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 | FCC Hearing on Prison Phone Rates
by FCC Hearing on Interstate Calling Rates, FCC Live
July 17th, 2013
It's definitely on the long side, but we wanted to archive the historic FCC hearing on interstate calls from prisons - 11 years after Martha Wright filed her petition seeking relief from unmanageable calling rates. |
 | Verizon. Overcharging. Again.
by Harry Cole, Communications Law Blog
July 1st, 2013
Even when we win, we don't win. A DC law firm is claiming the 2010 Verizon consent decree, much celebrated as a sterling example of the FCC's dedication to consumer protection, collected barely a 5th of customer overcharges. |
.jpg) | A Light Moment: Unfairness is Universal
by Frans De Waals, Ted Talks
This delightful video shows Capuchin monkeys reacting to unfairness and inequity when one gets compensated with cucumber bits for doing a task and another with the much better pay rate of a grape. We can all relate. |
 | Glen Greenwald at Socialism 2013
by Glenn Greenwald, Socialism 2013
An important speech by the Guardian reporter and columnist on the Snowden leaks, the ongoing surveillance stories in the Guardian and what the past few weeks have revealed about journalism. |
 | Behind The Prism
by Alfredo Lopez, May First/Peoplelink
June 20th, 2013
Recent coverage and public discussion of the government's Internet and telephone spying leaves a major question unanswered: How, given what we know, does this trashing of privacy affect activists, particularly women and people of color? |
 | Somas Una Americas: The SOA Protests
by Somas Una Americas, SOA Watch
June 15th, 2013
A short documentary film on the years of protests against military-training academy that has seeded a half a century of militaristic imperialism in Central and South America.
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 | Big Media, Big Bullying
by Emily Long, The Lamp NYC
May 27th, 2013
A blog on the distance between mainstream media anti-bullying campaigns and the "hatertainment" broadcast all too regularly from Emily Long at The Lamp in NYC. |
.jpg) | Shame on Verizon: 186 Days After Sandy and Nothing
New Networks
I'm sitting in a high ceiling parlor in an aged brownstone at the E.9th Street Block Association meeting. People are telling me, somewhat muting their anger, that some have had no phone service since Sandy, October 28th 2012 ---- over 6 months, over half a year. Some had their service restored over the last month, only being out for about 5 months. |
 | KFOG radio – Then and Now
by Lincoln Cushing, Kaiser Permanente Archives
May 15th, 2013
Kaiser archivist Lincoln Cushing sends this story about KFOG and Kaiser: once an owner and now a sponsor. A little Bay Area radio history on the album rock station of many people's youths. |
_6.jpg) | 38-State Street View Prying Case Settled
by David Streifield, NY Times
It probably looks like we're picking on Google, but after 38 states filed suit to protect user privacy after Google's Street View mapping project randomly scooped up passwords, email account info and other data, privacy advocates had reason to be concerned. |
 | The People's Right to Know- July 17th at ILWU 34. 7:00pm
Labor Video Project
January 12th, 2013
Upholding the public's right to know about government policies and actions and their underlying reasons is critical to democracy. And it is strongly tied to the right of journalists to do their job without risking government reprisal (such as the U.S. Justice Department's transgression against The Associated Press) and corporate attempts (such as "ag gag" laws) to muzzle them. Sharing their experiences and perspectives on these issues will be: Larry Bush, San Francisco political ethics and open-government activist and journalist. Reese Erlich, award-winning journalist and author who chronicles the corporate media's complicity in Washington's saber-rattling. Peter Phillips, president, Media Freedom Foundation/Project Censored. Tracy Rosenberg, executive director of the Media Alliance Josh Wolf, freelance videographer/journalist jailed for 226 days for refusing to comply with a federal subpoena for testimony and unedited video footage. And maybe you. Audience participation will be encouraged.
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| Organizations Urge Reintroduction of the Private Prisons Information Act
by Chris Petrella and Alex Friedman, Human Rights Defense Center
A joint letter signed by 33 criminal justice, civil rights and public interest organizations was submitted urging the reintroduction of the Private Prison Information Act.
