Activism

Airline and Online Lobbying on U.S. "Card Check" Bill

by Diane Farsetta — April 1, 2009 - 11:49am

In the battle over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would make it easier for workers to join a union, "both the U.S.

Main Source: 
PR Week, March 20, 2009

Afghan Escalation OK with MoveOn, Anti-War Insiders

by John Stauber — March 29, 2009 - 8:07am

Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent notes that "President Obama’s announcement today of an escalation in the American presence in Afghanistan is being met with mostly silence - and even some support - from the most influential liberal groups who opposed the Iraq War. ... MoveOn.org ...

Main Source: 
The Plum LIne Blog, March 27, 2009

White House, HCAN, Ignore the Single Payer Option

by John Stauber — March 25, 2009 - 6:28pm
  • Topics: Activism, Health, Lobbying

    • Most western democracies guarantee their citizens a right to medical services through their own version of government managed single payer health care. But such a system has been attacked in the US as "socialized medicine" since before the 1950s especially by lobbyists for the insurance and drug industries who would see their profits decline. Although Barack Obama was elected on a health care reform platform, his version ignores single payer. Nor is single payer advocated by his allies in the well-funded coalition called Health Care for America Now, composed of MoveOn, USAction, ACORN, Americans United for Change, the unions SEIU and UFCW and other liberal heavy hitters. Journalist Russell Mokhiber, founder of the new group Single Payer Action, notes that no advocate of a single payer system was invited to the recent White House summit on health care reform. Only protests by Progressive Democrats of America and others won an invitation for Congressman John Conyers, sponsor of the United States National Health Care Act: H.R.676. Mokhiber quotes Dr. David Himmelstein of Physicians for a National Health Program: “The President once acknowledged that single payer reform was the best option, but now he’s caving in to corporate health care interests and completely shutting out advocates of single payer reform," even though "the majority of Americans favor single payer, and it’s the most popular reform option among doctors and health economists."

    Anger Management

    by Sheldon Rampton — March 21, 2009 - 3:00pm

    Harvard Law School is hosting seminars in April and November to teach "Public Relations, Communications and Media Strategies for Dealing With an Angry Public." They'll be teaching techniques for dealing with people who "are angry because you've let them down" or who "want to embarrass you publicly," as well as "environmental groups threatening you" over issues such as "the use and disposal of toxic materials." You can visit their website for details.

    Main Source: 
    Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School, March 2, 2010

    Multinational Corporations' New World Water

    by Diane Farsetta — March 19, 2009 - 11:40am

    The fifth World Water Forum, in Istanbul, Turkey, is titled "Bridging Divides for Water." It's an ironic choice, writes Mark Hays, as the corporations steering the Forum "have a stake in maximizing profits from water services delivery and the current global water crisis." The Forum is organized by the World Water Council, "an organization founded, led and influenced by transnational corporations, international financial institutions an

    Main Source: 
    AlterNet / Corporate Accountability International, March 16, 2009

    Take This Job and Love It

    by John Stauber — February 23, 2009 - 5:49pm
  • Topics: Activism, Democracy, Media

    • Sixteen years after founding the Center for Media and Democracy and our publication PR Watch, I'm moving on this June to new challenges. The search for my replacement began last week, and we hope that by summer CMD will have a new executive director. I believe that CMD needs a high-energy executive director especially skilled at taking us to our next level of success. At age 56 I want a less demanding life with more personal time.

    Organizing for (Obama's) America

    by John Stauber — January 25, 2009 - 11:40pm

    The New York Times examines Organizing for America, the latest incarnation of President Barack Obama's unprecedented and many millions-strong netroots "army of supporters talking, sending e-mail and texting to friends and neighbors as they try to mold public opinion.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, January 26, 2009

    Where To for Obama's E-Army of Online Footsoldiers?

    by John Stauber — December 25, 2008 - 9:43am

    Ari Melber of The Nation adds his thoughts to growing speculation about the future role of Barack Obama's unprecedented army of linked-in netroots supporters.

    Main Source: 
    The Nation online, December 23, 2008

    Corporations Bottle Up Their Water Conference

    by Diane Farsetta — December 11, 2008 - 5:04pm

    The "Corporate Water Footprinting" conference in San Francisco December 2 and 3 had a small public component: "a presentation by Nestle on assessing water-related risks in communities, Coca-Cola's aggressive environmental water-neutrality goal, and MillerCoors' plan to use less water to make more beer," reports Amanda Witherell.

    Main Source: 
    San Francisco Bay Guardian, December 10, 2008

    The 2008 Falsies Awards: In Memory of the First Casualty

    by Diane Farsetta — December 10, 2008 - 5:07pm
  • Topics: Activism, Iraq, Election 2008, Global Warming, International, Media, Propaganda, Public Relations, U.S. Government

    • There's nothing quite like a hotly contested election. The candidates have their devoted supporters and angry detractors. Then there are vigorous debates over the issues, while some people question the integrity of the entire process.

    We speak, of course, of the Falsies Awards.

    This year marks the Center for Media and Democracy's (CMD's) fifth annual Falsies Awards. The Falsies are our attempt to shine an unflattering light on those responsible for polluting the information environment over the past year. We're happy to report that more people -- nearly 1,450 -- voted in this year's Falsies survey than ever before! We're also bestowing special recognition on one of this year's "winners."

    Falsies recipients can collect their prizes -- a pair of Groucho Marx glasses, our two cents and a chance to atone for their spinning ways by making a detailed public apology -- by visiting CMD's office in Madison, Wisconsin. This year's Gold and Silver Falsies go to masters of war deception, while the Bronze Falsie recognizes a massive greenwash campaign. The first-ever Lifetime Achievement Falsie goes to a serial corporate front man, while a determined (if at times laughable) attempt at nation re-branding wins dishonorable mention. Then there are the Readers' Choice Falsies and Win Against Spin Awards, nominated by our survey participants.

    Syndicate content