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The Power To Mis-Inform (7/98)

GREG GUMA June 3, 2005 GREG GUMA

The US press has finally admitted what many suspected: it’s lost its grip on reality and ethics. On the surface, the obvious example is CNN’s retraction last week of a story alleging US military use of nerve gas on defectors during the Vietnam War. This followed closely the Cincinnati Enquirer’s front page apology to Chiquita Brands for the use of stolen voice mail in a story questioning the company’s business practices,

And let’s not forget those complete fabrications. Patricia Smith, a 1998 Pulitzer Prize finalist, was recently forced to resign from the Boston Globe after making up people and quotations for four columns. Meanwhile, New Republic associate editor Stephen Glass was fired after confessing he’d "embellished” a story about computer hackers. Apparently, he’d already invented news in dozens of articles. Glass also used bogus quotes in a profile of Vernon Jordan published in George Magazine. read more

Standoff in Chiapas (3/98)

ROBIN FLINCHUM June 2, 2005 ROBIN FLINCHUM

Esperanza Aguilar Jimenez is a skinny seven-year-old, all legs and arms in a well-worn, carefully patched, poofy-skirt dress. She sits next to me on a dusty rock at the side of the road leading into Morelia, her village in the southernmost Mexican state of Chiapas. It’s mid-morning, and Esperanza ought to be in school. But all her teachers are gone. Fearing the imminent advance of the Mexican military, they packed themselves tightly into a little pickup and drove as quickly as they could down the deeply rutted road out of town. I know this because I watched them go. read more

Making Waves: Network News (09/03)

Super User June 2, 2005 Super User

Retreat Tackles Mission Control

In July, the Toward Freedom Board of Directors held a one-day retreat to redefine the organization’s mission and priorities for the coming years. Among the key topics were the relationship between TF’s primary publication and its various projects, as well as increasing the involvement of members and supporters. Led by consultant Rosi Gowdey, the board also covered fundraising, long-term strategic planning, and how to reach new constituencies. New vision and mission statements, currently being reviewed, are slated for adoption at the annual meeting later this year. read more

Editorial: Alternative Media Education (12/98)

Nancy Snow June 1, 2005 Nancy Snow

Years ago I remember a particularly influential professor who required that each student in his class volunteer or perform some community service as part of the course requirement. His explanation was simple: Students are idea-rich but experience-poor.

Now that I am a professor, I’m beginning to question his premise. I find that most of my college students are both idea- and experience-deprived. In fact, if I use a standard text, more often than not an outbreak of MEGO – My-Eyes-Glaze-Over – quickly overtakes the classroom. But one remedy I’ve found to that is the MEOW approach – My-Eyes-Open-Wide. And my most constant companion is alternative media. read more

September/October 2000, Deconstructing Media

Super User May 28, 2005 Super User

Click here to order this back issue of Toward Freedom’s print magazine.

Volume 49, Number5

Toward Freedom | Sept/Oct 2000 | Vol. 49, No. 5

Asia’s Distorted ImageExploiting Stereotypes to Subvert Societies- John Samuel Building Independent Media A Conference in VTBurlington – October 13-14 Ounce of Prevention Mainstream Journalists look at Conflict Resolution– Rita Colorito Editorial: Brave New Media World– Greg Guma

TOXIC LEGACIES
– Kids Victimized, Diamond Grab
MONEY TALKS
– Broken Promises on Debt Relief
ACTIVISM
– Changing the Focus on Human Rights
DEATH ROW
– An Inmate Looks Beyond Vengeance

Regime Change in Haiti (03/04)

GREG GUMA May 27, 2005 GREG GUMA

The first time the US intervened in Haiti, not many people noticed. Few journalists were on hand in 1915, and most newspapers were willing to accept the official version. According to President Woodrow Wilson, establishing a protectorate was part of a grand effort to halt a "radically evil and corrupting" revolution, support the "slow process of reform," and extend his policy of the "open door to the world."

But that was just the cover story. Actually, Wilson saw the island nation as a geo-strategic pawn in the build up to World War I; specifically, he was worried that Germany might take advantage of the local political turmoil to establish a military base in the hemisphere. He also had other, even stronger economic reasons to seize control of the country. read more