media progressive Uncategorized
June 23, 2011

Canadian Progressive Media Alternatives

By admin

I’m not so sure that the landing of the Huffington Post in Canada is the remedy we ‘progressives’ in this country need.  Last year, Arianna sold out to AOL, making it part of the mainstream.

I’m sure the Canadian version will be equally tame and ‘available’ to the priests of conservatism in this country.  Ultimately, who ever buys ads on the media, owns the media and Stephen Harper has the deepest pockets right now.

Progressives really MUST think in terms of media and the influence that the right has on everyday citizens.  We have to build an effective alternative media network that is financially viable, influential and that ultimately blocks the Conservatives out of the daily reading of all Canadians.

There’s the growing concept of ‘citizen media’, but we need an alternative to the alternative, something that is grass-roots based and respects the opinions of everyone and not just another site or aggregator of broadcasters that could care less about the ideas of … everyone.

We must also avoid linking to and creating content for mainstream media.  It’s essential that we shut them off.  We’re their power base.  Without US, they’re useless.  As a reminder, ‘they’ are Bell, Rogers, Quebecor, Shaw, Cogeco, Canwest in Canada and AOL, Fox, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS etc in the US.  Online versions of ‘them’ are Google, Yahoo, MSN, Facebook, Twitter,

But I’m soap-boxing.  Once I get my act together, what I’ll do is start a stump on Wikipedia that provides the same list.

Anyways, until this kind of open media network is built and financially viable, we still have alternatives to the mainstream (albeit ones that are deep-seated in the traditions of talk-down editorial as opposed to speak-up from the masses):

And even more options in North America and the rest of the world:

Think tanks, advocacy groups and social institutions (mostly US):

And then there’s consumption.  What sites or companies, co-ops and other organizations do you shop from that make you feel good?  Are they local?  Fair-trade?  Organic?  All of the above?

So … it’s a good start, but many of you may agree that it’s not comprehensive.  What it all points to is that I’ve been feeling helpless following the election a few weeks ago, but there’s no need for that any more.  We own this country and we deserve to take it back, piece by piece if we have to.

I need some help with this because I think it’s the impetus we all need to gain control of the media landscape of this country.  Do you have links or stories related to progressive media in Canada?  Can you please share your thoughts on who else is doing innovative things here or elsewhere?

Do you have ideas about how we can aggregate all of the above into a truly progressive news feed and source for all Canadians and others who are interested in getting and sharing news without being blocked out or beat up by bossy editors?

Please … really, please … post your thought below.

Resources:

Mozilla Drumbeat:  https://drumbeat.org/en-US/challenges/unlocking-video/full

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_media#See_also

http://www.themediaconsortium.org/our-members/

http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/linkpage.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_activism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_media

http://www.adbusters.org/about/submissions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_press

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_press_%28U.S._political_left%29

http://community-media.ca/community-media-list

Tagsalternative media in canada mainstream media progressive
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
SM
SM
13 years ago

Well, this likely won’t help you in your aggregator request, but, I know what I would love to see in a progressive site, and that is one that does more to fill in the back story to certain events. Also, I would love to have someone doing a “What ever happened to” — like where are we on the IN/Out scandal; somehow keeping an eye on things that the MS Media only thinks are shiny enough to distract readers for 1 day, when they should be watched carefully for MUCH longer; I would love to see a way to organize action in particular cities — you know, what CAPP was doing for a while, as currently, I think we should be inviting healthcare workers, union members, pro-Wheat Board farmers all out to an event on the same day. Somehow, I manage to miss out on these things and read about them once they are done. I’d love to find out if we can hunt down some social workers bloggers and get them on as well — paying attention to poverty issues and mental health issues in relation to policy (likely lack of it) is part of progressive as well, in fact more important than armchair political criticism.

I think that somehow it needs to tie into how to take actual steps — petitions, meetings, linking to other groups to muster large scale support… We should be trying to find out a good way to connect with/share resources with the Council of Canadians and rabble.

Well, you did ask!

0
Jymn
Jymn
13 years ago

I’ve thought about this often the last few years. I’m pretty much satisfied with Progressive Bloggers. What’s needed is more of an aggregator of all blogs: left, right and centre, like Memeorandum in the US. I thought Wellington Post was going to be the answer but it seems to be composed of just a small conglomerate of the least offensive popular blogs (although Dr. Roy is inexplicably included).

Not quoting the MSM is tough. They are the front line of news and I can’t resist using them to rebut or expand on the slant given by any particular publication. I don’t see much of our content going out to the mainstream, but I may not be seeing what you’re seeing.

Your post provides much to think about. I hope you get some input.

0
Anne Peterson
Anne Peterson
13 years ago

Did you miss The Tyee or did I miss seeing it.

0
Jymn
Jymn
13 years ago

The Tyee. I don’t see many prog bloggers there – at least not ones I’m familiar with. It’s mostly Canadian Press articles. And a lot of self-loathing.

0