What would you contribute toward a truly independent news channel?

[AnnInLa]

This may be the most important website you should bookmark:

www.IWTnews.com

I had the privilege of hearing the innovators of this project speak at the Conference for Media Reform last week. (I forget the 2 men's names (one Pres of Link TV) along with Amy Goodman made the presentation and showed a film.)

They ARE going to do this, folks. IF they can get just 500,000 people world-wide to donate just $50 each, this will fund the $25 million needed for the first year. Other funding has come and will come from liberal foundations and some very wealthy individual donors. The long range funding plan is to gradually REDUCE the contributions by the foundations and wealthy individuals each year....to be ultimately funded every year by small, individual donors ($50) each year.

They will cover the big news WORLDWIDE! WAR and peace, POLITICAL campaigns, environment, global economy, civil rights, labor issues and SOCIAL policy. (HOT DAMN....no Michael Jackson???)

"Informed by a committment to social justice and respectiving diversity of opinion, IWTnews will focus on news other media ignore or suppress, and on individuals and groups who are transforming the world."

Many people had questions about the project....one was about "uploading" from all over the world (not sure I understand the tech aspect), but deal is in the works with AP to solve this. Question about language...IWTnews will be broadcast first in English only, but Spanish-speaking countries have been complaining, but they have to start somewhere.

People are working on this in most countries...it will truly be a global project.

How many times here on DU have we complained about non-independent media, or wished for a liberal channel of our own. This is it...it has the backing of some very powerful, wealthy libs, but the aim is to have it owned/funded by just us (the "little people"), which will keep it truly independent.

If you go to the website, and check it out, and like what you see, and think this is THE most important thing that will come down the pike in our political lifetime, then keep this kicked....for months, if necessary!

Take a look at the liberal names on their advisory board...impressive.

What do yall think?

[whistle]

1. Well, I used to send $25 a year to my local NPR radio station

[KharmaTrain]

2. Great Idea....But I've Seen These Before

As one whose worked with all sorts of broadcast start-ups and others over 30 years, when someone would come to me about getting involved with any kind of broadcast venture...especially one that's funded with donations or self-funded...it's "how do you expect to be paying for this thing in 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Any hesitation and I'm on my way...it usually means a great concept that is doomed to tons of trouble.

A Progressive/Liberal network has to be able to stand on its own in the marketplace and compete or find means to fund itself using commercial revenues. It can be done, it is being done and it does a lot more for all involved than a donor system.

Depending on donations is a tough way to budget and if one big donor pulls out or has other troubles, you're screwed. Living off small donations and you're constantly fundraising and have little time to do much else...it limits your growth.

There are plenty of Progressive businesses that can and will support local and national radio and television ventures...and if they can do it to further their businesses...so much the better.

Good luck on the network and please keep me posted on how this develops. I'd gladly donate to a cause that truly wants to be a positive Progressive message.

[AnnInLa]

3. Interesting points

I think this may be a little different because of the importance of the internet now. If I understood correctly, the channel/network will also be broadcast over the internet, which you must admit, has revolutionized media. All funding, all everything will be internet-based, I think. They're in talks with Time-Warner and Comcast to offer a few hours of broadcasting to prove they can bring viewers to TW and Comcast..and, if so, TW and Comcast would increase the time that IWTnews could have. On TV, they will begin with Link TV. (I really don't understand the technicalities.) But, I do understand that they are not considering themselves "Progressive/Liberal," but world-wide independent. Isn't independent media what we've bitching about?

I see your point about the funding...had not thought about that...do you think with the "internet/s revolution" it would be hard to raise operating expenses each year? Don't many open-minded people donate each year to public broadcasting? As PBS and NPR go more conservative, couldn't this network fill the void?

I don't know, but it's such an exciting prospect...hope they will pull it off, and I waste more than $50 a year on crap I don't need anyway!

[KharmaTrain]

4. Internet Holds More Promise Than You Know

I've been involved with a Internet broadcasting since 1995...and to say it's been mindblowing is an understatement. There's even more on the way that will make it even more promising. Wide Area Wi-Fi and cellular networks (similar to the I-Pod casts) and other streaming devices will turn anyone's cellphone, PDA or other wireless device into a radio. Add that to the new generation of Internet and cellular devices for the car and Internet radio could be as commonplace as your regular AM or FM station...and with the ability to either reach wide or narrow to find a way to grow and thrive.

The big movers and shakers aren't the cable companies, but the cellphone ones...Verizon is really getting involved in this. Study after study shows people want free radio...and Internet has the ability to do this. Again, lots of interesting things that are in the works.

Independent media is very important, but I see so much of it these days that goes nowhere. Lots of creative people spinning their wheels with websites or audio streams...with little coordination going on. From all I've heard and read, the St. Louis conference was a quantum leap in getting some of these people together, but it's just the first baby steps in trying to catch up with a right wing hate machine that's been running at full speed since 1987.

You'd be surprised how much coporate money goes into your public staiton...especially the larger ones. One station I knew of relied on 75% of corporate "underwriting" for their budget, then state and federal money. Donations barely covered 10%. Yes, there are some people (like yours truly) who financially support public radio and television in my area, but most people can't be bothered or are just plain lazy. As I say, fundraising can be a major drain on an operation.

There's other ways for listeners/viewers to help fund an operation. Most of it is in merchandising. CDs and DVDs of previous shows, books, kitchen magnets...it's what is known as "alternative revenue sources". The Internet opens lots of other options as well...but right now it's still several years from being economically viable.

I'm as frustrated, if not more, than anyone with the corruption of the corporate media. They no longer make any pretenses to be fair and objective. It's all in jerking someone's chain to squeeze an extra ratings point.

It's definitely worth the $50 or even more here to ensure an alternative and create competition that would force CNNServative and MSGOP to moderate their shilling and attempt to return to factual news reporting vs. opinion-based food fights.

Cheers!

[Stevepol]

5. I think this is truly the right direction, start with subscribers, then,

in time as the channel proves it has the viewership, start using more and more advertisements. In time, it would perhaps be able to operate independent of subscriptions.

If I knew the station would cover the TRUTH and the facts that are so conveniently ignored by the major networks and cable news channels, I would gladly give $50 a year or more.

I only hope the leadership of the channel is really committed to making the channel truly independent and keeping it aimed at TRUTH not just propaganda.