ANNOUNCEMENT: Upcoming Democracy Day 2022 and our support for more pro-democracy media coverage
Are you alarmed that corporate media is failing to be sufficiently pro-democracy? We are worried too. Corporate media is failing to sound the alarm sufficiently about anti-democratic candidates and strategies in advance of mid-term elections. It is committing failures such as:
- “false equivalence” of candidates and anti-democratic extremists
- “horse race” coverage that focuses on personalities and polls/”odds” instead of issues, context and consequences
- failing to call lies “lies“
- normalization and euphemism of extremism, fascism and white supremacy
- failure to immunize Americans to disinformation
Good news!
“Democracy Day” is this Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 (also the International Day of Democracy).
Participating news and civic organizations will draw attention to the crisis in American democracy.
Video explainer: https://youtu.be/Wf_Q7IKBu5s
Website: https://collaborativejournalism.org/democracyday/about/
As we are a participant in this collaborative effort we are asking and empowering YOU to be a supporter of pro-democracy journalism and a demanding consumer of news. We will be releasing a list of expectations and demands for more pro-democracy coverage later this week.
Here is your weekly action list to help demand and support more pro-democracy media coverage and to help #FixMediaNow!
#1 Thank a journalist and outlet this week when you see good pro-democracy coverage. Show your gratitude and support for good coverage: send a tweet, share an article, send an email to the journalist/news org. [IF you are a journalist or part of an organization that would like to amplify and promote Democracy Day sign up HERE].
#2 Vote with your wallet to support pro-democracy media. This week subscribe to a local newspaper. Community journalism is essential to a functioning democracy and engagement, (yes do this even if your local paper is owned by a conglomerate). BONUS action: invest in the Institute for Non-profit News which offers a promising future for journalism without paywalls or subscription fees, essential news and information is available to everyone – not just those who can afford it. https://inn.org/about/network/
#3 Read and share this article by our “Media and Democracy Project Hero of the Week: Jay Rosen“ Journalism Professor Rosen has been a strident voice for pro-democracy media. Read his explanation why newsrooms need to become explicitly pro-democracy:
https://medium.com/centerforcooperativemedia/beyond-the-democracy-desk-why-u-s-newsrooms-need-to-become-explicitly-pro-democracy-a650d7ddd0cd
#4 Follow and engage with our @FixMediaNow @MAD_Democracy pro-democracy Twitter teams Help us demand more pro-democracy coverage, amplify good coverage and hold poor coverage accountable. Help #FixMediaNow
JOIN US @ UPCOMING EVENTS!
SIGN UP (all virtual):
Thursday, 9/15, 1pm ET
“How newsrooms are carving out beats dedicated to democracy”
HERE Hosted by: Nieman Reports
9/20, TUESDAY
Media and Democracy Project Meme Team
Work together to make pro-democracy memes!
Let us know if you have any projects you’d like to share or collaborate on. Please share this Newsletter and especially our actions with folks who might be interested.
Thank you.
In community,
Milo, Jonathan, Brian, Holley, Cecily, Al, Carolyn and the entire Media and Democracy Project
MediaAndDemocracyProject.org
Questions/ideas/feedback: milo@MediaAndDemocracyProject.org
