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The NYC Grassroots Media Conference: Coming Together For a More Democratic Media

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Posted on April 5, 2005

On April 9th and 10th, hundreds of students, activists, media makers, community workers and artists will come together at The New School University for the second annual NYC Grassroots Media Conference (GMC). This year's conference theme is "forging stronger connections between independent media and communities organizing around issues of justice and equality." The GMC grew out of public concerns regarding inadequate and irresponsible coverage by mainstream media. New Yorkers will converge this weekend to strategize about how to create a more democratic media -- a media that adequately represents the diversity within the NYC community.

Download the conference program and pre-register today!

The jam-packed conference weekend includes more than sixty workshops from do-it-yourself (DIY) media trainings and discussions, to panels and screenings. Each session will highlight strategies and media tools that can strengthen grassroots campaigns. With the goal of building the capacity of NYC activists, the conference will include trainings on how to document police brutality, how to effictively use community media, how to get your story covered by mainstream media outlets, how to self-distribute your media, how to fundraise and more.

An art exhibition and three mini film festivals highlighting work by NYC youth and independent media makers will take place throughout the weekend. The GMC remains committed to celebrating the accomplishments of local independent artists.

New York City has a flourishing youth activist community. To highlight their efforts, the conference has created a special Youth Track with dozens of workshops, screenings and youth led panels for young organizers and media makers. There will be a media production training especially for youth as well as a workshop on Digital Distribution co-presented by YMDi and MNN's Youth Channel. Other participating youth organizations include Educational Video Center, Ghetto Film School, Global Action Project, HarlemLIVE and RiseUp Radio/Radio Rootz. Examples of workshops include: "How to Start Your Own Website, Newspaper or Radio Program," How to Make Your Own Public Service Announcement," and "How to Get Involved with Hip Hop Activism and Freestyle Hip Hop for Social Change." The ambitious conference schedule is testament to the energy of the independent media community in New York. The impressive lineup of panelists and the overwhelmingly positive response from participants are significant indicators of the need for such a gathering. In the current media landscape of conglomeration, deregulation and misrepresentation, a conference of this kind is vital. Now you must be wondering "How did it all come together?"

The History of the NYC Grassroots Media Conference

I have been working at Paper Tiger Television (PTTV) since 2000. Paper Tiger TV is an open, nonprofit, volunteer video collective. PPTV produces and distributes public access series and media literacy/video production workshops. We host community screenings and conduct grassroots advocacy campaigns to challenge and expose the corporate control of mainstream media.

In the winter of 2003, PTTV was flooding with activity. Despite two years of budget cuts and diminishing funding to arts and media service organizations, our collective was producing an increasing amount of work. Paper Tiger was energized by the surge of action surrounding the war in Iraq and the subsequent military recruitment in low income communities. People were more hungry than ever for alternative news stories. Campaigns for a more democratic and deconsolidated media were gaining momentum, and the FCC's deregulatory rulings were being exposed and challenged. As the general American public was getting mobilized, it was glaringly clear that media activist leaders needed a forum to galvanize the independent media community.

The Radical Cheerleaders conduct a spirited workshop on cheering for social-issue causes.

In attempt to harness the enthusiasm of concerned media activists and producers, Paper Tiger joined with members of NYC Indymedia, Rooftop Films, Educational Video Center , Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Global Action Project, free103point9, Bands Against Bush, Youth Free Expression Network and The Point to plan the first convergence of community media makers in a decade.

Fueled by frustration and excitement, together we produced the first NYC Grassroots Media Conference in under four months with a budget of $2,700. Our efforts were propelled by the great unfulfilled need for a platform to share media making and literacy skills. We wanted to critically examine the role of media makers in social justice activism and ensure that independent media outlets were more inclusive of the diverse communities of New York City. Representatives from 100 local organizations welcomed over 160 presenters that were divided into three different conference tracks: media policy and history, do-it-yourself media making, and youth media.

The first annual conference provided an arena for independent media makers and activists to share resources, articulate goals and create concrete strategies for the future. After the conference, organizers forged a network that would effectively put our strategies in place. We called the network the Grassroots Media Coalition.

The Grassroots Media Coalition

The NYC Grassroots Media Coalition is a growing alliance of media makers, artists, independent media and community based organizations who are interested in working towards a more democratic media in NYC. As a first project, the Coalition created a collaborative Independent Media Center during the 2004 Republican National Convention. An infoshop and retrospective was set up in Tribeca to showcase the work and media coverage of NYC independent media makers. More than 600 independent journalists registered to use the facility throughout the convention week.

While members of the NYC Grassroots Media Coalition do not oppose all mainstream media outlets, they believe that there is need for increased regulation and a greater diversity of perspectives.

The continuing goals of the Coalition are to connect local producers and to aggregate production and distribution resources for independent media. The also plan to facilitate community dialogue, organize educational forums and provide tools for the creation of media advocacy projects. The Coalition believes it is neccessary to create a central location for media makers and activists to share information and maximize limited resources while avoiding the duplication of efforts.

How You Can Get Involved

As we move forward in cementing the Coalition, we are very interested in getting input from independent media makers, activists and community workers and to further grow and strengthen our partnerships. Contact us to learn more about the Coalition and to join the fight for a responsible and representative media. Be sure to attend the NYC Grassroots Media Conference April 9th and 10th, 2005 at the New School University. Visit us online to read the full conference program and to pre-register.

See you at the conference!

Jennifer Nedbalsky is an organizer for the NYC Grassroots Media Coalition, Development and Distribution Coordinator for Paper Tiger Television and an independent video maker.

MediaRights is participating in three events at the upcoming NYC Grassroots Media Conference!