Endorse our Resolution!!

Good Morning and greetings from San Diego!

I am the Progressive Caucus Liaison for A.D. 74, in North San Diego County.  This past Tuesday night, the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee adopted a resolution on Media Diversity drafted by the Campaign for Progressive Radio-San Diego (CPR-SD), of which I am a member of the steering committee. Last night, the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club (in San Diego’s East County) adopted this resolution.

The Board of Progressive Democrats of San Diego has also voted to endorse.  We plan to submit to the CA Democratic Party for consideration at the CDP Annual Convention in Sacramento April 24-26. 

Following is the text of the Resolution.  CPR-SD is an outgrowth of the Save KLSD movement, we have continued to stay loosely organized to provide whatever support we can for progressive radio in San Diego, and more broadly, progressive media. 

Since one of the Progressive Caucus’ interests is Media Reform, I ask for your help in accomplishing what could be a very meaningful action by California Democrats, particularly as right-wing dominated talk radio goes after President Obama tooth-and-nail.

THANK YOU for your consideration and please let me know if you have any questions.  If your organization does adopt this Resolution, please let me know so I can add it to our list of supporters.

Martha Sullivan

CDP Delegate, A.D. 74

marthasullivan@mac.com

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CPR to Co-Sponsor Media Forum at Occidental College

How happy are you with your local news?  How are the issues you care about being covered?

 If you are concerned that our democracy and your community are being underserved by the state of today’s media, then you should join us for this informative half-day summit.

 Saturday, March 21, 2009

11:00am to 5:15pm, with reception to follow

Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA
Mosher Auditorium in the Norris Hall of Chemistry

Keynote Speaker

Dominique DiPrima

Dominique DiPrima is host of the early morning talk radio show The Front Page on Los Angeles radio station KJLH 102.3-FM. Ms. DiPrima is also producer of the program.

Ms. DiPrima spent three years as a co-host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show on KKBT-FM, and in limited syndication. She served as one of “Harvey’s Angels” interviewing celebrities, and providing fuel for Harvey’s humor. In addition she was the News Director/Anchor for the show. Dominique is a talk radio veteran, with a stint as Host and Producer of her own talk show Street Science with Dominique DiPrima for almost nine years on 100.3-FM The Beat. Street Science with Dominique DiPrima tackled topics of relevance to the Beat’s primarily African American and Latino 18-35 year-old audience. She also served as Community Action Director at the Beat, building the department into an unprecedented large activist arm of the radio station, and working closely with grassroots community organizations. Street Science… earned Dominique an L.A. Weekly “Best of L.A.” award, and a Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television among many others.

   Panel Discussions

• How do local media help or hurt our communities?
• How can we participate in media to affect local social change?

Panelists

Brad Friedman, BradBlog.com
Linda Milazzo, Widely published journalist and teacher
Anthony Samad, Syndicated columnist- Black Commentator, LA Progressive
Mario Solis-Marich, The Mario Solis-Marich Show KTLK AM1150

Moderated by Tanya Acker, Political Analyst (CNN, MSNBC, FOX)

Sample Breakout Sessions:

 - Citizen journalism/Internet: You Be the News or U B the News
- Using Social Networking to get your message out
- Not being heard? Start your own story
- Breaking the Digital Divide: Internet for Everyone
- Saving LA Public Access
- Indigenous Media

 Sign up to attend today so that you can:

• Gain and share knowledge/experience

• Network with local activists

• Learn how today’s media environment affects what we know — and what we don’t

• Get tips on how to make your message heard

• Find out ways to bring about change.

 Tickets are $15 in advance / $20 at the door / $10 for students (with valid ID) and youth (18 and under).  If you register online in advance and pay at the door, the cost will be the $15 advance price.

Sponsored by California Common Cause, the Center for Media Justice and the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI) at Occidental College.

