Category Archives: news

MTV Networks A "Diversity" Champion?

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

The latest from Lisa Fager.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Lisa Fager, Lisa@IndustryEars.com
202 253-0435

Please SIGN PETITION and pass on.

MTV NETWORKS A ‘DIVERSITY’ CHAMPION?
Kaitz Foundation Cites MTV Networks a Model Network for Diversity Programming (Stop laughing!)

WASHINGTON—The Walter Kaitz Foundation has announced that on Wednesday, Sept. 13, it will honor MTV Networks with the Diversity Champion Award during its 23rd Annual Dinner at the Hilton New York in Manhattan.  

A press release by the Kaitz Foundation describes MTV Networks as promoting “culturally relevant programs [that] are the most outward demonstration of their dedication to diversity.” Additionally, the Foundation cited that MTV Networks provides its viewers “with content that has global appeal” and emphasizes their programming that “strives to meet the needs of diverse audiences.” 

As a think tank group that focuses on the impact of media on children and communities of color, Industry Ears is perplexed by the Kaitz Foundation’s choice.

The following programs are but a few current examples of MTV Networks’ “diverse” programming:

  • “Where My Dogs At?” – a Saturday afternoon cartoon show on MTV2 with an episode in which African American women are portrayed as dogs on leashes (i.e., “bitches”) and who defecate on the floor.
  • “Yo Momma” – a tasteless and insensitive show on MTV pitting teens against each other to spew racist and hate-speech insults for crowd reaction.  MTV refers to the pitted groups as “rivalries.”
  • “Flavor of Love” – A VH1 show that proffers exploitative and demeaning images of women through what is described on the VH1 website as “sensational, raunchy and outrageous” entertainment.
  • Music Videos – According to some researchers, MTV networks consistent airing of narrowly focused music videos are particularly damaging to children’s self-concept and social attitudes.

Do these examples reflect the action of a “diversity champion”? 

Historically MTV Networks has been criticized for its lack of programming diversity and its promotion of content that is below community standards. 

The Walter Kaitz Foundation’s choice to honor MTV Networks is perplexing.

Industry Ears encourages all concerned citizens to Take Action by signing our online petition to let the Walter Kaitz Foundation’s Executive Director, David Porter, know that MTV Networks is not the model for programming diversity and we hope that this is not an exemplar for other cable networks to emulate.    

Go here to sign the petition.    

The petition will be hand delivered to the Walter Kaitz Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 21st.  The last day to sign petition is Sept. 20.  

About Industry Ears 

Established in 2004 by co-founders Lisa Fager and Paul Porter, Industry Ears (www.IndustryEars.org ) is a new generation think tank focused on media’s impact on children and communities of color. IE is dedicated to addressing and finding solutions to negative and harmful content through media education, research, advocacy, public policy and continuous dialogue with industry stakeholders.

See "American Blackout" To Find The Missing Black Vote

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

If you’re in La La, here’s an important film on Black voting suppression. Ask Sundance.

 “American Blackout” Comes To Los Angeles

An award-winning exposé that chronicles systemic attempts to undermine the Black vote from 2000 to 2004.

We’ve told you about continued attempts to suppress the Black vote across the country and given you ways to take action. Now we want to let you know about a powerful film that brings the issue of voter suppression to the big screen— “American Blackout,” by GNN‘s acclaimed director Ian Inaba.

“American Blackout” is a jarring yet entertaining film that paints a comprehensive picture of voter suppression in 2000 and 2004. It has already won numerous awards, including the prestigious Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The film features never before seen footage that captures the tactics used to suppress the Black vote, testimonials from members of Congress, stories from Black voters denied the right to vote, and even those involved in perpetrating suppression.

In screenings across the country—from the rural Midwest to urban centers—“American Blackout” has galvanized audiences that care about the health of this country’s democracy.

“American Blackout” is an important tool for educating ourselves and others, and ultimately for saving our democracy. Not only does it lay bare the problems of our democracy—it also helps us understand what it will take to fight back, and inspires action.