The Private Prison Information Act (PPIA) would require for-profit prison companies that contract with the federal government to comply with public records requests made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the same extent as federal agencies. |
.jpg) | The Prison Show On Fox News
by Ned Hibberd, Fox 26 Houston
Pretty rare that we post Fox News clips on the MA site, but here is a great story from Houston on Pacifica Radio's Prison Show that has been airing in Houston Texas for 32 years. |
.jpg) | Has the CPB Become Indispensable?
by Andrew Lapin, Current Magazine
The ever-imperiled public broadcasting subsidies that are constantly under attack are the subject of this report in Current Magazine, which summarizes an independent report commissioned by the CPB which predicts the collapse of the public broadcasting system if federal grants are significantly reduced or eliminated.
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 | Ukraine Moves to Censor Spongebob
by Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo News - The Sideshow
The Ukraine is considering a move to censor several children's shows after a new study from a conservative commission labeled the shows "a real threat" to the country's youth.
The Ukraine's National Expert Commission for Protecting Public Morality released the report, which attacks several U.S. and international programs as detrimental to the country. |
 | Hate Radio Elevates Physical Stress
National Hispanic Media Coalition
A pilot study released by the National Hispanic Media Coalition ("NHMC") and the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center ("CSRC") found that listeners subjected to hate speech targeting vulnerable groups experienced an increase in the production of a stress-related hormone that could, over time, have a significant negative impact on the listener's health. Findings suggest that increased production of this hormone occurs regardless of listeners' race, ethnicity, nativity, or ideological alignment with the speaker, suggesting that hate speech may harm not only its targets, but all that hear it as well.
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 | AT&T and Rural America: A Deconstruction
This AT&T commercial opens with a wide shot of uninhabited, undeveloped, and empty green fields divided by a freeway of large moving trucks and cars. “This is Genco Services, McAllen, Texas” states the narrator, as his voice continues on we move into a shot of a single Longhorn steer. As someone who was raised in this very area of the country, this commercial literally made me laugh. |
 | San Luis Obispo Supervisor Threatening Local Newspaper
by Cal Coast News Staff - Karen Velie, Cal Coast News
We haven't had time to investigate this further, but here is a report from a local paper/news site in San Luis Obispo reporting some harassment from a local supervisor that is possibly linked to their coverage of a crackdown on the homeless in the city. |
| Kill the Copper and Move 'Em Along
At the June 21st Guggenheim Securities Symposium, the CEO of Verizon laid out aggressive plans to move customers off of copper phone lines and into Fios service and not necessarily voluntarily. |
 | Hate Crime: 30 Years Later
by Emil Gillermo, AALDEF Blog
Emil Guillermo interviews the killer of Vincent Chin - 30 years after the young Asian man was beaten to death with a baseball bat. |
 | Need a Press List?
The 2012-2013 Northern California press list has 1,110 media contacts at print, broadcast, ethnic, hyperlocal news and alternative outlets. Add a Media How-To Guide for everything you need to do guerilla publicity with limited time and money and get coverage for hard-to-cover stories. |
 | The Crime of Broadcasting
by Irakli Metreveli , AFP
Georgia's opposition accused the government Friday of trying to keep it off the airwaves after police impounded 300,000 satellite dishes intended to boost an opposition tycoon's TV station. |
 | Religious Websites More Malignant Than Pornsites
by Daniel Ionesco, PC World
Religious and ideological websites can carry three times more malware threats than pornography sites, according to research from security firm Symantec. The firm’s annual Internet Security Threat Report also found that threats to mobile devices continue to grow, almost exclusively for Google’s Android mobile OS. |
 | Warrantless Cell Phone Tracking
In August 2011, 35 ACLU affiliates filed over 380 public records requests with state and local law enforcement agencies to ask about their policies, procedures and practices for tracking cell phones. |
 | People of the State of California Vs. Arbitron Settles
The nation's dominant provider of radio audience metrics has agreed to settle a consumer protection lawsuit jointly pursued by the State of California and the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco over a listenership measurement scheme said to discriminate against radio stations with predominantly African American and Hispanic audiences. |
 | Occupy the Media - Free Speech TV
5:00 on Wednesdays (or whenever you feel like it on your computer), Free Speech TV brings the occupy movement to the occupy the media movement. Watch the latest episodes! |
 | Only Vigilantes Tell The Truth
by Arthur Brisbane, NY Times
Just to totally blow one's mind: the NY Times public editor came up with a column called "Should the NY Times be a Truth Vigilante? |
 | Microsoft's So-Called Avoid Ghetto App
by Jamilah King, Colorlines Magazine
Microsoft has recently been at the center of a whirlwind of controversy over a new app that critics allege is downright racist. On January 3, the company was granted a patent for technology related to its “Pedestrian Route Production” application, a tool that that the company says would navigate the user “safely through neighborhoods with violent crime statistics below a certain threshold.” |
 | Test Drive a Widget?
