EDITORIAL OPINION -

The New Progressive Movement
and Media Diversity

by Peter Phillips

 

The Progressive Movement emerged over 100 years ago, as a counter-movement to industrialization, business concentration, corruption, and wealth inequality. As a result numerous changes occurred including political reform, rights of recall, city planning/zoning laws, content label laws, labor/worker safety laws, and the recognition that poverty was structured by society and required safety net support for the families affected. The Progressive Movement also included the creation of schools of journalism, whereby journalists were trained to present objective accounts of current events and address the many issues of power and inequality in society. At the turn of the century most cities had several newspapers, and the diversity and ethics of journalism made for lively coverage and scoops on socio-political issues.

People today share many of the common values associated with the Progressive Movement a century ago. Due process, grassroots democracy, freedom of information, equality, and human rights remain strong values among working people in the United States and concerns regarding government/business corruption, globalization, international exploitation, and the loss of individual freedoms are present throughout the country. Missing today however is journalistic coverage of the reasons and events underlying the concerns of working people. 98% of the cities in the U.S. have one daily newspaper and these are increasing owned by corporate chains. Gone is a diversity of news sources and in their place monolithic corporate systems offer entertainment/celebrity news and infomercials.

KPFA and a small handful of alternative independent news sources are some of the few exceptions to a news system that has made Americans the best entertained least informed citizenry in the world.

Yet some hope remains, The New Progressive Movement emerging in the U.S. had its teaparty in Seattle, its Concord in Washington D.C., and plans numerous actions in the immediate future. A powerful and unique feature of this new movement is the formation of independent media centers during each of the actions and the coordinated release of a diversity of news and information to working people throughout the country.

Independent media and the new progressives realize that political reform will not emerge without media reform. The New Progressive Movement (NPM) in the U.S. is about information and news. News that will give heart to the continued manifestation of progressive values and the democratic building of systems that support these values. NPM is about unfiltered news and ideas drifting in the consciousness of working people from a diversity of sources. NPM is about empowerment and a belief and trust of the people united.

Supporting independent media and KPFA’s freedom is immediate political action to which we can all engage. Lets cheer, checkbook, and rebuild media diversity for ourselves and the 7th generation. Doing so can save our hearts and our planet.

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