WASHINGTON, DC – March 12 – On June 6-8, several thousand activists, journalists, scholars, policymakers and concerned citizens from across the country will gather at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform, hosted by Free Press. Now in its fourth installment, this unique event is the largest gathering of media reform advocates in the country.
“This is a critical year for our country – and the future of our media,” said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group that organizes the conference. “There’s a growing movement for better media in America that wants more quality journalism, a diversity of voices on the public airwaves, and a free and open Internet. After years of fighting to prevent a bad system from getting worse, the National Conference for Media Reform will focus on advancing bold visions for the future of the media and finding concrete solutions to get us there.”
Among the speakers already confirmed are legendary journalists Bill Moyers of PBS and Dan Rather, former anchor of CBS News; North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan; FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein; Arianna Huffington of HuffingtonPost.com; Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, co-hosts of Democracy Now!; Naomi Klein, author of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine; law professors Lawrence Lessig of Stanford and Tim Wu of Columbia; Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation; Malkia Cyril of the Center for Media Justice; Rev. Lennox Yearwood, CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus; and media scholar Robert W. McChesney, co-founder of Free Press.
Over three days, the National Conference for Media Reform will feature more than 60 panels focused on media policy, grassroots activism, journalism, civil rights and new technology. The Minneapolis event will build on the success of last year’s conference in Memphis, which was attended by nearly 3,500 people.
Press credentials for the National Conference for Media Reform are available to members of the media who will be covering the event.
Request press credentials by filling out the online application: http://free.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/NCMR08/NCMRPressApplication
There will also be a limited number of spaces available for radio programs that wish to broadcast live from the Minneapolis Convention Center. Broadcasters interested in joining “Radio Row” should contact Free Press at press@freepress.net.
Program updates, registration information and highlights from previous conferences can be found at www.freepress.net/conference.
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
CONTACT: Free Press Jen Howard, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, ext.22 or (703) 517-6273