Independent media producer Amy Goodman and investigative journalist Dave Lindorff joined other peace advocates over the weekend to speak out against war and emphasize the importance of alternative media. Hundreds of students and community members filled 150 Columbia on Friday and Saturday nights to hear the speakers.
The speakers were part of the weeklong “Peace, Justice and Civil Liberties Conference,” which featured national speakers, workshops and other anti-war activities.
On Friday, Goodman, who produces a program called “Democracy Now!” on Pacifica Radio, outlined the importance of independent media in times of war.
“You look at the Persian Gulf War –1991; Westinghouse owned CBS; General Electric owned NBC; Westinghouse, General Electric made most of the parts for most of the weapons in the Persian Gulf War,” she said. “Is it any surprise that what we saw on television was a military hardware show?
“No; we need something different. We need independent voices.”
Goodman also blasted the media’s broadcast techniques — such as a CNN anchorwoman covering herself with ashes from the fallen World Trade Center for dramatic effect– and distortion of how people feel about America invading Iraq.
“I believe right now, well over half the population of this country is not for the bombing of Iraq — not for a U.S. invasion — and yet we hear the opposite,” she said.
A recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows 59 percent of Americans “generally” support war in Iraq.
Besides accusing major press outlets of distortion and drama tactics, Goodman also blamed them for leaving out events she believes should be disclosed, such as a recent car bombing in Yemen.
“We do have a way to get the word out, and that is to take on the media in the same way we take on other institutions in the government,” she said.
Lindorff also spoke on his experiences investigating the war on terror. He told Saturday’s audience about how he signed up for the Terrorist Information Prevention System, or TIPS, which was a federal program that encouraged Americans to report suspected terrorists. Lindorff said when he called the tip line provided by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft’s office, it turned out to be the number for the show “America’s Most Wanted.”
It was “one of those things when you’re a journalist and you say, ‘Oh God, this is great,’” he said.
The weekend speeches were not all talk, however.
Folk musician and political comedian Dave Lippman, who calls himself the founder of the “national association of investigative songwriters,” played guitar and sang comedic songs Saturday about the USA PATRIOT Act and the Bush administration.
The audience laughed and clapped as Lippman played “The 12 Days of Bushmas” and a song about the World Court.
“How many nightclubs can you go to and hear a song about the World Court?” he said. “This is the best nightclub in town, right here.”
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