NORTH ALABAMA MEDIA REFORM

"Journalism should not just report two sides that are spinning you and they say, 'We report you decide.' We don't need that — that's not journalism. Journalism is hearing what they're saying and then investigating to see who's telling the truth. That's the value added genuine journalism does in a free society.

And, people in power don't like genuine journalism. They never have. Thomas Jefferson, he was the first one to criticize journalism when it went after him. But, he understood in principle you couldn't have a free society without it. It's simply impossible. It's as true today as it was in 1791."

Robert McChesney, Founder, President and Board Chairman of Free Press,
professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
and author or editor of 12 award-winning books on the American media.

DVDs are available for sale of the April 22, 2008 event, "Watchdogs or Lap Dogs? Politics and the Alabama Press" by Scott Horton of Harper's Magazine and Columbia Law School. The $15 cost includes shipping. Allow 2 weeks for delivery. Please make your check out to North Alabama Media Reform, and mail it to Tom Moss at 1304 Wells Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801.

"Watchdogs or Lapdogs? Politics and the Alabama Press"
Scott Horton, of Harper's magazine and Columbia Law School
Tuesday, April 22 @ 7:00 p.m.
Shelby Center, campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
FREE and open to the public
For more information check out our events page   (Special Events)

NAMR Current Goals:

1) Get individual progressive talk radio programs onto local commercial radio stations.


2) Expand local radio and television airing of "Democracy Now" to every weekday – (currently Friday only).


3) Ensure more fair and accurate articles are in our local print publications.


4) Acquire public access television airtime on local cable companies' stations.

5) Bring "Air America" to a local commercial radio station in our area. (Update: Due to the recent announcement by Air America concerning their Chapter 11 filing, this project is currently on hold).

 

NAMR Successes:

April 13, 2007 -- NAMR hosted Jeff Cohen, the well-known writer, lecturer and media critic who founded the media watch group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting). We had about 180 very enthusiastic people attend this event on the UAH campus.

October 24, 2006 - NAMR held a public presentation by Ethan Scarl, Ph.D., titled "How to Recognize Bias in the News" to a group of about 40 people. This informative presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session.

May 2006 – NAMR successfully petitioned to have "Democracy Now!" broadcast on WLRH, 89.3 FM. It is now aired each Friday at 6 - 7 p.m.

Sept. 16, 2005 – NAMR members were instrumental in helping coordinate a public event for Amy Goodman, the award-winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now!" Over 400 people attended this event.

Sept. 9, 2005 –  NAMR held a public screening of the film "Orwell Rolls In His Grave" attracting about 50 attendees. The evening also included sharing information about media reform issues and recruiting more members for NAMR.
Copyright 2006 - North Alabama Media Reform