Co-sponsored by:  Access Humboldt * Alliance for Community Media, Western Region *  California NOW * Center for Creative Voices in Media * Center for Governmental Studies * CWA Local 9000 * Courage Campaign * Dick and Sharon’s LA Progressive * Free Press * Future of Music Coalition * LA Alliance for a New Economy * Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund * Little Tokyo Service Center * Mashable.com * Media Alliance * Media and Democracy Coalition * National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture (NAMAC) * National Hispanic Media Coalition * San Diego Campaign for Progressive Radio * Valley Democrats United * Velvet Revolution * AfterDowningStreet * SmirkingChimp * OpEdNews * CODEPINK

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Obama Picks New FCC Chair

From Timothy  Karr at the Huffington Post:
Obama’s FCC Pick Another Good Sign for Open Media
As anticipated, Julius Genachowski has been tapped by President Barack Obama to head the Federal Communications Commission.
The move is another indication that incoming leadership in Washington will move decisively to protect the free flowing Internet from those seeking to become gatekeepers to new media.
It also fulfills Obama’s promise made on the campaign trail to appoint an FCC chair who shares his support for Net Neutrality.
Genachowski, If confirmed by Senate, Genachowski would replace Kevin Martin, who left the agency the day Obama came into office. He brings two decades of experience from both the industry and policy side, having served as a top-executive in IT and venture capital firms and as former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt’s chief legal counsel.

Genachowski also anchored the drafting of Obama’s comprehensive media policy agenda that promotes fast and neutral Internet connections, and more competitive choices for the consumer.
“It is clear that he understands the importance of open networks and a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and competition to a robust democracy and a healthy economy,” said Gigi Sohn of Public Knowledge.
Net Neutrality Momentum
With Genachowski’s nomination, the pieces are falling into place for strong Net Neutrality protections under the new administration.
Written into the DNA of President Obama economic stimulus is the requirement that those who build Internet networks (using the nearly $4.7 billion in NTIA grants provided by the legislation) adhere to the nondiscrimination and openness principles at the core of Net Neutrality.
Obama’s goals for the FCC
Obama himself pledged to “take a back seat to no one” in his commitment to Net Neutrality. And the administration’s technology policies now posted on the White House Web site list Net Neutrality as the top priority.

Also, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced last month that he will lead the influential Senate Commerce subcommittee on communications and technology.
Kerry is a longtime supporter of Net Neutrality, who wrote to SavetheInternet.com activists that “Net Neutrality and internet build-out are crucial to building a more modern and fair Information Society.”
New v. Old, Open v. Closed
Genachowski will play a central role during a unique time in media history.
Open Internet supporters on the Hill, in the White House and at the FCC are facing off against industry interests who often wield their influence over communications policy to lock down new media innovation and protect their media fiefdoms.
Through a combination of forces — including remarkable developments in technology, surging user ingenuity, industry turmoil and policy mistakes — old and new media have arrived at a volatile moment.
It’s a conflict that pits new ideas about grassroots and decentralized communications against old ideologies about top-down information control.
The decisions made in the next few years by Genachowski, Obama and their Washington allies will determine the outcome.
His appointment should give open Internet supporters confidence that we’re on the right track.

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Pelosi Backs Talk Radio Regulations

