Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Monday, December 11, 2023
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Monday, December 4, 2023
US Ranked 45th In World Press Freedom
My article at Truthout:
https://truthout.org/articles/media-monopolies-and-prosecution-of-assange-drive-drop-in-us-press-freedom-rank/
Israel-Gaza War Most Dangerous Conflict For Journalists
My article Daily Kos: #CommitteToProtectJournalists reports
61 journalists killed in #Israel-#Gaza war.
#journalism
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Scam Alert! Donald Trump Is Offering "Free" Gold Bars With His Image Engraved On Them
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Monday, October 23, 2023
Friday, October 20, 2023
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Monday, September 18, 2023
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Monday, August 7, 2023
My Article At Seattle Star: Seattle City Council Votes Against Rent Control
https://www.seattlestar.net/2023/08/seattle-city-council-votes-against-historic-rent-control-proposal/
Seattle City Council Votes Against Rent Control
https://democracywatchnews.org/2023/08/seattle-city-council-votes-against-historic-rent-control-proposal/
Monday, July 31, 2023
Friday, July 28, 2023
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Monday, May 29, 2023
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Monday, May 22, 2023
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
My Article At Truthout - US Ranked 45th In Press Freedom: Medea Benjamin Protest Interrupts US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
https://truthout.org/articles/media-monopolies-and-prosecution-of-assange-drive-drop-in-us-press-freedom-rank/
Media Monopolies and Prosecution of Assange Drive Drop in US Press Freedom Rank
"Major structural barriers to press freedom persist in this country," according to Reporters Without Borders.
CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a -sponsored event on May 3, where a Post journalist was interviewing Blinken. Benjamin demanded that the U.S. and United Kingdom free imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
A group of men in suits, presumably Secret Service agents, immediately charged onto the stage and forcibly removed Benjamin and another activist who joined her. Blinken, however, failed to address either Assange’s persecution or the U.S.’s continued decline in press freedom after the disruption.
Assange faces extradition to the U.S. on Espionage Act charges for his role in publishing secret U.S. military documents, even though he collaborated with several major newspapers, including The New Year Times, in exposing corruption and deception by U.S. government officials.
Don’t miss a beat
Get the latest news and thought-provoking analysis from Truthout.
Benjamin’s protest took place shortly after Reporters Without Borders released the new at the gathering in a short video presentation, revealing that the U.S. dropped in its ranking from 42nd in 2022, to 45th this year. The drop continues the U.S.’s steady fall in its ranking since at least 2002, when it was ranked 17th in the world in terms of press freedom.
Worldwide, at least seven have been killed and 568 are currently being detained or imprisoned this year. Reporters Without Borders and the report that 2023 is on track to become the worst year for reporters amid the rise of authoritarian regimes and democratic backsliding on press freedom protections. The United Nations celebrated the 30-year anniversary of its designation of May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.
According to , however, the U.S. dropped three places this year because “major structural barriers to press freedom persist in this country.” This criticism includes the increase in prosecutions of whistleblowers like who leak classified documents in the public interest.
RWB’s new report attributed additional factors to the drop in the U.S. ranking in press freedom, stating that “many of the underlying, chronic issues impacting journalists by the authorities — including the disappearance of local news, the polarisation of the media or the weakening of journalism and democracy caused by digital platforms and social networks.”
Reporters Without Borders also cited threats made toward U.S. journalists as a major concern in its 2023 report, noting that “online harassment, particularly towards women and minorities, is also a serious issue for journalists and can impact their quality of life and safety.” Last year the U.S. was ranked number 72 in the world in security for journalists. In 2023, the nation dropped to the 120th rank.
Another major factor, however, is the continued consolidation of major media networks. As the 2023 report on press freedom states, “any popular news outlets are owned by a handful of wealthy individuals.”
Media Monopolies
A small group of media companies and individuals continue to dominate U.S. media markets, making it almost impossible for independently or publicly funded media to compete. For example, , formerly known as Clear Channel, owns 855 radio stations in 160 markets. iHeart owns or streams programming for many right-wing and conservative religious stations across the country.
Fox Broadcasting Company owns 29 television stations in 17 markets and has .
Fox is a subsidiary of Fox Entertainment which is itself a subsidiary of — part of the billionaire media proprietor Rupert Murdoch’s family empire. Murdoch also controls dozens of major and regional newspapers, publications, magazines and radio stations around the world.
owns 200 TV stations covering more than 40 percent of households in the U.S. It also owns 20 regional sports cable networks, a handful of digital multicast networks, and an internet streaming service.
