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September 21, 2012

Duke Gomez-Schempp: Put the Public Back into Public Access

Public Access Television has become one of the most effective means for community members to create locally driven, independent media content for their communities.  Across the country there are community run public access stations that have studios, equipment, training and access to cable and internet airwaves, all for the expression of the communities Free Speech rights.  The funding for these programs comes from a 1970’s Congressional mandate of cable companies to contribute 5% of their gross subscriber fees to the community that the money came from.  This funding has been utilized by people to create news shows, cultural programming, informative shows, highlights of the community, concerts, children programming and widespread discussions that focus on the accountability of our government.

September 14, 2012

Campaign Update: Dear Chairman Genachowski

September 13, 2012

Our Members Rock: Institute for Local Self-Reliance

The Media Action Grassroots Network rocks!  And it's because of the member organizations working hard everyday to advance a new vision for media rights and access for families and communities.

September 13, 2012

Erick Boustead: NAMAC and a World in Transformation

What is the role of media, arts and culture in our lives? A seemingly simple question, but one I dove into throughout my first National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC) conference in Minneapolis. Under the banner of “Leading Creatively”, themes emerged such as creative placemaking, youth engagement, art for equity and social change, and how the hell to fund what we see as work. 

September 12, 2012

Lila Kitaeff: Notes From NAMAC

By Lila Kitaeff, Technical Director & Senior Video Editor, Reel Grrls This past weekend I attended the conference of the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC) in Minneapolis. I had a fun, exhausting and inspiring time, learned new things and made some great connections. And I took a lesson in soldering, used that skill to make my own mini-theremin and then jammed on it with Hank Shocklee, producer of Public Enemy. No big deal.

September 10, 2012

Groups urge Congresswoman Lee to push back against federal prison phone kickbacks

By Brandi Collins, Center for Media Justice / Crossposted from San Francisco Bay View Newspaper A delegation representing Bay Area organizations met with the deputy district director of Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Aug. 23 to discuss the high cost of receiving a phone call from a prison, jail or detention center. This visit was held as part of a larger effort called the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice, a national campaign seeking to lower the cost of prison phone calls. Member organizations of the delegation included the Center for Media Justice, Media Alliance, The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Ella Baker Center. The delegation is petitioning the congresswoman to ask the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the high cost of prison phone calls by passing the Wright Petition.

August 31, 2012

The Campaign for Prison Phone Justice Visits Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California

On August 23rd, a delegation of organizations from the California Bay Area met with the Deputy District Director of Congresswoman Barbara Lee to discuss the high cost of receiving a phone call from a prison, jail or detention center. Member-organizations of the delegation included the Center for Media Justice, Media Alliance, The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Ella Baker Center.  The delegation is petitioning the Congresswoman to ask the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the high cost of prison phone calls by passing the Wright Petition.

August 30, 2012

The Campaign for Prison Phone Justice Visits Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia

By Mel Motel, Prison Legal News/Human Rights Defense Center On August 14, a delegation of organizations from Charleston met with Senator Jay Rockefeller’s staff to discuss the high cost of receiving a phone call from a prison, jail or detention center.  This visit was held as part of a larger effort called the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice, a national campaign seeking to lower the cost of prison phone calls.  Organizations in the delegation included Advocare, Citizens United for Rehabilitation (CURE), West Virginia Record, and Senior Legal Aid.  

August 29, 2012

Campaign for Prison Phone Justice Meets with Representative Yvette Clarke of New York

On August 21st a delegation of organizations from the New York area met with Representative Yvette Clarke (Brooklyn) to discuss the high cost of receiving a phone call from a prison, jail or detention center.  The visit was held as part of a larger effort called the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice, a national campaign seeking to lower the cost of prison phone calls.  Member organizations included: Center for Media Justice, Peoples Production House, Families Rally for Emancipation and Empowerment (FREE) and Pastor Will Seaton.

August 29, 2012

Clarissa Ramon: Captive Customers Ask FCC for Relief

Crossposted from Public Knowledge Recently, the FCC has received hundreds of letters from prisoners across the country asking Chairman Genachowski for action on the Wright petition, which calls on the agency to provide a solution for exorbitant prison phone rates. These letters are result of the Prison Phone Justice Campaign where campaign partner Prison Legal News ran an ad in their newspaper, asking incarcerated individuals to share their personal experiences.