mediageek

Author: Paul

  • Global Community Radio Under Seige

    This is very disturbing news that I heard rumors about yesterday and have had confirmed today. Radio for Peace Int’l, a global non-profit shortwave radio station located in Costa Rica, has been locked down by armed guards working for the University of Peace, which is the station’s landlord. The University intends to evict the station…

  • One Hour Left To Phone Congress to Restore Some Media Ownership Limits

    Just received this from Robert McChesney: >Today is a critical moment in the effort to roll back the FCC media ownership rules. Your voice is needed. This afternoon, the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 2799 to roll back one of the three ownership rules – the national television cap. Even if it passes,…

  • mediageek zine page

    The mediageek zine now has its own page, with some excerpts and ordering information. There are permanent links to the page above in the header and in the right column. Check it out and order yours — it’s only 2 bucks!

  • More Motion to Delay and Block New Media Ownership Rules

    Just to show you that our elected representatives aren’t 100% bought-and-paid -for, there are thirty-five Senators trying to use a little-known maneuver to block the implementation of the FCC’s new loosened media ownership rules. According to the Washington Post, “A ‘resolution of disapproval,’ which is permitted under the Congressional Review Act, has been placed on…

  • Attention California and Michigan — Time to Kick Your Hand-Maiden Reps Out of Congress

    Another bill has been introduced into Congress to turn every 15-year-old kid with a CD burner and cable modem into a criminal. Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.) have written legislation that makes uploading a single copyrighted song punishable with a 5 year prison term and a $250,000 fine. Nevermind that you…

  • Raise The Fist Webmaster Getting Screwed Again by the Courts

    The LA Weekly covers the June 30 court appearance of Sherman Austin, webmaster for RaisetheFist.com, an anarchist who faces federal charges for distributing various information on his website, including some instructions on bombmaking. Back in October of last year Sherman made a plea agreement with the Federal prosecutor which astonishingly was thrown out by the…

  • Using the Net to Distro Indy TV

    Wired News has an article about how independent and community media activists are using the net to distribute programming. What’s interesting to me is that the focus is not just on streaming video, but also on using the net to distribute video from producers to public access TV stations. The video group at the Urbana-Champaign…

  • Poll Shows Public Concerns over Media Ownership, but I’m Still Suspicious of Polls

    A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows 50% of respondents saying that allowing companies to own more broadcast and newspaper operations in the same city will have a negative effect, with only 10 percent said that would have a positive effect. This is up from a similar…

  • Call Congress To Roll Back FCC’s June 2 Changes

    Robert McChesney is sending around this message asking people to call their Congressional representatives to support legislation aimed at rolling back the FCC’s loosening of media ownership regulations. His new organization, Free Press, provides an easy way to get phone numbers and contact info, as well as providing sample scripts. A message from Robert McChesney…

  • San Diego Pirates Easy To Find, but Still ‘Casting

    A San Diego TV station tracked down the location of Free Radio San Diego using a $20 radio, under the assumption the station had been evading the FCC a la “Pump Up the Volume.” But that’s not quite true, since the FCC has visited the station twice, although not yet with a warrant or any…