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Poll. Would you $upport an alternative national press?

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Wed, 2011-09-14 04:01

#1

Erik Redburn

Poll. Would you $upport an alternative national press?

To me, the number one lack in North American society is any progressive presence in the so-called news media. It doesn't matter what issue progressive people are most concerned about personally, we all suffer under the hegemony of corporate conservative journalism. And so do everyone who can't afford their own printing press or radio station.

Whenever it comes up though its always immediately assumed by everyone that the costs of publishing and broadcasting are simply too high for anyone but billionaires to have proffer any meaningful alternative. I disagree. Alternatives do exist and they can even be profitable. The majority of readers and viewers remain, after all, more or less liberal-left leaning at heart and in interest (hence the great expense in trying to indoctrinate and divert us all) but one mass market the corporates aren't so eager to exploit is a market which doesn't necessarily support their ownerships' agenda. Well I say its high time that we attempt what they obviously will not.

As a first step I now ask Babblers to answer this casual polling question.

Would you support (as in financially, as well as by word of mouth) a progressive left-leaning (professionally written and journalistically ethical) alternative press?

1) Yes.

2) No.

3) depends. (please state some reason)

Thank you.

Wed, 2011-09-14 05:00

#2

Erik Redburn

But no, there is no actual obligation attached to the question. Just remember you're most likely not posting under your real name....

Wed, 2011-09-14 12:14

#3

Buddy Kat

I think it's already happening here on the internet...it can only expand..What has to happen tho is a TV internet...the same way people are being exposed to the left on the net they have to be exposed en masse , and right now it's tv /radio that rules...but it's slowly changing. Even the tv stations have to sacrifice banwidth by going digital ..it's a revolution happening before our eyes.

What we all have to look out for is the conservative scum trying to control it and clamp it ..throttle it...and infiltrate it...ruin it with paid misinformers (csis) ....cause they know what it means to have their tricks exposed...especially with a zillion unemployed Canadains coming on line soon.

It's already here ..support rabble

Wed, 2011-09-14 12:20

#4

Sarann

MSNBC is pretty progressive in the US. And the Tyee, that wonderful on-line newspaper (strange term) and Canadian Dimension. But you are right. It would be wonderful to have a progressive news network though there is small chance of it happening unless begun as a cooperative.

Wed, 2011-09-14 15:43

#5

Erik Redburn

Yup, the Tyee is great, but their editor himself has also expressed a desire to eventually grow into a print edition. Online journalism is definitely growing, but it can't compete on several levels, at least not for the foreseeable future, meaning that most still rely on traditional sources for their stories. Onething that mainstream outlets can offer besides the usual opinions is onsite reporting and investigative journalism by paid pofessionals, (who therefore have the time and resources required) -all protected by our constitutions. (and at onetime somewhat insulated from their own owners)

That's essential, as is the mainstream medias ability to beam itself into our homes`and offices, giving them a HUGE advantage in people reached, about a hundred to a thousand to one. It also adds to the perception that they are dealing in objective truths or realities, rather than mere opinion. Even op-eds gain authority from this. I don't see why leftmedia should be at such a huge and permanent disadvantage there, given that WE are the ones looking at the REAL problems and real power structures, and aren't beholden to so many interests vested in maintaining them.

People talk about the 'death of print media' but most independent studies I've seen show most are still profitable, just less so. There's also a huge potential audience (probably the most literate) left with no avenues to express their own realities freely, or POVs they can relate to. Europe has a number of left-leaning dailies, but I don't see why we even need a daily in Canada, a weekly roundup/newsmag could work just fine for a start.

Wed, 2011-09-14 15:44

#6

Erik Redburn

So I've done my pitch, let me know what you think. Yes, no, or depends.

Wed, 2011-09-14 15:44

#7

Catchfire

Catchfire's picture

Get a reporter on Parliament Hill -- for the rest of us

Quote:
rabble.ca is ready to take on Parliament, getting the stories you won't get from conventional and corporate media, giving context to political moves, covering the political events that matter and making a difference in what Canadians know about what is really happening on the Hill.

