Author: Paul

I know I toot the horn of the Indymedia movement frequently here, but I still want to recommend that you check out the IMC Radio Network site if you’re looking for links and pointers to good independent radio reporting and programming. The site has an especially good and well annotated set of links to grassroots…

Russian Gov’t Retakes Control of Media According to the RFE/RL Newswire, “Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on 13 August a decree reestablishing federal government control over all of the Russia’s broadcasting and relay stations for television and radio signals by consolidating them under the management of a single government corporation.” Defending the decree, the Russian…

How Good is that CD-R? CD Freaks have this nice little article on CD-R media quality, and how to determine where a CD-R was made and how good or reliable it might be.

Tell me again about the media’s liberal bias: “CNN, which is on record saying it wants to lure major star power to its ranks, is talking to ultra-popular conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh,” says USA Today.

Alternative to MP3 Relased On Friday the newest version of the Ogg Vorbis music compression format was released. Unlike mp3, Ogg Vorbis is completely open source with source and binaries available for Linux and Windows right now. Ogg Vorbis was created because, although it has become the format of choice for exchanging music online, the…

More on Michael Powell Tom Paine.com has another look at FCC Chair Michael Powell, taking a closer look at his political connections, especially those he has with Sen. McCain and Sen. Billy Tauzin and the broadcast industry. Despite his reformist stance, McCain is still one of the biggest recipients of broadcast industry campaign dollars, and…

The Man at the Top of the FCC–38 Years Old with a Lot of Friends Salon’s excellent media reporter Eric Boehlman gives this critical bio of FCC Chair Michael Powell, and his rise to the top of the FCC before age 40. A choice quote reveals much: “To recap, here is the list of friends…

My New Cheap Camcorder — How Good? Last week I received my Panasonic PVDV900 digital camcorder that I bought at auction on Ubid.com. I’m a big believer in not paying full price for technology and gadgets, and also a big believer in not buying in at the top of the curve. You get far more…

Media Consolidation in Canada In the already very consolidated Canadian media market, the Canadian Telecomm authority (CRTC) approved on Aug. 3 the renewal of 7-year broadcast licenses for CTV, which is part of the same company that owns the Globe and Mail newspaper, and Global. The CRTC also gave it blessing to CTV’s intention to…

Another Progressive Radio Station Lost Times are tough in New York. First there have been major troubles at Pacifica station WBAI. Now, as the NY Times reports, the city is set to lose another progressive voice on the radio airwaves when station WEVD turns over management to ABC, which will program it with the satellite-based…