On Tuesday, Gleen Greenwald blogger of Salon.com and Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now, came to speak at the State Theater as recipients of the Izzy Award. Moments I really enjoyed and will remember from their speeches:
Glenn Greenwald:
Glenn spoke about the importance of understanding the concept of independent journalism. It is essentially the kind of journalism that we should be practicing. Journalism should be independent. There shouldn't HAVE to be independent journalism because the word journalism itself should not have to be separated into corporate, mainstream but it is because of the way our various media outlets exist: CNN, FOX, MSNBC vs. Democracy Now, TPM Muckraker, etc.
He also mentioned how many people seemed to view the late Tim Russert's Meet the Press television program to be a place for democratic discussion. However, Vice President Dick Cheney saw the show as something that he could use to manipulate a medium and control the public's way of thinking. Cheney believed that Tim Russert (without knowing that he was really doing this) was the best person to help him control his message for the Bush Administration.
Also, Glenn stated that the media was to blame in terms of being a "partner in crime" with the American government by propagandizing the wars taken place during the Bush Administration. The American mainstream media was fully supportive and biased in support of the war, lauding the government's intentions.
"All journalism by definition is independent, and if it's not independent, it's not journalism"-Glenn Greenwald.
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now:
Goodman discussed how the independent media's responsibility as journalists was to represent the "lost voices" --the ones unheard in the corporate media.
I never thought of the media (or what it should be) in this way until she described it in this brilliant manner:
"The media is a huge kitchen table"... it should be a place of discussion for war and peace, life and death.
In a civilian society, journalists need to understand that they must be the voices of those who are disadvantaged and need their thoughts and issues heard.
Goodman believed that Democracy Now's motto, "The Exception to the Rulers", should be universal. The problem, to Goodman, is that people have lost faith in the traditional media and that is exactly why Democracy Now and other independent media outlets are on the rise of popularity.
She strongly advocated and discussed how essential it was for journalists to maintain and ensure that the internet will continue to be open and free. Private corporations are leasing the public airwaves and this is simply a nonsensical idea. This idea of large, special-interest corporations taking over public space is a dangerous one that will lead to more dangerous consequences in the near future.
I am highly moved and influenced to create greater social change and to stand up for what I truly believe in --practicing independent media and being the voice for those who are disadvantaged and misrepresented/unrepresented. Amy gave a strong speech at the Izzys about how are country was founded on a framework of democracy and freedom. Yet at a convention like the Republican National Convention which is supposed to celebrate democracy, citizens' rights are being violated. Citizens are being violated of the right to know what is taking place and be informed. Journalists are physically assaulted, beaten, and harassed by the government police.
The youtube video that was recorded of Nicole Salazar, a fellow Democracy Now producer who was severely beaten by the federal government's police force, drew a huge response and truly showed the power of grassroots organization of media groups. The occurance recorded on video flashed a spotlight into the reality of what was going on.
Are we really a democracy then? What have we turned into? But do we, journalists, give up at this point?
Amy and Glenn really opened my eyes into the tremendous future that lies in independent media. It is certainly a combination of the Ithaca College Independent Media Center's speakers (Matt Taibbi, Glenn, Amy, etc.) and Jeff Cohen's Independent Media class that has really brought to my attention and more in-depth understanding of the power of grassroots organizing and the freedom that independent journalists have to make create change.
"We will not be silent"-Amy Goodman
