Women's Institute for
Freedom of the Press
Communication News
Last Updated: August 24, 2011
Contents:
2. Highlights of Media Democracy Organizations
3. Links for Alternative Media and Media Democracy Concerns -- Organizations & Resources 4. Book Notes
A few media democracy buttons from our collection:
Our 2011 issue of Voices for Media Democracy (Link to PDF):
Syrian blogger sentenced to five years in prison The High State Security Court in Damascus, a special court established in accordance with Syria's Emergency Law, sentenced al-Mallohi in a closed-door trial to five years in prison for "disclosing information to a foreign country that must remain a secret for national safety," according to news reports. The Emergency Law has been in place since 1963 and suspends many political and civil rights, and grants the government sweeping powers that allow it to detain individuals for extended periods and to try them in military courts. Al-Mallohi was detained in December 2009 after she was summoned for questioning by the state security apparatus. Two days later, security forces searched her home and confiscated her computer, according to news reports. On her blog she wrote poems and articles about Palestinian rights and the aftermath of 2008 Israeli military operations in Gaza. It was not clear whether al-Mallohi's arrest was connected to the blog, according to The Associated Press. The BBC reported that lawyers allowed into the closed court session said the judge "did not give evidence or details as to why she was convicted." When she was charged, according to the BBC, an official claimed that "her spying led to an attack against a Syrian army officer." "We call on the Syrian authorities to release Tal al-Mallohi immediately," Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator said. "It is inconceivable that the Syrian government should hold this young blogger for close to a year without charge, only to finally charge her with disclosing state secrets without even bothering to present evidence to support this implausible claim." U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley condemned the trial on Saturday in a statement, rejecting what he said were "baseless allegations of American connections that have resulted in a spurious accusation of espionage." http://www.cpj.org/2011/02/syrian-blogger-sentenced-to-five-years-in-prison.php Anonymous Donor Steps Forward To Advance Feminist Media and Deepen Its Public Reach Valentine’s Day, February 14 -- Media Equity Collaborative has a secret admirer. An anonymous donor has contributed $20,000 toward the research, development and outreach of this new initiative. Media Equity Collaborative emerged in 2007 to broaden the support for the over 350 feminist gender justice media organizations, outlets and projects that provide the primary public platform for feminist voices, gendered thinking and advancement of womanist ideas. Excited by this affirmation of their work directors of Media Equity have mapped out an ambitious plan of action over the course of the next six months as they continue to seek additional support. Completion of a Theory of Change on gender justice media will strengthen the perception and depth of the necessity of gendered centered media. Stepped up outreach via groups like the National Council of Women’s Organizations will serve to heighten awareness about the critical role of using women’s media outlets in spreading the messages of hundreds of feminist service organizations. Media Equity will craft a pilot to serve as a bridge with a core of feminist media outlets and a specified group in the larger women’s movement to deepen the dynamics of a national public relations campaign. Further, Media Equity will commit a portion of the funds to regrant efforts in the field. The fledgling initiative hopes to double this proportion of support to the field by creating a match through some on-line funding vehicle. To both strengthen the reach and transfer knowledge and leadership to younger women, Shireen Mitchell, founder and executive director of Digital Sisters, based in Washington DC, and a long time Girl Geek, will take on a larger role. She joins Ariel Dougherty, initiator of Media Equity, to enhance the ability of this practitioner lead fund to play a critical evolutionary role in reaffirming feminist gendered creative space that is essential to fundamental transformation in the lives of all people, not solely women. Media Equity Collaborative is a sponsored project of International Media Project, where Executive Director Lisa Rudman of National Radio Project (producer of Making Contact) also serves to guide this initiative. In 2008 Media Equity was awarded a $30,000 grant from Social Science Research Council (regrant funds of Ford Foundation) to do a survey of the field, examine sustainable funding models and hold a meeting of the field. Inspired Legacies under leadership of Tracy Gary and Media Equity have partnered to encourage donors to support the building of the gendered media public sphere. More information: http://www.mediaequity.org THE FIRST ANNUAL ATHENA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE FESTIVAL’S 2011 NARRATIVE AND DOCUMENTARY LINEUP SHORTS PROGRAM: ABOUT THE ATHENA CENTER Freedom of Information in Tanzania Editorial Whoever said excessive administration secrecy feeds conspiracy theories and reduces the public’s confidence in government put it excellently. And the words of wisdom are especially relevant to ongoing efforts to enhance freedom of information in Tanzania. Feminist Hulk By Becky Little, WIFP On May 11, 2010, the following tweet went out on twitter: HULK SAYS FUCK PATRIARCHY. HULK HERE TO SMASH GENDER BINARY. That was the first tweet by Feminist Hulk, who since then has gained 14,845 followers on twitter and was recently interviewed by Ms. Magazine (interview here: http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/06/07/feminist-hulk-smash-exclusive-interview-with-ms/). Brandishing a copy of Judith Butler's Gender Trouble in his twitter icon, Feminist Hulk delivers feminist-theory centered tweets with comic twist, writing things like: "DON'T MAKE ME CRITIQUE YOUR COMPLICITY IN MALE PRIVILEGE. YOU WOULDN'T LIKE ME WHEN I'M CRITIQUING YOUR COMPLICITY IN MALE PRIVILEGE." The creator of Feminist Hulk, who uses the pseudonym "J" said in the Ms. interview: "While I wonder if Feminist Hulk might attract people already familiar with theory, the possibility that Hulk might be making ideas like gender performativity more accessible is awesome!" You can follow Feminist Hulk at: http://twitter.com/feministhulk