by Tracy Rosenberg
Those of you wish to enter into a helping relationship with the FCC are encouraged to test drive their widgets as they roll out a new website. |
 | Million Moms Gay Marriage Boycott Fails
Towle Road
The issue was the target of a boycott threat aimed at Toys R Us by the American Family Association's One Million Moms project, which threatened that its members would stop shopping there unless the store removed the issue from its shelves. |
 | The Public Access Crisis
by Eric Arnold, Alternet
Public-access television has always had a low-budget, amateur reputation. Yet Rod Laughridge's alternative news program "Newsroom on Access SF" was anything but that. Though San Francisco's public-access station had its share of offbeat shows —- like the risqué DeeDeeTV, hosted by self-described "pop culture diva" Dee Dee Russell — "Newsroom" took itself seriously. Its mission, as described on its website, was to "bring community-based, community reported and produced independent news and interviews from a grassroots viewpoint — unhindered, uncensored and unaltered."
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 | U-Verse and Community Television: An Explanatory Video
This video from keepusconnected.org explains and clearly demonstrates AT&T's failure to deliver basic functionality for public, educational and government (PEG) access channels on its U-Verse system. A petition challenging the discriminatory treatment is pending at the FCC. |
 | KPFA Battles Dying Down
by Tracy Rosenberg
2010 strife at listener-sponsored KPFA Radio in Berkeley is dying down after the National Labor Relations Board dismissed 3 complaints and former host Aimee Allison lost an arbitration hearing on the voluntary and involuntary layoffs last fall. KPFA has improved it's financial position by over $350,000, reduced it's operating deficit by 85% and has increased listener support donations by 3.5% since October of 2010. |
 | The Panel AT&T Tried to Kill
by Tracy Rosenberg
July 2nd, 2011
AT&T complained that a panel of independent academics in the PUC's merger impact hearing threatened to "taint" the proceeding with their uninformed opinions. |
 | Steve Jobs Dies at 56
by Tracy Rosenberg, Media Alliance
Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs passes at 56 of pancreatic cancer, leaving a legacy of digital innovation and a rapidly-changing information society. |
| Beware of False Promises
by Tracy Rosenberg
This is not the first time the sun, moon and stars have been promised in return for AT&T receiving favorable results from state and federal government. |
 | Grrll Power
by Tracy Rosenberg, Reel Girls and Media Literacy Project
Two new videos: 1 from Reel Grrls in Seattle on this year's Academy Awards spectacle and another from Albuquerque's Media Literacy Project on overpriced vocational schools that exploit young job seekers. |
 | Fukushima: Where Do We Go From Here?
by Tracy Rosenberg, Pacifica Foundation
As the situation in Japan goes from bad to worse, Pacifica Radio provided a comprehensive look at our energy future in the wake of Fukushima. Listen to the 5-station collaborative coverage from the community radio network. |
 | The Broadband You Deserve
by Frank Povah, The Daily Yonder
Reprinted from The Daily Yonder: I live in the country, but not THAT much in the country. I'm 20 minutes from the state capitol of Kentucky and I can't get a decent broadband connection.
