The Media Discussion Center is a place where you can post your thoughts, reflections and observations on the media, and you can read and respond to the thoughts of others.
Reporters, editors and other media professionals are invited to join the discussion and express yourselves frankly under the anonymity of pen names if you prefer.
Write on anything related to media. The CURRENT QUESTIONS, however, are:
Among the core riddles of media reform: (1) Can existing commercial
news systems be reformed to preserve integrity of news for our
democratic use to keep ourselves free and safe? Can government
agencies or Congress be effective in reform and regulation or break-up
of media mergers without crossing the Constitution's line on press
freedom? (2) Can the dual nature of modern media -- journalism
wrapped in high-pressure commerce -- be unraveled somewhat to better
serve the public? Or has news become too profitable a sales product?
(3) If parallel systems are to be created and news gathering and
dissemination are to be uncoupled (or loosened) from stockholders'
expectations, how will alternative systems be structured (financed and
run) so as to preserve journalistic standards,
independence from government, and a less biased slant than
most "alternative media," while avoiding being run by government?
If you have ideas on how to fund and run new parallel alternative news systems and/or what should be done about the old news systems, please add them to the Media Discussion Center below.
Consider sending a copy of your comments, perhaps edited, to Congress, the Prez, the FCC, FTC, Justice Dept Anti-Trust Division, and media outlets. On the other hand, remember AR by sending us copies of your letters to editors, news managers and Congress/President related to media issues. The Media Discussion Center can benefit by your ideas and other letter-writers can see they are not alone.
This page is updated with postings as they come in. Messages are selected to appear based on relevance and insight. They may be edited for space and clarity.
When responding to other writers, please avoid ad hominem references. If you rebut an idea, avoid ridicule of the person, even by the backdoor of "that's a dumb idea." Write as you would like to be written to. If you disagree with something, please tell us why you disagree. Specific examples and citations are appreciated. Try to write concisely. This may be a challenge, given the complexity of the media subject. You're welcome to post more than once--and become a regular visitor.
A word about politics: Media and politics are hard to keep separate. We expect politics to appear in our discussions here. But try to keep your eye on the ball of media issues as much as you can.
The Media Discussion Center is moderated by AR's editor, Jane Wardlow Prettyman, formerly at (the old) Esquire Magazine.
Instructions:
1) Type "MDC" in subject line to show this e-mail is intended for the Media Discussion Center, rather than a private note to the editor.
2) Please remember to include the city and state you live in.
3) If your are a journalist and wish to use a pen name, please feel free to do so.
NOTE! AS OF APRIL 2000,
BOARDS ARE NOW ARCHIVED