Progress for Women Journalists in Saudi Arabia By Emilia Ninova, WIFP Alarming statistics regarding women’s participation in Saudi Arabian media recently came to light at a symposium organized by the Princess Jawaher bint Naif Center for Women's Research and Development. According to these numbers, “5 percent of full-time staff at the Kingdom's 12 newspapers is female and […] women journalists in the newspaper industry make up 22.7 percent of the overall workforce.” Abdul Rahman Al-Hazza'a, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture and Information, spoke for the Ministry when he said that there is always room for a greater presence of women in the Kingdom’s media. Currently one of the obstacles to female journalists is that they are forced to write on stereotypically “female” concerns, such as fashion, style and social issues. There is much more that women can contribute to plenty of other topics, including politics and sports, sectors usually dominated by men. The comments by Al-Hazza’a came two months after the creation of an all-women journalism center at Al-Jazirah newspaper, an important step towards progress. Al-Jazirah Editor in Chief Khaled Al-Malik said he hoped this would not be a singular occurrence and that other media outlets would soon follow suit. Until very recently women were only involved in the newspaper industry as reporters, and “it is about time they become more involved in the whole process of newspaper production,” added Al-Malik. Sources: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article35731.ece The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is an internationally oriented, progressive, joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization. It is engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy, grassroots activism and critical analysis of the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The AIC strives to promote full individual and collective social, economic, political and gender equality, freedom and democracy and a rejection of the philosophy (ideology and praxis) (weltanschauung) of separation. The most urgent regional task is to find a just solution to the century-old colonial conflict in Palestine and confront the ongoing Israeli occupation-regime within its international framework. The AIC method of action develops from the awareness that local struggle must be practically and analytically situated within the framework of the global justice struggle.
Four Women Journalists Kidnapped by Supporters of Female Genital Mutilation "Such disgraceful behaviour worthy of a bygone age is very damaging to Sierra Leone's image," Reporters Without Borders said. "We urge the president to personally intervene in this case to ensure that the perpetrators receive an exemplary punishment. We also urge the minister of social welfare, gender and children's affairs, Haja Musu Kandeh, to take note of this incident, which is very traumatic for all women in Sierra Leone." The four reporters – Manjama Balama-Samba of the United Nations radio and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS), Henrietta Kpaka of the SLBS, Isha Jalloh of Eastern Radio and Jenneh Brima, also of Eastern Radio – were kidnapped on 6 February by members of Bondo, a secret society that practices FGM. The next day, their abductors forcibly undressed Balama-Samba and made her walk naked through the streets. The journalists had been conducting a series of interviews jointly with the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices in order to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation, which was celebrated on 6 February for the 5th year running. The Bondo group regarded their questions and comments as a sign of disrespect for their traditions. According to UN estimates, 94 per cent of women in Sierra Leone have been subjected to FGM. Sources in Sierra Leone put it at more like 65 per cent, partly as a result of the country's Christians taking a stand against the practice. The government publicly undertook last year to adopt a law banning FGM but has not yet done so.
This attractive button is available upon request to contributors to WIFP. Contributions are tax deductible. For more information, contact WIFP, mediademocracy [at] wifp.org. The buttons are 2 1/4" in size, purple with white lettering.
Organic 100% Cotton T-shirts Available from the Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press T-shirts are available to WIFP contributors who make a tax-deductible donation of $50 or more. The light blue shirts are made of 100% organic cotton. Sizes come in Small, Medium, and Large.
Text on front: WIFP Text on back: If you are not careful, the newspapers will have www.wifp.org
Nepal gets its first all women private radio Kathmandu (PTI): A private FM radio fully operated by women has been established in the industrial town of Biratnagar in eastern Nepal. Purvanchal FM station is the first community-run radio in Nepal that has started broadcasting an eight-hour daily transmission with all women employees, officials said.
