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October 24, 2012

Carlos Pareja: The Good, the Bad & the Parody of Big Data- Observations from Wired for Change II

On October 23rd, technologists, educators, journalists, human and social rights activists, government officials and funders gathered for Wired for Change: The Power and the Pitfalls of Big Data at the Ford Foundation in New York City. This was the second Wired for Change conference bringing together many returning participants and several first-timers, including myself and others representing the Media Action Grassroots Network.

October 17, 2012

Shifting the Debate: Media Justice Twitter Party

Last night the MAG-Net twitterverse exploded as folks picked up their mobile phones, computers and Ipads to comment on the second presidential debates of election 2012 during a Media Justice Twitter Party hosted by Media Action Grassroots Network, SmartMeme, Allied Media and Prometheus Radio Project.  All across the country, community activists, advocates, artists, non-profiteers, and other members of the media justice community gathered online to talk about the candidates, their platforms, and all the important issues that were (and weren't) up for debate. Using the hashtags #mediajustice #ShiftTheDebate and #debate2012 people chimed in on everything from immigration to community media to. . .of course. . .binders.

October 16, 2012

Danielle Mkali: Prison Phone Justice for Minnesotans

On Wednesday September 30, a delegation from Minnesota representing the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice—which included Main Street Project, The Community Justice Project and Take Action—met with Representative Keith Ellison to share the stories of how Minnesotan families are paying a high price to stay connected to their loved ones in prison. They requested that Representative Ellison speak out in support of the Wright Petition, a measure pending at the Federal Communications Commission, which would set reasonable rates for long distance phone calls from prisons, jails and detention center. 

October 15, 2012

Reclaim the Airwaves Tour: Nov. 15 – Dec. 18, 2012 – Going South to Build People Power with Community Radio

Prometheus Radio Project is heading South on the Reclaim the Airwaves Tour to expand community radio. We'll be connecting with MAG-Net members, civil rights groups, immigrant justice groups, labor organizations, and progressive nonprofits to build media infrastructure for our movements. Thanks to the 2011 passage of the Local Community Radio Act – the culmination of a ten-year organizing and advocacy struggle - the F.C.C. is mandated to soon issue thousands of brand new noncommercial FM radio licenses to nonprofits nationwide. These new community radio stations can be powerful tools to empower communities and balance the scales of democracy. Get in touch with us if you want to help support groups in the South to get on the air.

October 15, 2012

Chancellar Williams: Film Highlights Predatory Prison Phone Rates

Friday, the film Middle of Nowhere opened in several cities around the country. This award-winning and critically praised film is much more than art for art’s sake.

October 12, 2012

Laura Muraida: Why Electoral Politics

“This demographic shift provides a basis to transform the country, provided that we can become capable of the kind of struggle that is necessary for transformation. In order to overcome historic structures of domination and control, organized communities of color and low-wealth must become architects of policy and build a true majority capable of building and exercising power to bring about real change. This will require not only a clear and strategic analysis of structural racism, but also new forms of collaboration that can build accountable leadership…”  –Building Bridges to Empower a True Majority: The South by Southwest Experiment, 2012

October 10, 2012

MAG-Net Interview: Bryan Mercer, Media Mobilizing Project

The Media Mobilizing Project (MMP) was founded by a group of people in Philadelphia, PA who were sick of the mainstream media coverage of their community activities.  MMP has been working to build a community media infrastructure for the growing movement to end poverty through producing and distributing the real stories of local communities. People are the foundation of this infrastructure, and MMP conducts regular video, radio, and web trainings for workers, immigrants, youth and community leaders. Many of these leaders get involved in MMP’s ongoing media programs, which include a television show, several radio shows, and a system of interconnected weblogs and public computer centers.

October 9, 2012

Luisa’s Story: Predatory Phone Rates

Luisa's 14-year-old son was sentenced as an adult and sent to prison. Since then she has sent countless letters to him but can rarely hear his voice due to the predatory phone rates charged in the United States prison system. Listen to her story and participate in the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice.

October 8, 2012

Campaign Update – Prison Phone Justice

“Do you remember the 21st night of September? Love was changing the mind of pretenders. While chasing the clouds away.” -Earth Wind & Fire

September 21, 2012

Infographic: Families Paying The Price – The High Cost of Prison Phone Calls

The Wright to Call Home campaign centers on urging the FCC to pass the Wright petition, named after Martha Wright who has been fighting a decade long battle to make prison phone calls affordable for all families.