Is it possible to further the progressive message through CSPAN?

[paineinthearse]

CSPAN programming, specifically CSPAN Journal and the viewer call-in "windows" during Congressional procedural breaks, is an opportunity for us to share with the viewers our views and perspective of the news.

Are there any other public forums as far reaching?

In March, a core group of DU'ers petitioned the admins to create the CSPAN GROUP - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=320

Our mission statement:

The mission of the DU CSPAN Group is to monitor the next day’s CSPAN JOURNAL scheduled guests in order to prepare background information and talking points for group members in general and all other interested DU’ers who want to support friends and counter the opposition.

1. Alert DU members to the appearance of friends and opponents.
2. Educate DU members how to reach CSPAN Journal by email and phone.
3. Discuss and suggest future guests.
4. Suggest CSPAN coveraqge of future events.
5. Alert DU to other CSPAN broadcasts.

Until recently, every day since a small core looked ahead and posted the following day's activiites. It was hit or miss, sometimes others would use the information to participate in CSPAJ Journal or view important programs, other times the alerts fell quickly into the archives. During the Congressional summer recess, we kind of went off track and are looking to get going again. That started last nignt.

Over the next few days, use the output of the work we do to become better informed as to what is happening in CSPAN. This is what to expect:

OBJECTIVE: To present the following day's schedule, especially CSPAN Journal, so DU'ers can prepare to call or email questions to the guests, be they friend or foe (generally, due to CSPAN's bias, they are foes).

PREPERATION: The night before, one of the experienced members of the CSPAN group (usually notadmblnd) will post the raw schedule in the CSPAN group area. She then posts in this forum, with a "pointer" from there to here.

EVENING ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS: All DU members are welcome to add their facts, opinions, and insights. This is a group effort, the whole is generally larger than the parts.

MORNING REFERENCE TOOL. CSPAN Journal airs at 7AM. DU'er use the raw schedule plus its commentary to either email a question/comment (each segment usually uses 1 or 2 emailed questions, especially of the call volume is light; this is good for left coasters who prefer to sleep later than 4AM Pacific time) OR to phone in questions/comments.

OPEN PHONES: This is like a "free play" in football or a fat, hanging curve in baseball. Here is your opporutnity to call in and talk about ANYTHING. Suggest you go the DU's HOME or GREATEST pages and select some news that the korporate media is not covering or is spinning.

Many hands make light work. Every night, please make a point of reading the post in GD. (If you can't find it, go to the CSPAN group - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph... - and locate the "pointer"). Add your thoughts. Read the collective comments and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, by email or phone call.

FREEPER FRIDAY. Fridays are particularly onerous days, as Brian Lamb is the host. The most insidious freepers from the Heritage or Manhattan Institutes are usually paried with Lamb. Fridays are fun, we like to meet freepers head on, confronting them with the TRUTH to counter their lies and spin.

Depending how you wish to participate or use the information, every evening start in the CSPAN group - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=320 - and look for the daily "pointer". Go there and join the group effort.

thanks for your support

PitA, notadmblnd & Viva_La_Revolution, the CSPAN "gang of 3".

[paineinthearse]

1. Link

The middle link above is incorrect, should be http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=320

[TayTay]

2. This is a very good idea.

I have never called in to C-Span, though I have been watching the channel for years. (C-Span Junkie.)

Kick on this excellent idea!

[sendero]

3. I think....

.... this is the kind of activism we really need.
However, I think its coordination would need to be a little more on the down low than on a public and probably closely watched discussion forum.

[MissMarple]

4. Great idea.

I occasionally see a C-SPAN related post, but I didn't know you all actually have a group. My problem is 5 o'clock in the morning, that's early.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. LOL! 4 AM for me!

I usually miss the first hour, but that's alright, I log on and catch up. I'm such a junkie :P