News 21: Student Journalism, Multimedia Presentation

News 21 is a foundation-funded student journalism outlet that emphasizes in-depth reporting and multimedia presentation. It originated with 8 journalism schools/departments at big campuses that each investigated and reported on a different area, for example: Univ of Southern California(USC)/money in politics; UC Berkeley/food safety.

In animated video, Ebay founder Pierre Omidyar discusses . . .

. . . his plans to launch a company that will house a new kind of newsroom. This is the venture that is to have muckraking journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill in its leadership. (Here's a clip of Scahill from last October saying that he sees the venture with Omidyar as a collaboration, not Omidyar as boss hiring the journalists.)

Short Video Impacts 2008 Presidential Election

This 2008 Brave New Films video short "McCain's Mansions" (with over 600,000 views) boiled up through the media food chain into the mainstream.  It impacted the campaign, as shown by this self-promotional video, "The Making of McCain's Mansions."

Are some journalists too cozy with their official sources?

In 2003, a CNN executive actually boasted about having given the Pentagon an advisory role on who his on-air experts would be during the Iraq war. . . . At 2007 Radio-Television Correspondents Association Dinner, top journalists (including NBC White House correspondent David Gregory) were literally dancing with a top source, controversial Bush aide Karl Rove. These are social/charitable events where journalists and newsmakers are expected to have some fun, but is it symbolic of too much coziness? . . . Whether dealing with political leaders or celebrity athletes, the quest for access to star newsmakers can undermine independent journalism, according to indy TV host Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, one of the most successful web-based TV shows.

Bold question from indy blogger launches big controversy

Former IC journalism student Chris Lisee reports on the impact that a single off-key journalist can have.

"Independent Media in a Time of War" featuring Amy Goodman

A group of volunteer citizen-journalists (Hudson Mohawk Independent Media Center) produced a short documentary based on an April 2003 speech by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!  At the time, many in mainstream media were cheering what they believed was a successful, nearly-completed invasion of Iraq.

Democracy Now! focuses on the big central issues, so "alternative media" is a misleading label. Those who tend to obsess on derivative or marginal or alternative issues are what we call "mainstream media." Check out this video from last week.

"Stickin' It To The Man"

In the movie "School of Rock," a substitute teacher (played by Jack Black) explains the purpose of rock 'n' roll to his 5th grade students. Do independent media share a similar purpose?  (The School of Rock kids in the original cast just had a 10-year reunion with Jack Black. H/t Sabrina D.)

Daily Show segment on "End Times" at NY Times

The Daily Show's cruel 2009 look at the New York Times' "day-old news."  It made me feel quite sympathetic toward the Times.

"Don't Touch My Internet" Protesters Met with Water Cannons

Protests against government takeover of internet receive violent response in Turkey, reports CommonDreams.org.

Turkish citizens protesting a draconian takeover of the nation's internat system on Saturday were met with a violent response from security forces who used rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse grounds in Istanbul.

Though similar protest was also held in the nation's capital of Ankara, only the demonstration in Istanbul turned into a scene of tear gas and chaos as protesters holding signs reading "Dont Touch My Internet" were targeted by riot police and run off the streets by streams of heavy pressure water shot from moving vehicles.

Links to Student Blogs

Stephen Adams . . . Brandon Adelbock . . . Kellen Beck . . . Opal Jessica Bogdan . . . John Brunett . . . Austin Douillard . . . Patrick Feeney . . .  Noreyana Fernando . . . Emily Francis . . . Bethany George . . . Lewis Kendall . . . Aaron Laramee . . . Gillian Nigro . . .  Eileen Oaks . . . Evan Rockow . . . Harmony Wright

Course Syllabus

Syllabus for "Independent Media -- Issues and Challenges"