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| The Meta-Report: Media Piracy
by Joe Karaganis, Social Science Research Council
In an uncharacteristic bit of theater, the Social Science Research Council has released a new report on Media Piracy in Emerging Economies with a Consumers Dilemma. Come from a higher-income country? No free report for you! |
| KPFA News Criticized
by Tracy Rosenberg, Berkeley City Council
KPFA Radio, has received complaints from 3 Berkeley City Council members and 6 workers on two different incidents in a week on the daily hour-long statewide broadcast of the Pacifica Evening News. |
 | Online Learning: The Answer to the Digital Divide?
by Samantha Calamari, Media Alliance
The latest buzz in education is the growth of online learning communities to address educational access. Through online offerings, education can be more affordable and have the capability to reach communities that otherwise couldn’t access quality institutions. |
 | Censored 2011
The Media Freedom Foundation's 2011 Censored is out with the 25 most under-reported stories of 2010. Please support the work of Project Censored and buy a copy today! |
 | Oakland Police and Cameras
by Maura King
Ma Volunteer Maura King thinks about police, cameras and Oakland's new law enforcement video program. |
| Be Careful What You Wish For
by Tracy Rosenberg, Huffington Post
Sometimes you might get it. For most of the past year, public interest groups worried about the future of the Internet have pushed for action on net neutrality by the Federal Communications Commission. |
 | No More Bleeding Ledes, Please
by Libby Reinish, SaveTheNews.org
Sensationalism is rampant in our consolidated news system, where scandal, celebrity gossip and violence (or the threat of looming violence) lead the headlines. Ever wonder why this is all we see and read and hear? |
| Reality Unreeled
MA volunteer Alex Barrows was part of the Paper Tiger Television production team for this "reality" expose. |
 | From Mississippi to Arizona
by Linda Burnham, Truthout.org
The room was small,http://www.truth-out.org/burnham-from-mississippi-arizona-for-freedom-and-human-rights60434 but it was filled with enormous possibility. And everyone in there knew it. |
 | Fresno Residents Fed Up With Hate on the Radio
by Samantha Claire Bell
June 17th, 2010
Fresno community group leaders have joined forces to ask the area's most popular talk radio station, KMJ, to make changes to their programming. According to spokesperson, Les Kimber, the group Citizens for Civility and Accountability in Media (CCAM) was formed in October 2009 out of concern about what is broadcast daily on their local radio station. |
 | Prepaid Cell Phones: The New Crime
by Chris Strohm, National Journa;
Citing the recent attempt to detonate a car bomb in New York City's Times Square, Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced legislation Wednesday aimed at identifying the buyers and users of prepaid cell phones. |
| Control of Public Media as a Social Justice Issue
by Scott Sanders and James Owens, Editor and Publisher/Truthout
January 29th, 2010
Media justice organizers at the Center for Media Justice (CMJ) and MAG-Net have recently produced a brilliant campaign plan ("The Campaign for universal broadband") to win three policies crucial for just and democratic communication: network neutrality, universal broadband and universal service fund reform. |
| Media News Television
by Tracy Rosenberg
MA started a new twice-monthly show on public access television on media democracy and media justice. Watch the videos! Hour-long version is in the works. |
| Broadband in Yo' Face
A broadband song for the holidays. Brought to you by Media Alliance and the Bay Area Media Justice Hub. Written and performed by Eloise Lee and Kat Evasco. |
| Basta Dobbs Campaign
http://www.bastadobbs.com
October 12th, 2009
Update: According to current reports: Dobbs is on his way out of CNN, possibly over to Fox News Channel. Lou Dobbs' brand of journalism is dangerous to Latinos in America -- and it's time to fight back. |
 | Media Alliance 2008-2009
by Tracy Rosenberg
July 8th, 2009
Media Alliance is a 32 year-old media resource and advocacy center for media workers, non-profit organizations, and social justice activists. Our mission: justice, excellence, accountability, and diversity, in all aspects of the media to advance peace, justice, and social responsibility. |
