Subject: Media & Democracy Congress in SF 2/29-3/3/96 From: felixk@panix.com (Felix Kramer) Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 16:03:43 -0800

                  FIRST EVER MEDIA & DEMOCRACY CONGRESS TO BE HELD
                     IN SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 3, 1996

Hundreds of journalists, producers, activists, students, and media makers
of all kinds are coming together for an unprecedented national independent
media conference.  The Media & Democracy Congress is being coordinated by
the San Francisco-based Institute for Alternative Journalism and has been
called to respond to the recent tidal wave of media mergers and its
implications for the future of journalism.

"The runaway pace of media concentration is undermining our country's
democratic traditions," said Ben Bagdikian, former dean of the UC Berkeley
School of Journalism and the author of The Media Monopoly.  "Quality
journalism -which includes news that informs and enlightens, a full range
of political opinion and coverage of ordinary Americans -is seriously
endangered as media properties merge, budgets are slashed, and independent
news outlets fold."

Hundreds of journalists, editors, and producers are expected to attend from
across the U.S.  Featured speakers include:  Barbara Ehrenreich (author),
Jim Hightower (commentator), Denise Caruso (New York Times columnist),
Urvashi Vaid (author), Salim Muwakkil (journalist), Ben Bagdikian, Farai
Chideya (MTV News), Susan Faludi (author), Frank Rich (New York Times
columnist), Suzanne Pharr (activist/writer), Juan Gonzalez (NY Daily News
columnist), Robert Bray (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) and George
Gerbner (Dean Emeritus, Annenberg School of Communications).

The Congress main focus will be on strategizing ways to strengthen
independent media and build future collaborations.  Other highlights
include the consideration of an "information Bill of Rights," proposing ten
basic principles of a more equitable, participatory, and accountable media
system, and an on site Training Institute and Cyber Cafe to provide tools
to foster independent news media.

For more information about the Congress, send email to:
congress@alternet.org, or call 415-284-1420.  All program and registration
information available on the World Wide Web:
; or
 skips the opening graphic
page.

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