WE'RE NOT NO. 1 - TWO PODCASTS JUST POSTED

Where does the United States rank among countries of the world in the vigor of its democracy? How free is the U.S. free press compared to other countries? Is there a connection between those rankings and the level of taxpayer support for real journalism in those countries.

Freepress co-founder Professor Robert McChesney said: “ I think at this point the idea that American journalism is in a deep, profound and existential crisis is almost passe. I think what is less well understood is that such a collapse of journalism is also a crisis for democracy. Self government cannot work without an informed citizenry, and that can’t work without journalism.”

On Easter Sunday, 2011, I spoke about these issues to the Community of Reason, www.communityofreasonkc.org, in Kansas City and broadcast those remarks on the May 24 2011 edition of Tell Somebody, and have just posted the podcast. You can download the show >HERE< or subscribe to the podcast, for free, at the iTunes Store.

And, three board members of the Kansas City media reform group Friends of Community Media (FCM) attended the National Conference on Media Reform in Boston, MA in early April, 2011. In May, FCM Chair Tom Crane, and FCM Board members Doug Greer and I discussed our impressions of the Boston Conference with the Kansas City Greens, and this presentation was broadcast on the KKFI Forum show on June 21. You can download that show >HERE<.

Tune in to Tell Somebody Tuesdays at 6pm Central on 90.1 FM, KKFI in Kansas City, streaming around the world at www.tellsomebody.us.