 | On ACORN and Double Standards
by Phavia Kujichagulia
The current ACORN scandal once again proves that independent analysis and honest journalism often takes a backseat to propaganda, bias and overt double standards. |
 | Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project
by Christine Joy Ferrer
April 13th, 2009
Over three dozen artists have contributed to the Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project. Our goal was to gather the creative works dedicated to Oscar Grant from artists, musicians, writers, photographers and others. Any form of creative expression was accepted-- a video of a dance work, audio, song, poster, photo, etc. Selected portfolio work will be featured in several Bay Area publications (print and online). |
 | Songs
by Christine Joy Ferrer
Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project |
 | Poetry
by Christine Joy Ferrer
Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project |
| KPFA Board Election
by Tracy Rosenberg, Berkeley Daily Planet
April 27th, 2009
KPFA, the nation's first community radio and still one of the mainstays of independent progressive media, is having its Board elections over the next two months. |
 | Graffiti
by Christine Joy Ferrer
Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project |
 | Videos
by Christine Joy Ferrer
Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project |
 | U-Verse Legal Challenge at the FCC
by Tracy Rosenberg
February 28th, 2009
The Alliance for Community Media, and the cities of Lansing and Dearborn in Michigan have filed suit against AT&T's U-verse system for the placement of many local public access stations on one channel with a pull-down menu |
| KPFA Raided?
by Tracy Rosenberg
May 12th, 2009
In a strange turn of events, the Berkeley Daily Planet reported last week that the parent Pacifica Foundation was "raiding the bank account" of Berkeley's community radio station, KPFA. Sensational headline, but the allegations are untrue. |
 | Photography & Art
by Christine Joy Ferrer
April 12th, 2009
Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project |
 | The Loss of Gina Hotta
The Asian-American journalist, activist and executive producer of APEX Express, passed suddenly and prematurely earlier this week. It is a tremendous loss of a strong activist, a powerful broadcaster and a rich spirit. |
| Former CBS5/CW Manager in Wright vs. CBS
by Jackie Wright, http://justiceforjackienow.blogspot.com/
May 25th, 2009
San Francisco- Three time AP award winning journalist Jackie Wright faces media giant CBS in a court hearing, Thursday, August 27 in Federal Court in San Francisco. CBS Television, represented by Maureen E. McClain of Littler Mendelson, is trying to dismiss the case in which Wright alleges racism that led to her layoff in January 2007. |
| Beyond The Odds
by Tracy Rosenberg, www.beyondtheodds.org
May 25th, 2009
Beyond The Odds pairs Youth Speaks poets with HIV+ young people to illuminate their perspectives about living with HIV. Check them out. It's a great project. |
 | Radio Shack Delegation December 19, 2008
by Eloise Lee
February 20th, 2009
A delegation of community groups led by Media Alliance visited an Oakland Radio Shack on Friday December 19th on behalf of the Media Action Grassroots Network (Mag-Net). |
| Nadra Foster Benefit
by Tracy Rosenberg
February 15th, 2009
A benefit on January 22nd, 2009 for arrested KPFA journalist Nadra Foster featured poet devorah major at the La Pena coffeehouse. |
 | Be The Media
by Tracy Rosenberg
February 25th, 2009
Robert McChesney: "If BE THE MEDIA didn't exist, like Voltaire's God, it would have to be invented". |
 | SoCal Media Justice Summit
by Tracy Rosenberg
February 5th, 2009
March 21st Media Justice Summit in Southern California. MA is co-sponsoring and ccordinating a breakout session on advocating for fairer coverage. |
| Shouting To Be Heard
by Tracy Rosenberg
February 2nd, 2009
New Kaiser Family Foundation Study Finds Television Stations Donate an Average of 17 Seconds an Hour to Public Service Advertising. Nearly Half (46%) of All PSAs Air After Midnight |
 | An Image is Worth a Thousand Words
Nobody doubts the impact of the right graphic. It can make a huge difference in a campaign or struggle. That's why we wanted to let you know about the work of veteran East Bay printmaker Doug Minkler. |
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