We Need A Media Lollapalooza.

[mattclearing]

I just posted this in another topic, and I think it bears some thought.

Right now, despite what polls say, most people seem satisfied with the corporate mainstream media.

That is a problem.

However, I think we can envision and bring forth a decent solution with a little work.

This scenario will likely be familiar to a lot of us.

I often find myself telling people things they don't know. They blink, and I tell them that:

Internet media is far superior to television.

If you want to watch people argue and tell you things that don't make sense, or tell you half the story, or the story corporate and government sources want you to hear, then fine, watch TV.

If you want to actually know what's going on, you will stop watching.


The idea is to discredit conventional media, setting the stage for a more widespread media revolution.

Amazingly, Rush and Drudge are actually helping in this. By destroying Dan Rather, they are giving us ammunition to undermine the integrity of corporate media in general.

The rationale: If you can't believe the CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes, even when it says the same things that the other networks say 95% of the time, then what does that say about the corporate media in general?

Ultimately, the idea is to plant the seed that real news is out there and it will kick shitty news ass.

Kinda like when there were shitty hair bands and boy bands of the 80's, there was real music out there, like Living Colour, NIN, Jane's Addiction, etc.

We need a media Lollapalooza.

Somehow, I think Al Gore grasps this, and I am extremely interested in his NDTV (Indy-TV) project as a result.

[jdj]

1. Thats a cool idea.

[keepthemhonest]

2. interesting

how do we get the people to watch for internet news.

How aobut A newscast that comes right to your email box that you can watch anytime you want.

[Tace]

18. Excellent Idea

[nashville_brook]

3. burning man for the blogosphere?

since the intended audience is interactive by nature; and tech-savvy, there could be some real fun to have in terms production, presentation, etc. theres more meat on the bone.

[mattclearing]

7. Perhaps a meeting could be made.

An alternative media conference.

Made up of bloggers, internet broadcasters, and radio networks not affiliated with Viacom, Newscorp, Vivendi, GE, etc.

[Tace]

19. There's One Scheduled For This Spring -- I'll Find A Link

[Acryliccalico]

4. 100% agree.......................n/t

[canadianbeaver]

5. That would be a great idea.....get in on!!!! n/t

[nashville_brook]

6. i'm sure there's some cultural production people here

this could start out as a gathering -- a private party if you will -- and expand from there.

get Air America and Radio Power behind it. promote it as much as the guy who Quits His Job To Start His Own Business.

[mattclearing]

8. I think organizing a meeting for it would be a great start.

Are there any independent media organizations out there already? Outside of Indymedia, which would obviously be invited.

More like an indy/alt-media advocacy group?

[Cleita]

9. The truth has always been out there if you are willing

to look for it. The big problem is getting people to read the news rather than watch or listen to it.

[mattclearing]

10. Maybe "Be the Media" t-shirts are in order.

Or "Brit Hume is My Bitch"

[dandrhesse]

11. The extent to which the MSM is having to go to avoid Dem stories is

reaching ridiculous levels.

Cases that illuminate this fact:

Two days ago when there were 13 NO votes against Rice, that hasn't happened in 180 years! That should have been Front page, lead story everywhere. Harry Reid even gave the quote which may go down in history as the quote that was a pivotal point for the Bush Administration. Senator Reid said:

"Shutup and vote" is not democracy!

If that isn't a prime sound bite, I don't know what is.

Yesterday Kerry gave a great speech about covering the 11 million children with no health coverage in our country. C-SPAN covered it LIVE and the AP covered the story.

Sound bites from the speech include:

Bush's healthcare plan is a "cradle to grave irresponsibility plan."

"you shouldn't have to rely faith based initiatives for your healthcare" (ie pray nothing happens to you)

and many others, basically he threw the gaunlet down and challenged Bush to support cover the kids by rolling back a small portion of the tax cut given to those who make well over 300,000.00 per year.

Generally speaking, the media loves adversarial relationships, a direct challenge to the President of the United States I would think would be a "story" to any reputable News organization.

[mattclearing]

12. Which is why we are the media and they aren't.

They aren't doing their jobs. This much is obvious.

In a capitalist society, I say we challenge them the only way possible.

Out-market them into oblivion.

[dandrhesse]

13. I agree that is why I'm not giving any of the MSM anymore hits on the

web either. It would be great if we could assign a certain person to scan each one or several and then have them post anything of interest on a DU then all the rest of us could boycott. I have never watched MSM news, so when Fahrenheit 9/11 came out I was pretty shocked to see all the BS that came out on the news back then.

[TheUnspeakable]

14. That's an Excellent idea!!!!!!

The other day someone on DU was suggesting a special MSM forum-it would be great to not have to actually WATCH that crap. Before the election, I was totally addicted to watching MSM, but now I find it unbearable and am seriously thinking of dropping my cable.

[dandrhesse]

15. Don't drop cable, you will lose C-SPAN.

C-SPAN is all I watch.

[mattclearing]

16. God bless C-Span.

It may be boring sometimes, but at least it isn't edited.

[TheUnspeakable]

17. Yes-I would really miss C-SPAN

(and TLC and BRAVO)..what I love about C-SPAN is that the EXTREME
RW's call in and many say they love it because it shows what's actually happening without all of the commentary (which is the same way we feel). Why can't the other networks take a tip from that?

[Shopaholic]

20. I'm in but I refuse to give up Countdown with Keith Olbermann

or Lou Dobbs. The only two MSM worth a damn.

[Tace]

21. Hey Folks There Are Quite A Few Indy News Media Projects Underway...

including World News Trust. See This link:

http://worldnewstrust.blogspot.com/

Be sure to leave comments, questions and suggestions. Cheers