ALTERNATIVE+MEDIA

WD

What does being “alternative” mean?

1. The organization is structured to subvert society’s defining hierarchical social relationships

2. The organization is structurally profoundly different from and as independent of other major social institutions, particularly corporations, as it can be.

3. An alternative media institution sees itself as part of a project to establish new ways of organizing media and social activity. It is committed to furthering these as a whole and not just its own preservation.

* some alternative media institutions also promote free exchange of ideas, fight censorship, fight media monopolization, work to counter mainstream media campaigns and spin, and fight particular Congressional bills.

Key media terms and definitions.

__ Blog __ - A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.

__ Spin __ - The particular interpretation or emphasis applied to information, so as to enhance the public image of, or to minimize political damage to, a politician. Spin can also be used as a weapon against a political opponent or the opposition party. Politicians routinely seek to take credit for good things, whether or not they were personally responsible for bringing them about, and to distance themselves from bad things, including their own mistakes. The considerable role of the mass media as the intermediary between the politician and the citizenry has made putting the "right slant" on information a matter of the utmost importance. Politicians and candidates, at least at the national level, now have consultants, spokespersons, etc.—spin doctors or spinmeisters—who help devise and deliver the right spin to the public.

__ Censor __ - A person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable. Comes from Roman times.

__ Lobby __ - To try to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause

__ Watch dog group __ - an organization whose primary activity is to either participate directly in a wide range of regulatory proceedings or, through their website, to significantly influence the participation of other persons in such rulemakings

__ Soundbite __ - In film and broadcasting, a soundbite is a very short piece of footage taken from a longer speech or an interview in which someone with authority says something which is considered by those who edit the speech or interview to be a most important point.

__ Photo op __ - an occasion that lends itself to (or is deliberately arranged for) taking photographs that provide favorable publicity for those who are photographed

Examples of Alternative Media

The International Socialist Review

Dollars and Sense

Mother Jones

Z Magazine

Monthly Review

Adbusters

Tom Paine

Pacifica

Utne Reader

Village Voice

Independent Press Association

Federation of alternative media projects

Sources:

www.zmag.org

[|www.bartleby.com]

Examples of Mainstream Media

CBS news

NBC news

Fox News

The New York Times

Wallstreet Journal