Join us from February 28-29, 2004, as hundreds of independent journalists, activists and media-makers gather at the New School University for the first-ever New York City Grassroots Media Conference. The two days of workshops, plenaries and hands-on activities are intended to:

* Promote awareness of grassroots media among the public

* Strengthen and unify independent media

* Create strong bonds between community groups and independent media

* Establish a grassroots media network in advance of the 2004 Republican National Convention

Scores of newspapers, magazines and zines, media collectives, video and filmmakers, web journalists and bloggers, artists, musicians, micro-broadcasters, and media rights organizations have already pledged their support and energy to organizing this conference. Preliminary estimates indicate more than 500 attendees for the event.

To ensure your attendance at this historic conference, register now at www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org. Space is limited!

There are literally thousands of grassroots media organizations based in New York City and throughout the country. Many are doing unique reporting on important issues that are ignored by the corporate media.

With the intensifying war in Iraq, the continuing assault on the poor and middle class, and the upcoming presidential election, the need for truly independent media is greater than ever. Recent deregulation attempts by the Republican-controlled FCC reveal that the profit-driven media may soon be even less diverse and less community oriented.

Only by creating media networks that are responsive to local communities can we counter the propaganda barrage that will accompany Bush's re-coronation next August in Manhattan.

Independent media makers and activists feel that it is time to combine our individual efforts to better serve local communities and to build democratic media. By working together, we hope to help provide better coverage of the issues and events that affect all of our communities.

The conference will feature panels presented by community organizers, youth media activists, labor reporters, media and arts organizations, authors, scholars, ethnic-based publications, independent music labels and world-renowned musicians. Speakers include author and activist Jeremy Glick, Rosa Clemente of WBAI and the ACLU, Hip Hop icon Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy, filmmaker Michael Eisenmenger, Tricia Wang of the National Association of Hip Hop and others.

More than 60 panels have already been confirmed, organized into three tracks:

* Policy and Advocacy

* Do-it-yourself and Skill-sharing workshops

* Youth media

Panels include:

The FCC Rulings & Media Policy: Professor Toby Miller, moderator
Activist Media & The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign: Peter Kinoy, Pamela Yates
Culture-Jamming 101: Carrie McLaren (moderator, Stay Free! magazine), Jonah Peretti, Carrie Moyer, Sue Schaffner, The Yes Men
The Origins of the Internet and The Emergence of 'Netizens': Ronda Hauben
Independent Hip Hop: All DEF JUX Artists, Hank Shocklee and others
Self-Determination and the Media: Mario Afrika, Rosa Clemente, Jeremy Glick, Kamel, Russel Shoatz and more
Preaching Beyond the Choir - Progressive Journalism and its Audience: Judith Pasternak
Media Literacy 101: Carlos Pareja
White Privilege & Independent Media: Jamie Mclelland
Public Access: Local and National Initiatives & Threats: Michael Eisenmenger
Free Speech at the Republican National Convention: The Role of Independent Media: The Brooklyn Rail
Video As An Activist Tool: Shormin Hossain
Puppets & Resistance: Aresh Jovadi, Daniel Land Levitsky
Youth Speak: NYC Media Makers Take on their Movement: Shawn Nublet, Obie, Nily Rozic, Dimali Slowe
Know Your Rights in Protest Media: NYC People's Law Collective, Robert Montemarano
Environmental Justice: UPROSE Youth Justice
DIY Radio Journalism For Youth: Mission Driven Reporting and Minidisc Basics - Kat Aaron, Jackson Alers, Nell Geiser, Saki Hall, Leanne Stahnke
Radio Lab: Sharing Frequencies: Sarah Lippek (moderator, free103point9), Professor Klystron, DJ AudioAstrology (PerfectRadio), Ryan Holsopple, and Angel Nevarez and Valerie Tevere (neuroTransmitter)
DIY Distribution 101: Shira Goldring (MediaRights.org)
Web Design for Artists: Kala Pierson (unfurl.org)
The ABC’s of Media Production: Renata Gangemi, Kelly Dolak, and Ruben Gonzalez (Professors of Communications at Ramapo College of New Jersey)
Graffiti on the Streets: ComieOne
Cartooning for a New World: Tom Hart
Zine-Making 101: Eleanor Whitney and Lauren Martin (NYC Arts-n-Crafts Skillshare)
Shake Your Pom Poms in the Face of Oppression - A Pom-Pom Making and Radical Cheerleading Workshop: NYC Radical Cheerleaders

To register go to www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org. Advanced registration is $20.

We hope you will join us for this important event!

Sincerely,

NYC GRASSROOTS MEDIA CONFERENCE

Organizing Groups: Paper Tiger Television, The Indypendent (the newspaper of New York City Indymedia), Bands Against Bush, NYU Oppositional Media Coalition, The Point, Rooftop Films, free103point9, Youth Free-Expression Network, La Lutta New Media Collective, Educational Video Center, Global Action Project.

Media Sponsors: The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, Satya Magazine, Altar Magazine, Clamor Magazine, Stay Free!Magazine, YMDI.org, Block Magazine, NYU Inc., Manhattan Neighborhood Network, WBAI, WNYC.

Patrons:

New School University Media Studies Program

The Nation

The Independent Press Association

Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Benefactors:

The Funding Exchange

Democracy Now!

The NYC Grassroots Media Conference is made possible by a generous grant from the North Star Fund.