We believe this film has the potential to start a national dialogue and expose how partisan interests systemically push eligible voters out of the political process. It could help everyone to come to terms with the systemic disenfranchisement that has plagued democracy in this country.

Please join us in watching this important film.

For more info or to see the trailer, visit the American Blackout website.

Thank You and Peace,

— James, Van, Gabriel, Clarissa, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team

"Security Moms"

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

Weren’t they called “soccer moms” a decade ago?

And why doesn’t the MSM just call them what they really are—middle-class white women moderates? Sheesh!!

It’s okay, MSM, to let Americans know the Open Secret that there are people who matter more than other people. Let’s stop the media-friendly nomenclature crap.

First Online Library For African-American Political History Launches

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

This just in(to my mailbox): 

Avoice Makes Its Debut During CBC Conference

The first virtual and most comprehensive library on the political history and legislative legacy of African-Americans in the shaping of the nation’s democracy was unveiled last week during the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).

Avoice, or African-American Voices in Congress, http://www.avoiceonline.org/, is the product of a collaborative partnership among CBCF, The University of Texas at Austin, Howard University and Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) .

The online educational portal provides a central source of information about historical and contemporary African-American policy issues important to many Americans, and of particular interest to researchers, educators and students.

“Avoice represents the official history of the Congressional Black Caucus and much more,” said U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), chair of the CBCF. “We believe that Avoice will promote civic engagement among youth through its rich content and interactive learning tools. In doing so, the Avoice site will benefit all Americans.”

“Dell’s sponsorship of this milestone project reflects our commitment to diversity and it is a unique opportunity to help educate the public about the contributions of African-Americans to our nation’s history,” said Dell CEO Kevin Rollins, who introduced the new site during the event. “We are privileged to be a part of Avoice and will continue to support it with technology that can enrich the site content.”

Avoice offers a unique collection of original Congressional and political papers from African-American legislators. Initial content also includes exhibits on the Voting Rights Act, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Bill, the anti-apartheid movement and a history of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference provides a national forum to develop strategies and solutions to public policy issues facing Black America.

“It is most appropriate that we launch Avoice during this conference,” said Meek. “Our conference theme this year is ‘Changing Course, Confronting Crises, Continuing the Legacy.’ Avoice’s historical content will certainly help advance our shared goal of continuing the legacy.”

Today, African-Americans represent 13.4 percent of the U.S.population. Voting-wise, 60 percent of black citizens age 18 and older voted in the 2004 presidential election, up three percent from the previous election. African-Americans had the highest turnout rate of any minority group in 2004.

Independent Audio/Video You Should Check Out (Second In A Long-Running Series)

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

Let’s pull out the Red, Black And Green for the latest from FreeMix Radio:

VOXUNION MEDIA

September 7, 2006

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) convened two panels today. The first was a look at “The New Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) at which activist/comedian Dick Gregory gave the closing remarks. This panel was hosted by Jason Parker (jasonparkertv.com). Click here to download and listen. Visit voxunion.com for the stream option and much more. The second panel was “Hip-Hop Power Shop” and included a performance by Head-Roc and Noyeek the Grizzly Bear plus remarks from Lisa Fager (IndustryEars.com), Asheru (Asheru.com), Jared Ball (voxunion.com) and Reverend Lennox Yearwood (HiphopCaucus.org) among others. Click each name above to hear that corresponding audio and/or visit voxunion.com for download/streaming option and more.

VOXUNION MEDIA

August/September 2006

As we round out our tribute to Black August we offer three more interviews with that in mind:

1) Dre Oba of The Shield magazine welcomed us in his office for a discussion of his journalistic work, the state of hip-hop politics and the media. Click here to download and visit voxunion.com for more, including the web stream version of the interview.