Sinclair has been a major promoter of conservative politics in the media, and OpenSecrets has documented the revolving door between government and lobbyists at Sinclair. Two out of three lobbyists have formerly held government jobs. Some Sinclair-owned TV stations are also Fox affiliates.
Despite these growing corporate monopolies, Reporters Without Borders reports that more than 360 newsrooms have been shuttered in the U.S. since 2019 — most of them local news organizations and newspapers.
For example, Seattle, like all other major U.S. cities, used to have multiple printed newspapers, including the The Seattle Times, and Post Intelligencer. But Seattle Star and Post Intelligencer are now online-only publications with a much smaller readership. From 1983 to 2009, The Seattle Times and the Post Intelligencer were under a by the Seattle Times Company. 145 jobs were lost at Post Intelligencer when it went online, and 150 editorial positions were eliminated at The Seattle Times shortly before that, in December 2008.
The Seattle Times is now the only major printed newspaper in the city, enjoying a complete monopoly of the newspaper industry locally. Many large cities are now one-newspaper towns after years of downsizing, mergers and newspaper closures.
Possible Solutions
If the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to cave to large media companies and allow media monopolies to grow in size and power, then there’s little hope for the viability of independent and community media in the U.S. We need reforms that ensure the FCC is able and willing to enforce antitrust regulations.
We must demand increased public funding to independent non-corporate media; PBS and National Public Radio are just not adequate to provide the diversity of opinion and representation that is required in a healthy democratic society.
Local governments can pass resolutions in support of the rights of journalists to be free from targeting and harassment by law enforcement agencies. These resolutions would direct police departments to honor the rights of reporters, especially those who are covering civil unrest or political protests.
There are other legislative and public policy initiatives which could help improve U.S. press freedom, including federal protections for whistleblowers like Assange and new antitrust legislation.
Rep. Jamie Raskin’s was passed in the House but failed to be approved by the Senate. The bill would provide a shield law to protect journalists from prosecution for refusing to reveal their sources. The U.S. currently has no federal shield law protecting journalists from that kind of prosecution. Raskin’s , a separate piece of legislation introduced in the current legislative session, would also protect journalists from being sued when they report information vital to the public interest.
Likewise, the , co-sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), would allow small and independent media outlets to join together to negotiate for fair compensation when tech giants like Google and Facebook use them as news sources. The Seattle Times editorial board .
The , introduced into the House by Rep. (D-Arizona), would give tax credits to local newspapers. It was introduced in 2020 and again in 2021 but was never voted on.
The U.S. must confront its problems with both press freedom and media consolidation. We may not have a state-controlled media, but our corporate-dominated media landscape and the lack of rigorous press protections limit diversity of political views and ownership.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Friday, May 5, 2023
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Monday, April 24, 2023
Monday, April 17, 2023
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Monday, April 10, 2023
“Workers Strike Back” Holds Seattle Solidarity Rally for Employees at Amazon’s Largest Air Hub
By Mark Taylor-Canfield
Photos by Mark Taylor-Canfield
Seattle’s socialist city council member Kshama Sawant kicked off the national Workers Strike Back campaign on March 4 during an event at the University of Washington’s Kane Hall. Other speakers included Griffin Ritze, a worker and union organizer at Amazon’s KCVG air hub; Mike Forster, a leader in the Enough is Enough campaign in the U.K.; and Nick Cruse, host on the Revolutionary Blackout Network.
Sawant has announced that she will not be seeking re-election this year so she can devote her efforts to the new labor movement. Major kick-off rallies for Workers Strike Back have been held in Madison, Philadelphia, New York City, and other communities in the U.S. Workers at Amazon’s KCVG air hub in Northern Kentucky are fighting to organize a union, and Workers Fight Back claims that Amazon is retaliating against them. KCVG employees announced they are joining forces with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) to collect union cards and win a union election at KCVG, the largest Amazon air hub in the world. Workers are demanding $30 an hour, 180 hours paid time off, and union representation at disciplinary meetings.
In support of the unionization drive at KCVG, Workers Strike Back hosted a national week of action with solidarity rallies held across the country, culminating in a rally at Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle on March 25.
Sawant spoke at the Seattle labor rally. She called on Amazon to recognize workers’ right to organize at every location in the U.S.A.
Steven Kelly, an Amazon employee from Kentucky, spoke at the rally in favor of unionization and a pay increase to $30/hour.
