October 30, 2024

Community News

Media Alliance Update: Senator Feinstein Advocates for Reporters, Cell Phone Freedom?, Incarcerated Robbed by Execessive Phone Rates & More
August 8, 2013

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Daniel Ellsberg on Whistleblowing, Then and Now

Restore the Fourth's August 4th anti-surveillance protest featured Daniel Ellsberg speaking on blowing the whistle, hope and the 4th Amendment. Watch the video. The animated crowd read excerpts from George Orwell's novel 1984 and wheeled a message board for Rep. Nancy Pelosi telling her to stop defending government spying half a mile down Market Street to her Federal building offices. 

 

Incarcerated Nation; Excessive Phone Rates in CA County Facilities

We did it! The CA Prison Phone Justice Coalition (Legal Services for Prisoners w/Children, CIVIC, and MA) sent public records requests to all 58 CA counties. Now we need to get them all back.  If YOU can take on a county or two, send an email to tracy@media-alliance.org. For motivation: we just uncovered the highest kickback rate discovered so far. Fairfax County, VA. 93%. Highway robbery. 

There is national action coming from the FCC with a vote on interstate calls out of prisons on Friday August 9th. With local and national working together, we can end these predatory kickbacks that are impoverishing prisoner families.

 

Federal Shield Law: Who's a Government-Approved Journalist?

CA senator Dianne Feinstein loudly advocated for unsalaried reporters and whistleblower sites like Wikileaks to be left out of a federal shield law protecting journalists and their sources, at a recent Senate Judiciary hearing in DC. 

Upcoming Classes: Fall/winter schedule posted in about a week and featured in next newsletter. 

Helen Thomas at Media Alliance's 30th Anniversary in 2006

Recently deceased maverick reporter graced the stage at MA's 30th Anniversary Celebration seven years ago. Always a unique presence, Thomas never stopped asking questions of presidents. Listen to her in conversation at our event and support an honorary scholarship in her name to a young Palestinian woman to study journalism. 

Join us - Become a Media Alliance Member

We're not threatening you. We'll keep sending the newsletter whether you become a member or not, because we want information out there and to keep showing up when fair communications are threatened. But our ability to do it depends on you. Please consider joining up if you're one of our silent readers. Since the economy is what it is: a professional membership with 52 weeks of the Jobfile Bulletin is reduced to $60. Sign up today. 

Cell Phone Unblocking: Do We Own Them or Do They Own Us?

One basic consumer rights issue for wireless devices is the right to take your gagdet and run it on the service of your choice. Telecom companies have not been big fans of unlocking. But as more and more Internet activity moves to portable devices, this becomes a vital front for affordable access.  

We Ain't Gonna Fix it

Verizon continues to pave the way for the death of the landline telephone. Their refusal to fix storm-battered copper telephone lines in Fire Island and Jersey's Barrier Islands has drawn the ire of the NY Public Utilities Commission and the state's Attorney General. Forced migration to "fixed" wireless Voice Link leaves many residents unable to use medical alerts, home security systems, calling cards, fax machines or to receive collect calls.

2012-2013 Northern California Press List Available

Pick up a press list and a how-to guide today for everything you need to get your message out with minimal time and money. The Media How-To Guide tells you how and the Northern California press list gives you contact info for print, radio, and television throughout the region - for a pittance.

Community Broadband Three Versions: Detroit, Brooklyn and Dharmasala

A fun video from the Open Technology Institute describes three community broadband projects in three very different places

 

Best Practices in Research: Asian American and Pacific Islander Populations

A  free guide from the Applied Research Center and NCAPA with tips on researching and discussing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Towards peace and justice,

Tracy

Need a job? Thinking about a career transition in this difficult economy? Join Media Alliance! Professional members get 52 weeks of media-related job listings in print, broadcast, digital, film, video, communications and advocacy e-mailed to them weekly. Let us do the hunting for you. Just $1 a week. Sign up now.

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