 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is supporting legislation that will force the Federal Communications Commission to “promote diversity” on the airwaves – a move many see as a stealth effort to regulate conservative-dominated talk radio without bringing back the controversial Fairness Doctrine. Pelosi, D-Calif., has thrown her support to an amendment in a Senate bill that directs the FCC to explicitly “take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest,” according to CNS News. The amendment has become known as the Durbin amendment, after its sponsor, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “Certainly, I support Mr. Durbin in most things,” Pelosi told CNS News. “Diversity in media ownership is very, very, important.” The amendment is clearly an attempt to revive the Fairness Doctrine – an unpopular FCC regulation removed in 1987 that forced broadcasters to grant equal airtime to opposing political viewpoints, Republican Rep. Mike Pence told CNS News. “Its clear to me that Democrats, having failed in their frontal assault on talk radio in America through the Fairness Doctrine, are now shifting strategy to a form of regulation that is essentially the Fairness Doctrine by stealth,” Pence, R-Ind., a former radio broadcaster, told CNS. Minutes after the passage of the Durbin amendment last Thursday a separate amendment that would ban the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine, which was proposed by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), was also attached to the same D.C. voting rights bill and passed by a vote of 87-11. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he thinks Republicans may be able to muster the votes to stop it when it gets to his chamber. “I think as we get into the appropriations process you will see us continue our effort to make sure the Fairness Doctrine is not put back into place,” Boehner told CNS News at his weekly press conference on Thursday. “And I do believe the votes are in the Congress to make sure that happens.” The primary text of the Durbin amendment reads: SEC.9 FCC Authorities. (a) Clarification of General Powers. – Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section: SEC.303B. Clarification of General Powers. (a) Certain Affirmative Actions Required – The Commission shall take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest. … The language is virtually identical to a policy position that has been long developed by Democrats and has been recently taken up by the Obama administration over calls by some to revive the Fairness Doctrine. The White House now aims to “encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum.” That philosophy is part of a position established earlier at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank headed by former Obama transition leader John Podesta. The center published a report calling for a new “localism” and “ownership diversity” regulations to balance conservative talk radio with so-called “progressive” talk radio. The report, “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio,” concludes with the following recommendations: “[A]ny effort to encourage more responsive and balanced radio programming will first require steps to increase localism and diversify radio station ownership to better meet local and community needs. We suggest three ways to accomplish this:

• Restore local and national caps on the ownership of commercial radio stations.
• Ensure greater local accountability over radio licensing.
• Require commercial owners who fail to abide by enforceable public interest obligations to pay a fee to support public broadcasting.”

© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

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Help get Bree Walker on the Air in SF

If you’d like to help get BREE WALKER on the air in San Francisco ….
she is being considered for the 4-7pm drive time slot at 960AM ….

see http://www.BreeWalker.com and listen to some great samples of her on-air work …

Please go to the blog below and leave a comment with some nice words of support…

it’s easy….no need to register or log in…u can do it anonymously…

This is where the polling is taking place, with comments….

http://green960.com/pages/blog.html?feed=313154&article=5120216

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Help keep a Progressive Talker on the air. . .

Hey all!

Brad Friedman of BradBlog has been doing an excellent job of keeping the news up to date on the PBC show. Here’s the link to the latest:

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6992#more-6992

And the “above the fold” text:

Not Dead YET: A ‘Peter B. Collins Show’ Update
Listener activists scramble to keep the Progressive talker on the air,
but time is short, and the fight is difficult…

I wanted to offer an update on the Peter B. Collins situation, that I
detailed last Friday following Peter’s announcement that he would be
leaving the air after this Friday’s program due to the difficult time he
has been having in continuing to self-finance and self-syndicate his
daily, live radio show in this economic climate, and under the rigid
Progressives-need-not-apply rightwing corporate control of our public
airwaves. [Disclosure: I am a regular weekly guest and occasional
fill-in host for PBC, just to get that out of the way.]

Following last Friday’s announcement on his show, some of the audio of which we posted with last week’s article, a number of listeners have
been working to help determine if sustainable funding could be raised to keep PBC on the air. I’ve been in close touch with Peter, both before his announcement last week, and since then. I have, of course, offered any help I might be able to provide, but what can feasibly done has been difficult to determine.

He noted during last week’s show that his monthly costs are just over
$5000 to stay on the air, and that while a miracle could happen to help keep him on the air, stations had been notified, and the outlook wasn’t good.