Referring to the KCVG facility, Kelley said, “Getting a union there is going to take everyone in the labor movement. Amazon’s going to fight us tooth and nail. They’ve already started their union busting. They’re retaliating and pushing us to our limits—that’s why we’re here today.”
A fellow Amazon employee from the Kentucky site, Braeden Pierce, told the crowd of union supporters, “This union drive is very important. 75% of all Amazon freight will come through this facility. We’re here to show not just Amazon workers and managers, but the whole world that workers still hold the power.”
Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Chapter 3000 were also in attendance at the Seattle rally to support Amazon workers’ efforts to unionize. Maddy Olson is a labor organizer with Workers Strike Back. She’s employed at Puget Sound Consumers Co-op in Seattle, where grocery workers are campaigning for higher wages and full staffing.
Olson told rally participants, “As a union member we understand the importance of collective bargaining. This year our contract expires and we are in for a serious battle. I am proud to be here standing with the KCVG workers fighting to form their union.”
Representatives from the Bookworkers Union and Socialist Alternative party were also on hand to support the Kentucky Amazon workers.
A simultaneous event was held in Chicago outside the offices of Jackson Lewis PC, a law firm that Workers Strikes Back claims is being employed by Amazon for union busting purposes.
Photos by Mark Taylor-Canfield.
Author
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Saturday, April 1, 2023
US Banned From Summit For Democracy - April Fools Day Article
Happy #AprilFoolsDay! My new article for the #Seattle Star. #satire #humor seattlestar.net/2023/04/us-ban
In a startling turn of events, co-hosts for the third Summit For Democracy have banned the United States from the 2024 event citing undemocratic tendencies in the country, and specifically mentioning the banning of all the Winnie The Pooh books.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the decision by Governor DeSantis and the Florida state legislature “the last straw!”
“I don’t care if Ron DeSantis thinks the books are too woke. I believe that author Alan Alexander Milne is one of the greatest literary figures in the history of writing – second only to William Shakespeare!”
“Christipher Robin is a hero to millions of children who wouldn’t ever get a good night’s sleep without their parents reading at least one chapter to them at bedtime.”
The third Summit For Democracy is scheduled to take place in South Korea March 29 -30, 2024.
The banning of the US is particularly embarrassing to President Joe Biden who introduced the first Summit For Democracy in 2021.
Our unnamed sources at the White house claim they witnessed the President throwing an uncharacteristic Trump-style temper tantrum, smashing official white house coffee mugs against the wall and vowing,
“Heads are gonna roll over this, and I’m not kidding!”
Two oval office aides reportedly took cover under their desks and called 911.
China’s President Xi Jinping was jubilant at the decision. The Chinese government released a very brief and simple statement:
“That’s what they get for banning TikTok. It serves them right!”
Summit co-hosts Namibia, The Dominican Republic and Slovakia agreed to the prohibition of the United States wholeheartedly. In a combined statement they pointed out that the US ranking on the World Press Freedom Index has been declining steadily since former President Trump announced that he would declare himself “Dictator For Life” and throw all reporters in jail as soon as he was released from prison.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene told her rabid supporters,
“Who cares? I never really thought democracy was a good idea anyway. It was invented by Radical Leftist Marxist Antifa Democrats!”
In a terse statement, Russian strongman Vlad Putin smiled for the state-controlled TV news cameras in Moscow saying,
“It is fitting that President Joe has an egg on his face. I’m sure that NATO will now collapse and I have a feeling that he won’t get his spies and pot smoking athletes released from my prisons in time for Christmas.”
At today’s press briefing Biden was adamant that the decision to ban the United States would be overturned. He told the White House press corps,
“They obviously don’t know who’s in control here. We are completely dedicated to the idea of democracy even if we have to invade other nations to prove it. I plan to launch Operation Democracy Storm the first thing tomorrow morning after my champagne brunch with some corporate bigwigs. We’ll show ’em who loves democracy!”
The Summit For Democracy co-hosts also cited a few other minor reasons for opposing the participation of the US including:
- The prosecution of whistleblower Julian Assange
- Harassment and arrests of journalists covering Black Lives Matter protests
- Increasing monopolization of the news media by a handful of powerful corporations
- False right-wing propaganda promulgated by the Fox “news” network regarding the results of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 insurrection in Washington DC.
It is still unclear whether the decision will stand, but for now we must quote a famous anonymous baseball fan who pined after the 1919 White Sox threw the World Series for gambling money,
“Say it ain’t so Joe…”