2) Blitz, the Ghana-born Brooklyn emcee, stopped by and gave us this great interview. Click here to download this enlightening discussion of hip-hop, pan-Africanism, the music industry and more, plus peep his skills on the mic. Another can’t-miss interview with a can’t-miss emcee. Click here to download or visit voxunion.com for more, including the web stream version

3) Dr. Scot Brown joined us by phone for a discussion of his book Fighting for US: Maulana Karenga, The US Organization, and Black Cultural Nationalism. With few historical studies of this organization and particular aspect of the continuing Black/African America struggle this interview is the perfect compliment to our support of Black August. From US to hip-hop, we got it all right here. Click here to download or visit voxunion.com for more, including the web stream version.

 

VOXUNION MEDIA

September 2006

FreeMix Radio: The Original Mixtape Radio Show FM6

Special Black August: George Jackson Tribute

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD and visit VOXUNION.COM for more, plus the web stream version

This edition is dedicated to the memory of George Jackson. In this mix hear artists, activists, family, loved-ones and comrades read excerpts from Jackson’s works plus great music from Head-Roc, Asheru, Lil Wayne, Wise Intelligent, Wu Tang Clan, Blitz, Hasan Salaam and more…

NOTE: This is the web version. The actual mixtapes are now hitting the streets. To assure that among those streets getting FreeMix are yours, feel free to contact us to arrange mass shipments being sent to you for distribution.

Thank you.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF OF LINER NOTES AND THANK YOUS!

———————————–

Jared A. Ball, Ph.D.

Mixtape Journalist

FreeMix Radio & Voxunion Media

voxunion.com

(866) 206-9069 x5413

Words, Beats and Life

wblinc.org

I (HEART) Katie, But What's Really Going On…..

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

…….is that, for good or for ill, she’s taken the first hour of “The Today Show” to the evening with her! LOL!

(Well, CBS and She With The Great Legs wanted to change the game. So, okay……. Maybe she’s actually following those suggestions folks made earlier this year.  I have a big crush on Katie, so I’ll just ignore the spinning Murrow bones many media critics have been talking about. [You mean they HAVEN’T been spinning since Nancy Kerrigan and O.J.? :)] Somewhere in Heaven, I believe that Peter is doing a REAL newscast, and I wish I could see it. )

I began watching “Today” a decade or so ago because I very much liked the “hard news” first 20 minutes, where she had no problem opening a polite-but-firm can or two of whup-ass on an interviewee. So this transition will eventually work out for everyone who cares about this kind of thing. 

Some journalists of color have criticized the lack of racial diversity in the new newscasts’ on-air correspondents over the last two days, but I did like the Latina she used in last night’s “Free Speech” segment.

*******

And here’s a Post-Script, from “Today’s WORD On Journalism”:

TODAY’S WORD ON JOURNALISM–Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006

More on Katie Couric:
“I’m always happy when a woman succeeds. Even if
you think anchoring is stupid, which it is, and
the evening news a pile of propagandistic
claptrap, which it mostly is, it’s good to see
another bastion of male supremacy fall by the
wayside. Anything that gets women thinking they
can do anything is good! And there is the simple
issue of fairness–of rewarding women for their
work on equal terms with men. It’s another crack
in the glass ceiling and every woman who’s come
up against that should be glad. If the news is a
bit fluffier under Katie C, you can bet that’s
because CBS has done market research showing that
will up their ratings. Unfortunately, most people
are very interested in Tom Cruise and Katie
Holmes’ baby.”
   –Katha Pollitt, writer, the morning after
Couric’s debut as CBS Evening News anchor, 9/6/06.

* * * * *
TODAY’S WORD ON JOURNALISM is a free “service”
sent to the 1,500 or so misguided volunteer
subscribers around the planet. If you have
recovered from whatever led you to subscribe and
don’t want it anymore, send “unsubscribe.” Or if
you want to afflict someone else, send me the
email address and watch the fun begin.
(Disclaimer: While I just quote ’em, I don’t
necessarily endorse ’em. All, in theory, contain
at least a kernel of insight.)

