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April 07, 2005
Welcome
Welcome to the Be the Media Blog. This is a continuation of a project begun during the first National Conference for Media Reform in 2003, when a group of grassroots media makers and activists decided to publish our impressions and thoughts about the Conference proceedings and topics.
The blog was part of a reaction by independent media folks due to a sense that they were being left out of the 2003 Conference, which, in turn, led to a shadow conference being held.
We've restored the archives of the 2003 Be The Media Blog for you to catch up with.
The 2003 Conference was successful beyond the expectations of its organizers, and despite some frictions with the grassroots it did contribute considerable energy to the media reform movement in the US. By most estimations, the 2005 Conference will be bigger, attracting more luminaries of the left and who knows how many thousands of activists and organizers.
It appears the Conference is more focused this time around, and that policy and reform are the aim.
Independent media making is not.
I don't level that last observation as a criticism, it's simply an perception based upon the list of panels and workshops. There is an argument to be made that the goal of media reform on issues like ownership, spectrum allocation and broadband requires focus -- focus that might be blurred by trying to also accomodate independent and grassroots media making.
At this point I don't have an opinion on this. I will be very curious to see what kinds of conversations will be had and what role is imagined and allowed for the independent media makers who will be in attendance.
I'm certain that my fellow bloggers will have something to say about this question and other as the Conference draws nearer.
During the Conference you can expect to read live-blogged summaries of sessions (if Wi-Fi is available), along with commentaries about them, observations and the occasional rant. We will be adding bloggers to the roll, hoping to bring a diverse lot of voices from folks actively engaged in grassroots media making and activism.
It should be a lively scene and we hope you'll visit often.
Posted by paul at April 7, 2005 12:45 PM