Looking Back at The 2007 National Conference for Media Reform (with correct photos)

The third National Conference for Media Reform, held in Memphis on January 11-14, attracted a record 3,500 media activists from every state and many countries. Organized by Free Press, the event has doubled in size since its first meeting in 2003. This year’s line-up featured journalists Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman and Helen Thomas; civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson; Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Dennis Kucinich and Edward Markey; film and TV stars Jane Fonda, Danny Glover, Geena Davis and Phil Donahue; and dozens of leaders in media reform areas like Internet network neutrality, media ownership concentration, public access cable TV, community radio, youth media, and community broadband.

Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein welcomed the early arrivers Thursday afternoon with a call for action against the market-driven media policies of the FCC, which follows the Bush administration’s marching orders on every issue. On Friday morning’s official opening session, the NCMR really kicked into high gear when Bill Moyers delivered a powerful speech on media, democracy and the promise of the media reform movement. Moyers used equal doses of wit and wisdom to implore that all of us stay together, and not succumb to the “my cause is more important than yours” attitude that has divided progressive social movements in the past. That afternoon, Rev. Jesse Jackson used his impressive oratorical gifts to point out the direct link between media reform and civil rights. This was especially fitting for a conference held on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, in the city where King was assassinated (and where the deeply moving National Civil Rights Museum is located).

Unlike most media-related gatherings, the NCMR offered platforms for an array of brilliant women that have filled leadership roles in their respective areas. In addition to sessions that dealt directly with women’s concerns (“There Is No Media Justice Without Women: Models for Feminist Media Action” and “Race and Gender Matter in Media Ownership”), nearly all of the more than 100 workshops featured women as panelists to share their perspectives and expertise. Highlights included: “Media Justice and Media Policy: Winning Local Change, Making a National Impact,” featuring the dynamic media strategist Malkia Cyril (who also wowed the crowd at the conference’s closing session); Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman on “Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America’s Media” and with Air America’s Laura Flanders on “Winning Alternatives: Independent Media Success Stories;” and the legendary Helen Thomas speaking on “The Press at War & the War on the Press.”

Each evening included a special event for all participants, with both entertaining and serious elements. Friday’s was a concert and rally emceed by Danny Glover, with smooth transitions from commentaries by Representative Kucinich, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps and Amy Goodman to a joyous performance by the Rev. Al Green’s Gospel Choir (whose rendition of “Change is Gonna Come” tore the roof off). FCC Commissioner Adelstein took the stage for a brief speech, and returned later to jam on his harmonica with the North Mississippi Allstars band. Saturday night’s “keynote session” continued this blend of fun and purpose, featuring an impressive and perceptive speech by Geena Davis about the narrow portrayals of women in the media, a hilarious press conference with “President Bush” grilled by Helen Thomas, and music by the Bar Kays.

The conference ended on Sunday afternoon, with rousing send-off speeches by Jane Fonda and Van Jones, founder of Oakland’s Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. Fonda tore into the mainstream media, citing its complicity with Bush as his Iraq invasion began, and its impotent coverage in the years that followed. “A truly powerful media is one that can stop a war, not start one,” she said, triggering enthusiastic applause. Jones was the final speaker, electrifying the group with a passionate plea:
“Every race, every class, every religion is here, so we have the opportunity to test pilot the solutions to our biggest problems. And the reason we want this pro-democracy movement is because we believe this country can lead the world. But not in war; not in pollution rates; not in incarceration rates.... We believe we can be that kind of country, and we need to have a movement that stands for that."

Videos of all major speakers (Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman, Jesse Jackson, Jane Fonda, Helen Thomas and more) and audio of all panels, workshops and speeches are online at <http://www.freepress.net/conference>. Sacramento cable access series “Media Edge” <http://www.wethemedia.tv> plans to show at least six hours of NCMR coverage during March and April.