Viva la independents

On the eve of our nation's Independence Day weekend, I'd like to devote a few moments to give thanks for our right to freedom of speech and the closely associated freedom of the press and access to information. Here are a few clips meant to enlighten and entertain on these subjects even though they are skewed by my own opinions.

The first clip, from Martin Kaplan of the Norman Lear Center at USC Annenberg School for Communication was recorded during the writers strike last year to promote education on the big media and the new age of the FCC, Federal Communications Commission.





This next clip is an in-depth report from respected PBS journalist Bill Moyers, recorded in November 2007. Though dated, it still serves as relevant backstory on the demise of something we used to call equal access and the rise of media conglomerates.





The last one I found on the Independent Film and Television Alliance. They have produced several of their own but I believe this one was produced by a group associated with the Consumers Union.





Big media is after control of the Internet now. That's what Net Neutrality is all about. Fortunately, we have a new FCC Chairman (Julius Genachowski) and President Obama has vowed to have a more transparent government. Let's hope this is true and that the president having an buddy in control of regulating the airwaves and big media is a good thing.

For more information go to Electronic Frontier Foundation, Net Neutrality, the IFTA and one of their dedicated sites called Fight for Independents where you can sign a petition written to the Chairman of theFCC asking to limit big media's reach so the voices of independent film & TV can be heard.

Happy Independence Day!