seattle indymedia center

Renowned journalists preach democratic media at a packed Seattle Town Hall

author: brandf
Sep 14, 2002 03:22

A brief report with 4 photos from Reclaim the Media's Town Hall keynote events.

Journalists Amy Goodman, David Barsamian, Sonali Kolhatkar, and Davey D addressed a lively crowd Friday evening at Seattle's Town Hall as part of the Reclaim the Media community conference. The conference is timed to concur with the National Association of Broadcaster’s annual convention and promotes "press freedom and community media access as prerequisites for a functioning democracy".

The event featured a keynote address by Amy Goodman of Democracy NOW! and was attended by hundreds of citizens, professionals and activists, capping a full day of panel discussions and "Do It Yourself" media workshops. Speakers from independent media organizations, microradio, labor, and various social advocacy groups facilitated more than a dozen workshops on topics of media ownership and policy, community and independent media, and the representation of women and people of color in the media.

The media democracy movement continues to strengthen with a Media Democracy Day planned in cities around the world for October 18, 2002  (see: Toronto and UK).  Even ex-Vice President Al Gore, viewed as a centrist democrat, warned recently of the "dire threat" to democracy posed by an FCC proposal to eliminate additional restrictions on media consolidation.

A reading of the The Earth Charter principles

Sonali Kolhatkar
Morning news host at KPFK Los Angeles, board member of the Afghan Women's Mission

Davey D
Award-winning journalist and Hip Hop radio personality

Davey D called for individuals and groups to be more media savvy and “play their positions” to communicate more effectively with the American public and the corporate media.  Davey D provided his account of MTV's decision to censor Chuck D’s latest video.  MTV demanded that references to “Free Mumia Abu-Jamal” be removed.

Chuck D, on the topic:

The new power breed of selectors who govern images to feed to the world youth, invisibly anonymous to most, while being the choosers of who, what, when, why, and how.

Amy Goodman
Host of Democracy Now
Keynote Address: "Independent Media in a Time of War"

 

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Brandon Faloona - copyleft 2002
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