We want to put a rabble reporter (and not just any reporter, see below) on Parliament Hill with access to the Press Gallery, the lobby, committees, politicians, political staff and spokespeople. We need "just reporting," not just reporting: we need Parliamentary reporting for the rest of us.

This is where you come in. On August 18 we launched this fundraising campaign by approaching unions and civil society groups and now we are looking to you chip in. We need to raise $5,000 from individuals to put rabble.ca on the Hill. Please send rabble to Parliament with a donation right now. Whether you can donate $200 or $20 -- no amount is too little (or too much!). Visit www.rabble.ca/donate.

Wed, 2011-09-14 17:00

#8

WilderMore

Who's the reporter?

Wed, 2011-09-14 17:21

#9

milo204

If it was similar to democracynow and focused on canada,

ABSOLUTELY YES!

Wed, 2011-09-14 17:51

Erik Redburn

Catchfire wrote:

Get a reporter on Parliament Hill -- for the rest of us

Quote:
rabble.ca is ready to take on Parliament, getting the stories you won't get from conventional and corporate media, giving context to political moves, covering the political events that matter and making a difference in what Canadians know about what is really happening on the Hill.

We want to put a rabble reporter (and not just any reporter, see below) on Parliament Hill with access to the Press Gallery, the lobby, committees, politicians, political staff and spokespeople. We need "just reporting," not just reporting: we need Parliamentary reporting for the rest of us.

This is where you come in. On August 18 we launched this fundraising campaign by approaching unions and civil society groups and now we are looking to you chip in. We need to raise $5,000 from individuals to put rabble.ca on the Hill. Please send rabble to Parliament with a donation right now. Whether you can donate $200 or $20 -- no amount is too little (or too much!). Visit www.rabble.ca/donate.

I'll support that (soon as my next paycheque comes in) too, good idea, but we need to start thinking BIG enough for even Ma and Pa Kettle to get. It can still be done, I've thought about it alot, particularly ways (there's more than one) we can bypass the initial problem of startup capital. (it's true, the first million is always the toughest....)

Wed, 2011-09-14 17:55

Catchfire

Catchfire's picture

Sometimes I wonder what babblers think rabble is. A splash screen for babble? A crossword puzzle? A science project?

And what billionaire family is going to fund a nationwide big media corporation dedicated to revolutionary politics?

Wed, 2011-09-14 18:00

Erik Redburn

Catchfire wrote:

Sometimes I wonder what babblers think rabble is. A splash screen for babble? A crossword puzzle? A science project?

And what billionaire family is going to fund a nationwide big media corporation dedicated to revolutionary politics?

I've addressed that point already, we don't NEED a billionaire to support our less than billionaire friendly opinions. There are other options.

Wed, 2011-09-14 18:01

Erik Redburn

dp.

Wed, 2011-09-14 18:02

Fidel

Hey that Nerenberg guy sounds pretty good. As New York musician Moby said in lyrics, I would stand in line for that. We need a Guardian kind of reporter with the courage to tell it like it is.

Wed, 2011-09-14 18:05

Erik Redburn

milo204 wrote:

If it was similar to democracynow and focused on canada,

ABSOLUTELY YES!

Excellent. I'm thinking a full range of left-of-liberal/prog opinion-debate-feedback should be welcome -maybe even including a few tokens on the right (just for contrast and protection from accusations of bias) - but with a solid base of in-your-face reporting and indepth digging to build on. That I think could sell widely. One possible reason for the decline in media readership is that most readers may simply not like the PRODUCT they get nowadays. We could change all that.

Thu, 2011-09-15 12:17

Sarann

The problem with the left is that they are out there supporting a thousand and one initiatives instead of getting together. They are scattering their forces big time. So none of them wins. Why don't you hook up with the Tyee or The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives or any other group that publishes a news sheet. Council of Canadians, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, Broadbent Center, Ceasefire. What a huge massive powerful enitiy could be developed. Ordinary people cannot donate to everything.