Ted Pease, WORDmeister & Professor of Interesting Stuff
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
http://www.usu.edu/journalism/faculty/pease/
To receive Today’s Word on Journalism, send “subscribe” to
tpease@cc.usu.edu
See the WORD online at the Hard News Café: http://www.hardnewscafe.usu.edu

Mumia, Inc. (First In A Long-Running Series)

Posted on by drumsintheglobalvillage

In other anniversary news, more and more folks working on documentary films as the 25th anniversary of the Faulkner fatal shooting approaches this December.

From Philadelphia City Paper:

Shame of the City II: Mumia Returns

Wynnefield filmmaker Tigre Hill is in preproduction on a documentary examining what happened at 13th and Locust streets on Dec. 9, 1981, when Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was shot and killed by Mumia Abu-Jamal .

Hill has tackled controversial topics before. His last documentary, Shame of a City, chronicled the 2003 mayoral race between Democratic Mayor John Street and Republican challenger Sam Katz . It followed the campaign through the FBI bug found in the mayor’s office and the convictions of Street fundraiser Ron White and City Treasurer Corey Kemp .

In his new project, with a working title of 13th and Locust, Hill said he wants to show what really happened that night and explore the international Abu-Jamal phenomenon.

He expects to conduct extensive interviews with numerous subjects from both the Faulkner and Abu-Jamal sides.

“What I really want is to interview Abu-Jamal’s brother,” said Hill, “because I don’t think he has ever testified.” He declined to say if he was taking a position on Abu-Jamal’s guilt, and has no plans to try to interview Abu-Jamal, aka Wesley Cook , who was convicted of fatally shooting Faulkner in the face after the officer had stopped his younger brother for a traffic citation.

The Free Mumia movement grew out of supporters who claim Abu-Jamal was framed; two out of the four witnesses on the street, who identified Abu-Jamal as the killer, later changed their statements, and the gun found near the scene was never confirmed to be the murder weapon. Abu-Jamal never testified at his own trial, maintaining he had inadequate legal representation. A jury convicted Abu-Jamal and he was sent to death row. Then, a district judge overturned Abu-Jamal’s death sentence in 2001 because of discrepancies during the trial. There was no new trial, but the prosecution appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the death penalty. If that effort is successful, Gov. Ed Rendell , who was district attorney at the time of the murder, would have to sign Abu-Jamal’s death warrant.

Hill said a main component of the film will be the number of organizations and individuals who rallied around Abu-Jamal. With supporters contending Abu-Jamal never got a fair trial and that he was set up by “the white man,” he’s become the poster boy for political prisoners and those that oppose the death penalty.

In April, a street in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis was named after Abu-Jamal, causing a stir here. Yesterday, at 15th and Cherry streets, a large rally was scheduled for the American Friends Service Committee to welcome a French delegation that intends to defend the street naming.

Hill said he is not concerned that there have been several documentaries about Abu-Jamal over the years, such as The Framing of an Execution in 2001 narrated by Danny Glover . Hill said that film was biased and only showed one point of view.

Meanwhile, I mentioned here previously about some documentary filmmakers from the other side of the pond who are here doing a documentary about a young activist who was born the night of the Faulkner shooting. Here is a profile of one of them. The story mentions the film.

While you’re at it, check out the new CD “Who Is Mumia Abu-Jamal?” by Nex Millen/Retrospective. The debut work takes Abu-Jamal’s audio essays from 1993 to 1996 and places them in musical perspective, using great beats and melodies. The recorded asides—exiled Black Panther Assata Shakur and the late poet/activist Allen Ginsberg calls for support—are also well-produced. Shakur’s music, in particular, is the correct combination of beauty (of Abu-Jamal’s writing) and tragedy (of his confinement). Longtime listeners will find that Millen’s music adds greatly, making the essays (“Death is a campaign poster, a stepping stone to public office”) new to the ear. The unfamiliar will be doubly hypnotized as Abu-Jamal explains how racism and capitalism combine to oppress groups and individuals.