. You can do it yourself!

[Amaryllis]

8. Great news; wish it weren't limited to internet. Or is it? Will they try

for other media outlets?

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. Re the poor state of corporate journalism - see this Will Pitt editorial

As always, Will puts it all together with power and style:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021105A.shtml

The News Is Broken
    By William Rivers Pitt
    t r u t h o u t | Perspective

    Friday 11 February 2005

Once upon a time, working the White House Press Briefing Room was the crown jewel of mainstream political journalism beats. That was it; short of reporting live from under the President's desk or nailing down an interview with the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, you weren't going to get a better gig if you were a political reporter.

    To hold such a position was also to be the repository for a great responsibility. If you are privileged enough to be placed there, if you have put in the time as a reporter to earn the right to be there, you are the first line of defense in the eternal struggle between the rights and well-being of the people and governments that are always willing and ready to lie, cheat and steal in our name and 'for our own good.'

    All governments lie. That is what they do. A reporter in the White House Press Briefing Room bears the burden of being the person whose role it is to speak truth to power, to write down what happens after speaking truth to power, and to beat their editors and publishers about the head and shoulders to make sure that truth is delivered to the people intact.
(snip)

It's wonderful - he uses the sordid mishandling of the "Gannon" story to illustrate how far from professionalism or even honesty the corporate press has fallen. I recommend this piece highly.

[Ellipsis]

10. excellent news, Thank you

[crispini]

11. Wow! Cool!

[forintegrity]

12. Yeessss!!! This is GREAT news!

It's about time!!!

This is soooooo exciting!

[Me.]

13. Seems Like The Rumble Is Beginning

and the breeze feels so good! Welcome.

[hootinholler]

14. Kick and Need Programmers?

PM me if you do.

-Hoot

[pearl]

15. Thanks for your work FeeltheBreeze

And Welcome to DU.
I have a particular passion and rage in regard to the state of
the US media. I'll keep an eye out for your work here.



"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living"
Mother Jones

[Tigress DEM]

17. I like your tagline.

"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living"
Mother Jones

I'm having a weary day, and seeing your tagline helps a little.

My compassionate side is crying shiva for the dead to come that I can see written in the administrations policies.* Yet they are still alive and as long as I have breathe I need to keep on moving, keep on fighting.

*The 2006 Budget in particular and in general the new provisons being stuck in every concievable piece of legistlation that give the power to the few and take away the power of WE THE PEOPLE.

The tragedy of HR418 passing the House with section 102 intact -- and NO MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERAGE --- makes me feel like I need to get ready for detainee camp. We don't have enough votes to stop it in the Senate unless the media gets behind us and pressures the repubs and I just don't see that happening.

[MelissaB]

18. Well said, Tigress DEM!

Also, thanks to the OP for posting this. I am starting to feel the breeze.

[Bill Bored]

19. Great idea!

Looking forward to you joining the crack White House press corps!
Try not to out any covert CIA agents though!