Media Reform Episode 5

by A.man.I
From watching some of my episodes this week, it may seem that there was a very large presence of Black, and other minorities at the 2007 National Conference for Media Reform. That was far from the case. There were certainly journalists, students, and activists from around the country, but we were greatly outnumbered. I'm not one to make race an issue, but it is certainly worth discussing especially since the 2007 National Media Reform Conference was held in Memphis, a city that has so much civil rights history.

There were a few workshops that dealt with urban or minority media issues. Danny Glover, and Van Jones were featured speakers, but other than that, we were the pepper amidst a whole lot of salt.

Others made similar observations. Here's a quote from an e-mail from Lisa Vives:
Black journalists did not get a panel, altho they asked for one. They arrived, many of them, as an afterthought, with some last minute foundation funding. They didn't get to tell the majority white audience how their papers covered Katrina, gentrification, police brutality, racial profiling, and many other social and economic stories overlooked or under-reported in the mainstream press. So the audience lost a major opportunity to look at a media they may know little about.

Chaka Ngwenya, producer of SARFMradio.com wrote:
This trip is one of those things you take for granted yet issues that were discussed at the Conference are so valuable and help shape our day to day lives. I am so glad I made the trip because it enlightened me on a lot of things about Media in America. It also confirmed some of the fears I have, that Media is controlled by a few individuals or a few corporate companies.

Finally, here's a link to a very insighful article.

This last episode is a tribute to the men and women who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. On my last day in Memphis, I met Oswald Nelson, who was displaced from the storm. He walked up to me as I was interviewing a couple of other locals. Coincidentally, the workshop on Hurricane Katrina was apparently cancelled at the conference, as pointed out by hip-hop activist Rosa Clemente with Know Thy Self Productions.

Watch below.

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Memphis Episode 4 (Good Food!)

by A.man.I
I spent most of my time at the Media Reform conference interviewing folks about citizen journalism related issues for a "how-to" citizen journalism show I'm working on for Black Family Channel. I also made it a point to attend one of the workshops on the MySpace, YouTube social networking phenomena, because I wanted to learn how to best use these sites to spread the word about this blog, and as I've said, it's all about networking.

Blip.tv's co-founder Dina Kaplan was one of the panel members. If you don't know about blip, click this link or visit my blip.tv page. It's like YouTube for the more serious online video producers. The video player is by far the best I've seen on the Internet. After the discussion, people were crowding to talk the panel members. I waited patiently for my chance to speak to Kaplan. When it was my turn, I introduced myself, we exchanged info, and I explained that I wanted to interview her later. There were other folks waiting to talk to her, so I figured it would be best if I didn't hog her time.

Deep down, I didn't even think I would see her again, but at the end of the day on the main floor who do I see? Kaplan. I was curious to know about the company, and how it all started, and the interview was great (I'll post it later). So after we're done with the official stuff, she asks me if I wanted to grab something to eat because she had a taste for some Memphis ribs. I didn't think she was serious, but I said it was a possibility, and we again went our separate ways.

That evening, there was a mixer at the conference hotel. I was chillin' and sippin' a complimentary Corona Extra, when who walks up? Kaplan... again! I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so the adventure was on. Now check this out, I always keep my Canon Elura 100 camcorder by my side. I call it my spy cam cuz it's small, but shoots nice pics. That evening, I happened to leave it in my hotel room. I was a little bitter at first, but as soon as I said, "I should have brought my camera." Kaplan said, "I have one."

Richard Hall, and his wife Maureen who produce the Richard Show were with her (they also had a camera which came in handy). Turns out Kaplan is a former TV news reporter, like me, and we have a few other things in common as well. That girl can eat, but she didn't know a thang about eating ribs.

Watch the adventure below.

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Memphis Episode 1

By A.man.I
As promised, I'm bringing you a week of adventures from the National Conference for Media Reform which was held in Memphis Tennessee earlier this month. Throughout my broadcasting career, I've attended a variety of journalism conferences. In this business, the power of networking can not be underestimated. I attended my first NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists) conference while in college. I was invited to the RTNDA's annual gathering after I graduated, and received a News Management Internship through the organization. I've also joined the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, and I'm planning to attend the NABJ national conference this summer.

Since I'm now working on a citizen journalism show called "UR TV," the Media Reform conference seemed like a great opportunity to learn more about grassroots media, and meet the independent media makers. I've learned a great deal about the blogging movement, and citizen journalism since I started working on the project six months ago. I have also grown to appreciate the power that we all have to be communicators.

Today we travel to Memphis, but end up in Tupelo Mississippi. Later this week, I'll share some of my experiences from the conference. I visit the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated. I meet some Memphis locals, and hang out with blip.tv's co-founder Dina Kaplan and a couple of video bloggers.

Episode 1 is below.

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I'm in Memphis

By A.man.I
I'm in Memphis, Tennessee at the Freepress.net Media Reform conference. There are plenty of bloggers, media activists, and journalists discussing all sorts of issues.
The videos are coming.

In the meantime check out the sounds of Ghana's King Ayisoba.
King Ayisoba's Myspace.