Thu, 2011-09-15 13:55

Catchfire

Catchfire's picture

Or rabble. Or rabble!

Thu, 2011-09-15 16:47

Sarann

I assumed it was Rabble who started this thread so assumed they intended to be involved.

Thu, 2011-09-15 21:35

Hoodeet

There's The Dominion Newspaper, which has become an excellent monthly --on-line and in print by subscription or purchased from subscribers who order multiple copies. They have also organized media co-ops across the country.

Fri, 2011-09-16 01:34

outwest

Absolutely, and it has to be print in addition to Internet. David Beers of the Tyee is right. I would also support a national cable TV program, something like Vision, but politically oriented. There is very scant coverage of progressive opinion on TV these days.

Fri, 2011-09-16 02:40

Erik Redburn

Thanks outwest, nice to know I'm not alone

@Hoodeet: I didn't know the Dominon has gone to print. Good stuff.

Fri, 2011-09-16 02:53

Erik Redburn

Sarann wrote:

The problem with the left is that they are out there supporting a thousand and one initiatives instead of getting together. They are scattering their forces big time. So none of them wins. Why don't you hook up with the Tyee or The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives or any other group that publishes a news sheet. Council of Canadians, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, Broadbent Center, Ceasefire. What a huge massive powerful enitiy could be developed. Ordinary people cannot donate to everything.

Ah, but this isn't just another 'intiative' vying for public attention. This would be the axis on which any number could finally get air again. Its at the very crux of our problems, that is onething I am more and more sure of. Anyhow, this is just a polling thread, not a place to debate all the angles, if you want to vote nay thats ok too, I mostly just wnt to get a reading of what others think. Then I'll have a better idea on how to proceed.

Fri, 2011-09-16 03:05

Erik Redburn

dp

Fri, 2011-09-16 03:06

Erik Redburn

!!!

Fri, 2011-09-16 03:06

Erik Redburn

Sarann wrote:

I assumed it was Rabble who started this thread so assumed they intended to be involved.

Nope, it was Erik.

@Catchfire: rabble is good at what rabble does but like most online sites it's more comparable to a magazine designed for a certain audience with specific tastes and interests. One among others. The strength of the corporate media largely resides in its transmutive(?) ability to appear as above the stories it covers rather than creating them. Thats something that requires standard journalism as most people still expect, even if we don't get much of it anymore. (and no, never did really but it was somewhat better, we could at least breathe)

Fri, 2011-09-16 04:00

Erik Redburn

milo204 wrote:

If it was similar to democracynow and focused on canada,

ABSOLUTELY YES!

Oh and thank you too Milo. I neglected to add that cooperative ventures are probably the only halfway realistic ways to do it now, yes, but then the venerable Manchester Guardian is a co-op of sorts itself. One real advantage is that it saves a lot of overhead on overpriced starched shirts and all their expensive toys. Could save a lot on the drycleaning too...

Fri, 2011-09-16 08:36

Hoodeet

www.dominionpaper.ca

www.nbmediacoop.org/

www.mediacoop.ca
Media co-ops in Halifax, Fredericton, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal.

Fri, 2011-09-16 11:54

Sarann

Modelled on the Guardian type cooperative absolutely.

Fri, 2011-09-16 12:25

Hoodeet

The defunct Guardian of New York? or the Manchester Guardian?

Fri, 2011-09-16 12:41

knownothing knownothing's picture

knownothing's picture

If it wasn't for Rabble and Democracy Now we would be screwed!

Fri, 2011-09-16 12:44

outwest

I should add that I've spoken to a lot people who agree that there's a debilitating media void, but as Saraan says, in so many areas progressives are far too fragmented to present a common, unified force. I'm speaking of environmental and social groups, unions, and political parties. Put those together and you might get some serious traction, but it would take serious money, too. I've been arguing for some time now that those groups should pool their ad monies and work on a first-rate common issues national ad campaign during elections...