Folks have asked me what can be done, and I’ve been doing my best to try and figure that out, while respecting both listeners’ feelings (and the avoidance of building up hopes, only to see them dashed) and Peter’s concerns, which are similar. But I’ll take the liberty of trying to share some of his feelings here, many of which he’s now shared himself publicly in a blog item he posted at his website over the weekend, and then during today’s program (selected audio from which I’ll post at the end of this article) in response to a number of callers rallying to see what they can do to help keep him on the air…

For more, go to http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6992#more-6992

Yours in the Cause,
Aldous Tyler,
NonStop Radio

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The radio landscape even more barren in San Diego

Stacy Taylor. . . Gone

Ed Schultz. . . Gone

Stephanie Miller. . . Gone

Michael Jackson. . . Gone

Alan Colmes. . . Gone

Nova M. . . Gone

Randi Rhodes. . . On hiatus

Sal Levine. . . Sold out (540AM now entirely NEOCON talk)

Lionel. . . Still on AM1700 AM, 5 AM-9 AM, 9-Midnight Mon-Fri

And if you can get KPFK out of Los Angeles, 90.7 FM, you can listen daily to Amy Goodman and her syndicated show, Democracy Now! from 6 AM-7AM, repeated at 9 AM.

Even local Neocon talk has been affected as a few conservative talkers, Mark Larson for one, have been dismissed.  Felonious ex-mayor Roger Hedgecock has moved to a nationally syndicated show, and most of the rest of the right wingers are syndicated.  The ever bombastic Rick Roberts can still be heard on one of the several talk stations spewing exclusively Right Wing talking points.  

So it would seem, despite many rumors of a new Progressive Station in the offing, that the percentage of conservative talk far surpasses the feeble local offerings of progressive radio.  Maybe we’ll get some relief from the new, Democratic-controlled FCC.  A push for diverse ownership is afoot in the Congress, and we’ll have to see what comes out of this new administration.  We have lost our locally-connected FCC Commissioner, Jonathan Adelstein, who looks like he’ll be taking another position in the Obama White House.

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Central Committee Backs CPR Media Resolution

Last night, the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee adopted a resolution on Media Diversity drafted by the Campaign for Progressive Radio-San Diego (CPR-SD).  We plan to submit to the CA Democratic Party for consideration at the Annual Convention in Sacramento April 24-26.

Following is the text of the Resolution adopted by the SDCDP last night (and attached).  CPR-SD is an outgrowth of the Save KLSD movement, we have continued to stay loosely organized to provide whatever support we can for progressive radio in San Diego, and more broadly, progressive media. 

Resolution for Media Diversification

WHEREAS: The quality of American journalism across all media has substantially declined over the past several years, particularly since the media deregulation of 1996.

WHEREAS:  The number of journalists and investigative reporters has decreased at an alarming rate. 

WHEREAS:  The number of companies that own and control the mass media decreased from about 81 companies in 1981 to 6 monolithic conglomerates in 1996. Local broadcast journalism and media production have steadily vanished from the airwaves, resulting in a less informed electorate to the detriment of the public interest and our democratic model.     

WHEREAS:  Less than 8 percent of radio stations and 3 percent of television stations are owned by traditionally under-represented interests.*  

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  That the San Diego County Democratic Party adopts a position in favor of diverse media ownership as well as improved and increased journalism by encouraging media reform and promoting activism in furtherance of this position. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the San Diego County Democratic Party adopt a policy calling upon the President, the Congress, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to repair the damage that resulted from the unprecedented concentration of mass media ownership in the US, which may involve, but is not limited to, exploring the application of antitrust laws, proscriptions against restraint of trade, and the protections of ‘free press’ contained within the First Amendment.

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Wow! The place to be. . .

Only one debate event in town featured the head of the Dem. Party in San Diego, Jess Durfee, Candidates Mike Lumpkin, Marty Block, and Ray Lutz, City Attorney Mike Aguirre, media luminaries such as Bree Walker, Scot Tempesta and Wade Douglas, news crews from Channels 8 and 10 who used our event to lead off their newscasts last night, virtually the entire San Diego Dem. Convention Delegation, over 300 fans, progressives, community activists and AM1700 listeners who took over the whole restaurant, and, of course, the broadcast crew,  Stacy, Jack, Jorge and staffers.  Trophys was THE place to be last evening.  A typical Wednesday night at Trophys would feature 50-100 diners.  We had 350 eaters, drinkers and debate watchers.  The listener party started slowly, but by 5 PM the place was packed!!  Even Barack Obama made a visit.  Many folks had their picture taken with him.

