Introduction
by Bob
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It was the summer of 1993. I was living in Shell Beach when I received a notice from my landlord that I needed to leave since the garage/studio needed to be "tented" for termites. Fortunately I was allowed respite at a Motel 6. The first thing I did was turn the television on (since I hadn’t owned one in the past 4 years). I recall that Phil Donahue was interviewing a panel of 6 media people, mostly print editors and television anchor people (all men). The discussion focused on why certain 6 o’clock news folks were curbing such violent media scenes from their newscasts because children were watching at that time... and that more violence is allowed at the 11 o’clock news hour.... real meaningful chatter, mind you [reminding me much of the same banal chatter at the Cal Poly initiated workshop called "What is News?" last month which was extremely disappointing thereby becoming instrumental in creating this special issue of HopeDance]. The only reason I persisted in watching the show was that there was a man at the end of the panel who didn’t wear a tie and who wore jeans and cowboy boots. I was curious to learn what he had to say.
Finally, his story was told: He had been an editor for a daily newspaper for years and suddenly encountered an identity crisis. He left for a week to reexamine his role in the media. What was supposed to be a short week’s vacation turned into a year and a half sabbatical where he seriously contemplated the violent-prone and sensational whoring role of media in society and his responsibility in it.
He got out of it but not totally. He became editor of the Good News Gazette (or something like that) which was to focus on positive, inspiring, and empowering stories. He was now happy, calm, expressive, relaxed... as compared to the uptight and corporate pandering his fellow panelists seemed to embody. This brief episode at Motel Six became one of the many seeds to start HopeDance.
But responsible media is much more than jumping from sensational violence commercialism to a positive feel good type of journalism. What is needed are potent stories that inspire activism and a journalism that brings communities together. Fran Lappé has started such a new media service called the American News Service (ANS) (see p.22; transcribed from a talk she delivered at the Bioneers Conference of 1999). Also, on the positive aspect of media, new contributor Karma Singye Dorji reports on Media Mobile, an organization that travels by bus to schools educating children to see beyond the media glitz and glamour... and how to create their own media (see p26). Of course, HopeDance is not entirely focused on "positive" stories since we also publish material that focuses on the hidden, censored, and the various ideological machinations of the media. See page 15 for Project Censored’s top ten stories that were underreported, if not totally left out of the playing field, in 1999. See page 42 for Norman Solomon’s view on how the mainstream press spins the latest protests in Washington. The interview with media critic Robert McChesney is vital for understanding the political ramifications of a conglomerate media becoming dominated by fewer and fewer corporations (p30).. and check out the interview with political cartoonist Tom Tomorrow on page 32 for some insights and humor. Speaking of humor, check out the brilliant stand-up comic Bill Hicks on page 25 and the cartoons by Tom Tomorrow and Matt Wuerker throughout the issue.
Of course an issue on the media wouldn’t be complete without commentary on the local Gazette scene (see p 13 for the national media coverage of David Weyrich’s media exploits and p 43). Jane Prettyman, former editor of the old Esquire magazine comments about the media scene in Santa Barbara for the ongoing Santa Barbara HopeDance section that begins on page 62.
I am an avid fan of Donella Meadows, the "sustainability" columnist who is included in many of the magazines I read. I came across an essay of hers that explores her attempts at becoming a columnist. It is enlightening, funny, honest and for any would be journalist or intern this essay is an eye opener (see page 28). And for a sample of one of her 800 word columns please see page 56 for "What Bandwidth for Truth?"
For folks who have decided or are in the process of weaning themselves away from the media (i.e., television, radio) you will find encouragement from Mary Ann Leiser, an Amish mother, who explores what it’s like creating and being in a "Media-Free Family" (see p33). Also, a critique of radio and TV commercials comes from local writer Karma Singye who’s unique perspective from Bhutan is refreshing as it is painful (p44). Ron Bast, former editor of the Atascadero Gazette (who quit because of his disagreement with David Weyrich’s corporate anti-gay policy and Weyrich’s attempt to delude people into believing that his religious right agenda can be transposed over the idyllic sounding "hometown journalism") writes about Ethics and Journalism (p68).
For a look at the local alternative media, please check out Meredith Bates’ piece on public access television (p36) and some rather exciting updates on low powered radio can be gleaned from page 35. For a summary of some vital alternative print material as well as web sites, check out page 40. And, an alternative media workshop (for interns and people in the industry ) is scheduled for June 3rd (see p38).
We have created three more columns in this issue. Due to the Gazette’s policy to censor PFLAG’s announcement in its paper, we decided to carry a column by the President of PFLAG, Becky Jorgeson (p45). To continue engaging and educating the public about the WTO and globalization, in general, we offer SLOFOG (SLO Forum on Globalization) a column to keep us informed about their activities. Their first column is a primer defining the various entities that make up this beast called Globalization (see p47). And Wally Stahle, fervent advocate of energy solutions (solar, wind, biomass...), is premiering his column on page 46.
As I write this introduction I can’t help but feel blessed that even though there are numerous reasons to criticize the incredible manipulation and domination of the media in our lives, at least journalists in the US are not getting arrested, tortured and killed. In the recent issue of World Press Review (May, 2000), 36 journalists were killed in the world last year... mostly for telling the truth. And even though the Internet is providing much information for US journalists, we must be reminded that internet usage ranges from merely 1 to 3% in the third world.
The words that keep echoing in my ears after I returned from the WTO protests in Seattle are from the former Dead Kennedy musician Jello Biafro’s, "Don’t blame the media, become the media!" With the local alternative press, with the possible blossoming of low powered radio in our communities, with the increasing Internet usage in obtaining non-mainstream news and with the opportunity of getting diverse messages throughout public access television... there is hope. The media is not just about foolish entertainment or news that keeps us more separate, afraid, and uninspired or television commercials convincing us to buy more things to be happy. If anything, the media has a purpose to awaken us, to uplift us, to aid us in feeling that we are powerful, that we can make a difference, that we can affect local politics by our words and actions, that we can create a media of our own. As Wes Nisker often said after his radio broadcasts in the early 70s on NPR, "If you don’t like the news, then go out and make your own!"
May this issue bring insight, activism, inspiration and opportunity into our lives.
Please see all the numerous events and activities listed throughout this issue. Support our advertisers, attend the events, get involved, share your inspiration, and enjoy yourselves.
Bob Banner
