Senator Bernie Sanders & Van Jones at NCMR / National Conference for Media Reform Click here to view in Real Player format (broadband) Click here to listen in Real Player format (dialup) We recommend Media Player Classic - Home Cinema for Real Player Click here to download. (it's free!)
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The National Conference for Media Reform / NCMR convened in January 2007 and brought together media activists, journalists, academics, bloggers, non-profits, grassroots organizers, radio producers, videographers, the public access community, alternative media, government officials and concerned citizens to raise their voices as one to demand media reform and a return to the primacy of the public interest in media policy. Bernie Sanders & Van Jones are two of the most articulate voices addressing the range of media reform issues. It was not lost those attending that the conference took place in Memphis, TN - the place where the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated - and on the eve of the celebration of the national holiday in his honor. Many made reference to the great debt that the media reform movement owes to Dr King and the civil rights movement for the manner in which they placed their lives on the line in order to bring the harsh realities of segregation into the living rooms of America and to the center of national discussion. Dr King knew well the power of The Media and how to demand its attention. Senator Sanders of Vermont is the longest serving Independent in the United States Congress. In an era where the stranglehold on our democracy is being tightened by the two parties, Senator Sanders served 16 years as a congressman in the US House of Representatives before winning his current Senate Seat in 2006. Throughout, he has maintained his progressive stance where almost every other legislator in Washington has slavishly moved to the right. He forcefully calls for media reform and points out its importance in relation to every progressive issue. Van Jones is Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, CA The Ella Baker Center is
Van addresses the issues of social justice and disenfranchisement on a daily, tactical and strategic basis and is all too familiar with the role that media plays in inhibiting the free flow of information, perpetuation of stereotypes and dumbing down of America. He is inspiring speaker with a firm grasp of the issues and a broad vision for a future in which we attain a progressive and just society. His blog VanJones.net presents his visionary approach and creative commentary on how to pursue and achieve that future. Free Press will present the 4th Conference for Media Reform in June 2008 in Minneapolis, MN. If the trend of the last 3 conferences continues - where the first attracted 1,500 attendees, the second 2,200 and the third over 3,500 - is any indicator, the need and informed desire for media reform must be increasing among the entire populace at a rapidly accelerating rate. The current shameful primary process wherein all but the so called front runners have been marginalized in the debates or excluded entirely should be sufficient proof that MSM / Main Stream Media have no intention of meeting their public interest obligations. The Bush dominated FCC has ushered in a new round of media consolidation in which the public interest is further eroded and which now demands action by the US Congress to remedy. There is such obvious conflict of interest and indeed contempt for the public interest that revocation of the licenses of the major networks would be fully justified. The despicable episode in Nevada wherein NBC - a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric, one of the world's largest arms contractors and merchants of death - denied Kucinich participation in the Democratic debate after being invited is only the most recent example. This only begins to cover a broad range of issues that demand Media Reform. Bernie Sanders and Van Jones have much more to say. |
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here for NCMR / 2007 Click here for NCMR / 2008 Click here for Free Press Click here for Senator Bernie Sanders Click here for Senator Bernie Sanders on Wikipedia Click here for Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Van Jones / Exec Dir Click here for Van Jones' blog Click here for Van Jones on Wikipedia Click here for James Rucker's Huffington Post column... FOX attacks Black America Click here for Color of Change James Rucker / Exec Dir |