Like health care, the Center for Media Justice believes that the means and access to communication is a right, not a privilege. Hence, our slogan: “Because the power to communications should belong to everyone.” Movement-centered strategic communications can support organizing goals by encouraging dialog and recognition to shift public debate.
This Friday the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) met for its Spring meeting. For those unfamiliar with this committee, its purpose is to make recommendations to the FCC regarding consumer issues and to include the voices of consumers in proceedings before the Commission. In the new business section of our agenda, CMJ introduced the idea of having the CAC address the cost of Prison Phone Calls—specifically the FCC’s role in regulating phone companies in order to favor competition.
"I love the movie because it shed a lot of light on the domestic work industry," said one domestic worker to Entertainment Tonight.
By Betty Yu. This past weekend in New York City, activists and organizers came together to celebrate thirty years of Paper Tiger Television (PPTV). They were one of the nation’s first radical and independent media collectives started back in 1981. Founded on the fundamental principles of media activism and social justice, Paper Tiger Television’s guerilla making style and groundbreaking videos inspired generations of independent media makers.
Check out some blogs from yesterday's historic online action to protect internet freedom. SOPA and PIPA are part of a larger agenda for communication and media rights to end poverty and racism. Join the movement, and as always click the like button above if you feel me!
I know there is a lot to unpack here. Let me just say for the sake of a short blog post that 512 years of occupation should encourage us to weigh in on ANY laws that impact the knowledge, creativity, unique world views and ways of being that reside in our communities. We should be especially vigilant about any laws that could limit our ability to transmit this information—through any medium--between and among ourselves and to future generations through specific cultural channels and designated community knowledge holders.
The Internet isn’t freedom, but it’s promise is a path to freedom for black communities- and both the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and the Protect IP Act (PIPA), threaten that promise. That's why the Center for Media Justice faded to black yesterday- to protest censorship of black voices, brown voices, and the voice of innovation in this country.
Tomorrow, the Center for Media Justice website will go dark to protest the U.S. House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its companion bill in the Senate, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). Both of these bills would alter the technical operations of the Internet, and threaten Internet Freedom and openness online. If these bills pass, they will change the Internet as we know it. Neither bill would be effective at stamping out online piracy, but both will have consequences for how the Internet functions as a whole.
Pew Research Center releases study documenting increased perception amongst Americans that the gross inequalities between rich and poor are a growing source of tension in the country.
"Historically and even today, radio is still a vital vehicle for our social justice movements, particularly in low-income, immigrant and communities of color," said Betty Yu. "It’s still an extremely accessible medium for communities in the U.S. and abroad, it’s one of the most culturally and politically relevant outlets for many of us."