The Importance of Independent Media
“There are times that reality just asserts itself, despite the haze created by television, news and entertainment. Sometimes crisis rips a tear in the fabric of myth and propaganda.”
-Paul Jay of the Real News
Informed citizenry must be a fundamental principle of civil society and global democracy. Speech concerning public affairs is more than self-expression; it is the essence of self-government. Independent media empowers people with independent journalism, information and media tools to change the world. This is key if we are to win the battle on global warming.
Is it a journalist’s job to ’speak for the planet’? Is environmentalism an ‘aganda’? How do the media industries themselves affect the natural world? How do we get a clear picture of the facts? The coverage is often diluted by corporate concentration as the values of big meadia resmble those of other corporate entities. Corporate news won’t ask the questions that we need answered. We need truly independent sources of news to tackle issues like these with courage and the interests of average citizens in mind. We need news that’s independent of corporations and governments, because free, independent, professional and analytical media are essential for diseminating news and information, and ensuring transparency in public affairs.
Are the environmental issues getting the media treatment they deserve? Do stories like our toxic air get enough attention? In struggles over massive projects, do all sides have an equal media voice? From local industry to international treaties, ecological issues directly affect our communities, food supply, health and the sustainability of our economic development. So, why isn’t the ecosystem a primary news beat like sports, celebrities and business?
Recently Environment Canada has even ‘muzzled’ its scientists, ordering them to refer all media queries to the federal government, where communications officers will help them respond with “approved lines”. Environment Canada scientists, many of them world leaders in their fields, have long been encouraged to discuss their work on everything from migratory birds to melting Arctic ice with media and public. Several of them were co-authors of the United nations report on climate change that won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. This just makes independent media all the more valuable.
The host of Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, has said that”independent media institutions are esssential, as independent media can hold power accountable through providing alternative information,” and “will bring together both academic and grassroots perspectives.” “It is essential that we continue to build a challenge to the corporate media,” explains Goodman. “Today the media are the most powerful institutions on earth, more powerful than any gun or missle; the Pentagon has deployed the corporate media and we have to take it back.”
We feel that the mainstream corporate media is downplaying the undercurrent of resistance that is spreading everywhere. What we see is that the legitimacy of the system and of the elite is being challenged. People are raising questions about the logic of the market, nationalizing the auto industry, nationalizing banks, the growing discrepancy between the realities of most working class folks and a privileged few. Why is there no planning apparently tackling the issue of changing our major industries as to waste and pollution? Because the media have taken turns defending the status quo, extending it, extolling it, justifying it.
The whole point of our Iconoclast project is looking toward the future and working on solutions. There is no point to watching the news if it isn’t about how you can engage in the world to make it better. what makes us different than the mainstream is our funding comes from the people. When we are working on a story, we are only thinking about empowering the citizenry. So, supporting local independent media is supporting views outside of that of government and corporate influence. Which is one essential ingredient to addressing the problems before us.