Patio seats were at a premium, but when they put the debate on in the entire restaurant, the Dodger game became an afterthought.  Debate watchers filled every seat at the bar, the whole central part of the restaurant  and all the tables surrounding Stacy’s broadcast “studio”.  Don’t know how the show sounded out in the community, but from where we sat, the broadcast sounded fabulous.  Many of the regulars were there, and most got on the air!  Great to see so many old friends from our SaveKLSD rallies and activities.  Little did Clear Channel know that by taking our progressive station off the air, they created a camaraderie among listeners that has reached every level of San Diego politics and social activism.

Many thanks to the members of the CPR committee who volunteered and made invaluable contributions to the success of the event.  The planning committee, Mike Thaller , Martha Sullivan, Cathy Law, John Falche, Joe Vecchio and Jeff Benesch spent innumerable hours coordinating all the details.  Many members of the CPR meeting group attended and staffed tables and doors, helped with signs and directions and were invaluable assets to our core crew.  Specials kudos to Chloe Ramus, who spent hours at the front table giving out bracelets and meal tix with help from Sandy Zahn.  Bob Wilborn and Ann Stiles, and the Carlins, Walter and Ann worked the patio doors.  Leigh Mahon designed our hand out, while Joan Little gave invaluable support.  Jennifer Douglas filmed and live blogged from the event, and Walter Davis was kind enough to Internet Broadcast the debate party all over the planet.  We’ll provide a link to Walter’s broadcast soon.  Restaurant manager Nicole Alex was a real hero, and basically turned her entire restaurant over to us.  She increased her staff, put up with our last minute demands, turned as many TVs on to the debate as we needed, help serve and bus tables as necessary, and arranged for a bit of a discount from Trophys’ Management.  Jack Taylor was a great source of comfort in coordinating the physical details of the remote broadcast, got Stacy to pump the event on air for two weeks, and really put a great face on the AM1700 effort.  Jorge did all the behind the scenes magic, and primed the pre-event promotion of the party and debate watching.  And Stacy was Stacy, the magnet who drew 350 people to Trophys when there were lots of other options.

Thanks to all the regular listeners who showed up and created the great atmosphere, and contributed to the KLSD reunion nature of the event.  Pictures to follow as soon as we get them up.

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Debate Watch Party – UPDATE

The CPR San Diego and SDCDP-sponsored DEBATE WATCH PARTY has spilled out into the restaurant and bar area of Trophys Mission Valley.  Stacy Taylor will be doing his live show from Trophys from 3-6 PM, and many of the TVs in the restaurant will be tuned into the debate beginning at 6 PM, as will ALL the TVs on the patio.

The patio is full, but you are welcomed to join many of your friends for dinner, drink and debate in the restaurant and bar.   A typical dinner, tax, and tip is about $20 and Trophy’s has a well stocked bar.  Or, you don’t need to make a purchase if you wish to simply enjoy the company of fellow progressive thinkers.  Come early and stay late;  the listener party begins at 3 PM.

We have confirmed that besides Stacy:  Bree Walker, Wade Douglas, Scooter (Scot Tempesta), County Dem. Chair Jess Durfee and other notables will be joining us on this memorable night. Sort of a KLSD Progressive Radio reunion!

Please feel free to contribute towards the expense of this event by clicking on the green Contribute button at www.actblue.com/page/debatewatch.

This will be the place to be in San Diego County on this historic night!  Help to make it one that the mainstream media can’t ignore.  Who knows what may break out during the debate? Call Martha at (858)945-6273 or Email Mike at media@sddemocrats.org for more information.

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