Links for
Alternative Media and Media Democracy Concerns -- (be sure to return to the WIFP website!) http://www.wikinews.org/: Media Democracy in Action! MediaWatch, challenging racism, sexism and violence in the media through education and activism, P.O. Box 618, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0618. (831) 423-6355. Email: mwatch@cruzio.com The outstanding newsletter is available by subscription for $20 ($10 low income). Center for Media Justice The Center for Media Justice is a member-driven media strategy and action center dedicated to creating a collaborative movement for racial justice and youth rights. Together with our participants, members, partners, and allies—the Center for Media Justice builds the power of grassroots movements and disenfranchised communities to transform public debate and win media accountability in the service of justice. Progressive Communicators Network The Progressive Communicators Network exists to strengthen and amplify the power, voices, and vision of grassroots movements that are working for racial, social, economic, and environmental justice. Network members use communication strategy, framing and messaging, and media tools to: 1) enhance the influence of social change movements on public policy and opinion; and 2) realize a world without poverty, racism, and other forms of oppression. The Network is a project of Spirit in Action, a movement-building support organization located in western Massachusetts. Save the Internet is a coalition working together to keep the internet open and free. Feisty Aphrodite was conceived of by two frustrated women fed-up with the corporate media’s lack of responsibility to educate its people. "We are now a resource focused on bringing the many feminine perspectives to the world through information, activism and independent media. Please peruse our site, where we offer our guests the opportunity to voice their perspectives via blogging, podcasts and the gallery." Project Censored The mission of Project Censored is to teach students and the public about the role of a free press in a free society – and to tell the News That Didn’t Make the News and Why Center for International Media Action CIMA seeks to advance media access and representation and to support diverse voices and actors in media reform, media production and media accountability. Reclaim the Media is a coalition of independent journalists, media activists and
community organizers in the Pacific Northwest, promoting press
freedom and community media access as prerequisites for a functioning
democracy. Media Access Project is a non-profit, public interest law firm which promotes the public's
First Amendment right to hear and be heard on the electronic media
of today and tomorrow.
 Citizens Communication Center and Minority Media and Telecommunications
Council Among those working on Broadcast Ownership Rules: David Honig, Executive Director, at Minority
Media and Telecommunications Council (202-332-0500 or 332-7005). Virtual Alternative Media Project An impressive resource that will lead you to new places. Be sure to bookmark the site because you'll want to go back for more. Women's Radio Fund "Our mission is to build a support network for women radio producers and broadcasters worldwide." National Federation of Community Broadcasters The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) is a national membership organization of community-oriented, non-commercial radio stations. Large and small, rural and urban, eclectic or targeted toward specific communities, the member stations are distinguished by their commitment to localism and community participation and support. Free Press "If we want a media system that serves democratic and cultural values, we must address the root causes of the problem - media ownership, management, regulation, and subsidy. We must open up and democratize media policy debates, and craft a media system that reduces the power held by the enormous corporations and advertisers that today dominate the media culture. "Free Press is a new national media reform organization working to open up and ignite policy debates, reinforce outreach efforts in Washington and across the nation, strengthen the media reform network, and - using seasoned organizers and cutting-edge communications strategies - make media a bona fide issue in America." The Girls, Women
+ Media Project The
Girls, Women + Media Project is a national non-profit advocacy
initiative and network, working to promote fairer, healthier,
more positive images of girls and women in the media through awareness
and concerted action. Action Coalition
for Media Education (ACME) October 18-20,
2002 marked the founding summit of the Action Coalition for Media
Education (ACME), at the beautiful campus of the Albuquerque Academy
in New Mexico. ACME, free of corporate media funding, is a strategic
network linking media educators, health advocates, media reformers,
independent media makers, community organizers and others. ACME
will: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) "FAIR, the national media watch group, has been offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986. We work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints. As an anti-censorship organization, we expose neglected news stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled. As a progressive group, FAIR believes that structural reform is ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public broadcasting and promote strong non-profit sources of information. Uniquely, FAIR works with both activists and journalists." Media Matters for America "Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Launched in May 2004, Media Matters for America put in place, for the first time, the means to systematically monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets for conservative misinformation — news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda — every day, in real time." http://www.apcwomen.org/"We are a global network of women who support women networking for social change and women's empowerment, through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). We promote gender equality in the design, development, implementation, access to and use of ICTs and in the policy decisions and frameworks that regulate them."
More Media Links |
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Annie Brown, WIFP Associate 
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Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press 1940 Calvert Street, NW Washington, DC 20009-1502 phone: 202-265-6707 email: media democracy [at] wifp.org www.wifp.org |