Blogged by Brad Friedman on 5/20/2005 1:07PM  
Encourage C-SPAN to Cover it NOW!

It's official. Just in from the folks at Conyer's office...Fighting on every front...God bless him...In the DC area next week? Go help 'em make some noise!

Better yet, write to C-SPAN today and ask them to cover this event!!! We spoke with Conyers' office earlier this morning, and they made it clear they would appreciate any help that "6 or 7" of you might be able to provide in encouraging C-SPAN to be there!

...CONTACT...
Suggest Events: Submit a public event that you think C-SPAN should cover
events@c-span.org
Main Number: (202) 737-3220
FROM THE NEWSWEEK CONTROVERSY TO THE DOWNING STREET MEMO, CONYERS HOSTS FORUM: "MEDIA BIAS AND THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m., Rep. John Conyers, Jr. and other Members will host a forum concerning the state of the freedom of the press in this country.

There are few liberties which are more precious to our citizenry or important to our democracy than a free and independent press. Unfortunately, in the present environment, the fourth estate appears reticent to cover numerous issues of genuine public import, and has frequently retreated in the face of criticism and threats from government officials.

For example, the mainstream media has largely ignored the implications of the "Downing Street Memo," which points to a secret agreement between the Bush and Blair Administration to not only go to war, but create the conditions necessary for the war. Similarly, in the wake of the Newsweek "retraction" of the Koran story, the Administration has sought to mandate that the magazine alter its coverage of our involvement in the Middle East.

Tuesday's Forum will provide a timely opportunity to assess the nature of media bias and the extent that press freedoms are at risk in the post-9/11 world.

WHAT: Forum: "Media Bias and the Future of Freedom of the Press"

PANEL:

  • Al Franken, the Al Franken Show on Air America Radio, author of Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right
  • David Brock, founder of Media Matters
  • Randi Rhodes, the Randi Rhodes Show on Air America Radio
  • Joe Madison, The Black Eagle Radio Show
  • Justin Webb, Senior Washington Correspondent of BBC News
  • Eric Alterman, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
  • Steve Rendall, media watchdog group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
  • John Aravosis, America Blog
  • Mark Lloyd, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
  • WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m.

    WHERE: 2226 Rayburn House Office Building

    Buzz this story! C2NN: Submit it!


    READER COMMENTS ON
    "Conyers to Host Media Bias Forum Next Tuesday!"
    (22 Responses so far...)

    COMMENT #1 [Permalink]
    ... MAXIE said on 5/20/2005 @ 1:48 pm PT...


    I just copied and pasted the event and sent it to c-span and ask them to cover it.Sure hope they will.


    COMMENT #2 [Permalink]
    ... czaragorn said on 5/20/2005 @ 2:45 pm PT...


    Sounds like a good lineup - I sure wish Brad could be there...


    COMMENT #3 [Permalink]
    ... czaragorn said on 5/20/2005 @ 2:53 pm PT...


    PS - I sent them a request - I sure hope there are 6 or 7 of us out there who will do the same...


    COMMENT #4 [Permalink]
    ... js said on 5/20/2005 @ 3:24 pm PT...


    This makes it four. C'mon, just 2 or three more! :satisfied:


    COMMENT #5 [Permalink]
    ... Gordon H. said on 5/20/2005 @ 3:46 pm PT...


    How about this? The message went as follows:

    It would be a giant step forward if you folks could find the time to carry this forum live for all to see and listen to. Truth be known, this is probably one of the biggest stories to be hitting the airwaves this year. Censorhip is alive and thriving in the media, and this is the time to bring it to the forefront and address it in the open instead of letting it lurk around in the background. Of course, if Censors also prevent you folks from carrying the truth, that may not be a surprise either. Maybe, if you could just come out and tell us that censors control your reporting too, we can simply know without a doubt that Freedom of Speech and the Press has been killed in America.

    FROM THE NEWSWEEK CONTROVERSY TO THE DOWNING STREET MEMO, CONYERS HOSTS FORUM: "MEDIA BIAS AND THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS"

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m., Rep. John Conyers, Jr. and other Members will host a forum concerning the state of the freedom of the press in this country.

    We would sure appreciate it very much, seeing your reporting on this story!
    Thank you very much


    COMMENT #6 [Permalink]
    ... Emma said on 5/20/2005 @ 4:15 pm PT...


    Consider it done!!! I would stay home from work that day and pop the corn for my neighbors. I've been telling them what I've been learning from this blog!!! They are amazed!!!

    Emma


    COMMENT #7 [Permalink]
    ... Peg C said on 5/20/2005 @ 6:46 pm PT...


    Just "posted" another! Exposure, exposure, exposure...


    COMMENT #8 [Permalink]
    ... Dredd said on 5/20/2005 @ 7:26 pm PT...


    I sent one too ...


    COMMENT #9 [Permalink]
    ... Nothing Without Hope (at DU) said on 5/20/2005 @ 8:23 pm PT...


    I've just started a thread on this at Democratic Underground in the "General Discussion - Politics" Forum here:
    http://www.democraticund...address=132×1797983
    Thread title: "DUers! URGE CSPAN TO COVER CONYERS FORUM on media bias next Tues!!"

