Free Press Hosts National Conference for Media Reform

MINNEAPOLIS -- On June 6-8, a broad array of policymakers, scholars, media producers, grassroots activists and concerned citizens will gather in Minneapolis for the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform. This landmark event -- hosted by Free Press at the Minneapolis Convention Center -- will bring together growing movement to create a more accountable, democratic and diverse media.

"Decisions in the next few years will result in profound changes to the media landscape," said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press. "The National Conference for Media Reform takes these critical media policy debates out from behind closed doors in Washington -- and puts them into the public arena where they belong. This event highlights the movers and shakers in independent journalism, media accountability and the fight for the free and open Internet."

More than 250 presenters are featured at the National Conference for Media Reform. Among them:

• Legendary journalists and modern-day muckrakers like PBS broadcaster Bill Moyers, former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and author Naomi Klein.


• Political leaders and policymakers including Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Reps. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), and FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein


• Internet visionaries and new media innovators like Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law, Tim Wu of Columbia Law, Arianna Huffington of HuffingtonPost.com, and Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake.com.


• Civil rights leaders and social justice activists like Kim Gandy of the National Organization for Women, Van Jones from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Alex Nogales of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood from the Hip Hop Caucus.


• Music, film, and independent media makers like radio host Davey D, Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films and Greg Watkins of AllHipHop.com.

Sessions will cover a diverse range of key media and technology policies including: media ownership, the future of the Internet, war coverage, public broadcasting, media and elections, copyright, the First Amendment, online activism, ethnic media, and dozens more.

The full schedule of events -- including more than 75 panels, workshops and films -- is available at http://www.freepress.net/conference/program.

Live streaming of plenary sessions, audio from all panels and workshops, updates and announcements can be found at www.freepress.net/conference.

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Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at www.freepress.net