    Hope this triggers a lot of emails. Do you have a fax number for the CSPAN site that chooses what to cover? Sometimes a fax can make a stronger impression than an email.


    COMMENT #10 [Permalink]
    ... Joan said on 5/20/2005 @ 8:33 pm PT...


    Just sent my email to cspan. I love you guys. You ROCK.

    Btw, I just saw the new Star Wars movie & the parallels to our present governmental situation are obvious, horrifying and, I gotta admit, pretty goddamn funny (in a creepy, nauseating kinda way). I'm going to hand out flyers tomorrow at the movie theater, part of a campaign by MoveOn.org about the right-wing attempt to take over the judiciary. For anyone interested in joining in, here is the flyer:

    http://cdn.moveonpac.org...pdfs/savetherepublic.pdf


    COMMENT #11 [Permalink]
    ... Reg said on 5/20/2005 @ 8:47 pm PT...


    Someone should contact the editor of TvNewsLIES.org to participate in this forum. He had his own radio show for a while and has written some superb editorials on this topic, and is a great source for alternative news.

    Check out:

    TvNewsLIES


    COMMENT #12 [Permalink]
    ... B. said on 5/20/2005 @ 11:19 pm PT...


    Speaking of TV News (cheap segue), I came across this article and thought the Freed Men (and Women) of Bradville might enjoy it.

    The author likens current TV news to elevator music, and has thus dubbed it "Nuzak". It seems a fitting term. http://bellaciao.org/en/...cle.php3?id_article=6102


    COMMENT #13 [Permalink]
    ... MrBlueSky said on 5/21/2005 @ 8:43 am PT...


    Brad,

    Please kindly reconsider your decision not to attend this forum. I think your point of view would make an excellent addition to this gathering.


    COMMENT #14 [Permalink]
    ... Melanie said on 5/21/2005 @ 11:13 am PT...


    Hello, I have added my voice to the mix:

    "Firstly, I want to thank you very much for covering the David Griffin lecture @ UWisconsin @ Madison. This was a brave thing to do - C-Span put itself on the line, and it's to be commended. As you may know, Griffin is not the only one who holds these views; if you recall, Rep. Cynthia McKinney was publicly vilified for expressing similar views, for similar reasons, a few years ago.

    Secondly, there is another important event that I am writing to ask you to please cover - from "The Brad Blog" :

    FROM THE NEWSWEEK CONTROVERSY TO THE DOWNING STREET MEMO, CONYERS HOSTS FORUM: "MEDIA BIAS AND THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS"

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m., Rep. John Conyers, Jr. and other Members will host a forum concerning the state of the freedom of the press in this country.

    WHERE: 2226 Rayburn House Office Building

    Again, thanks very much, and keep up the great work."


    COMMENT #15 [Permalink]
    ... Flat Iron said on 5/21/2005 @ 11:31 am PT...


    THANKS FOR HELPING - everybody bite down hard and don't let these criminals go until they're good and gone.

    Emailing C-SPAN right now ...


    COMMENT #16 [Permalink]
    ... American Patriot said on 5/21/2005 @ 5:06 pm PT...


    Conyers is a Socialist

    Just like you people.


    COMMENT #17 [Permalink]
    ... Cole... said on 5/21/2005 @ 6:27 pm PT...


    AP #16
    Good you have a simple slogan. May speed up your simple mind.


    COMMENT #18 [Permalink]
    ... molly said on 5/21/2005 @ 6:49 pm PT...


    I didn't know exactly where to post this..this is about censorship on the internet. I recommended rigorousinstitution on this site as well as crooksandliars re. a Feb. article about Bush 1 and pedopellia. Now I can only access the homepage. I was trying to email them and my server went down. Makes me think there is something to the story. What do I need to do to gain access? Thanks


    COMMENT #19 [Permalink]
    ... loretta said on 5/21/2005 @ 10:20 pm PT...


    #16::Arrorgant Parrot::
    Talk your trash,you could'nt shine,*John Conyers* shoes.Go take your meds now you already had to much Kool-Aid>>>>>


    COMMENT #20 [Permalink]
    ... John said on 5/23/2005 @ 12:32 pm PT...


    Socialist or not, Conyers for president!!!

    And Galloway should be invited to speak! He'd cut throught the media flem, no matter how thick.

    And did I say, Conyers for president!

    For that matter, Galloway for president!!!

    Impeach Bush!!!

    I'm drifting, I'll stop now.


    COMMENT #21 [Permalink]
    ... Jerry O'Riordan said on 5/25/2005 @ 8:24 pm PT...


    I wanna see this John Conyers meeting go down! It would be totally cool! Hey, are you guys gonna talk about the Ohio Election? I hope you do! It always annoys Righty!
    Uh, oh, maybe you better not talk about Ohio! Cheney will arrest you and make you listen to elevator music all the time! They'll shoot you up with prozac and zoloft and ritalyn and God knows what other SSRI's they'll inject you with!
    So talk about Ohio all you want! Every you talk about November 2nd, you piss people off!


    COMMENT #22 [Permalink]
    ... opal moore said on 6/1/2005 @ 8:26 am PT...


    Unfortunately, I missed the first half of the Media Bias forum hosted by Mr. Conyers.

    Will it be available on cd or dvd?

    opal moore


    -=- Comments on this item are now closed. -=-


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