Category Archives: Iowa in the News

Media Consolidation is Threatening Our Democracy

Posted on September 19, 2005 by bfiacarolinevernon

  Media Consolidation is Threatening Our Democracy by Caroline Vernon and Amanda Ballantyne – freepress.net Do you want the media to do a better job of covering issues you care about? Do you want more quality journalism? Are you wondering … Continue reading →

Posted in Calls to Action, Corporate Greed, How You Can Help, Iowa in the News, Local Events, Main Page, Media Bias, Progressive Community | Comments Off on Media Consolidation is Threatening Our Democracy

Evolution-Schmevolution: So-Called ‘Intelligent Design’ Being Taught at ISU

Posted on September 17, 2005 by Trish Nelson

 Evolution-Schmevolution:  So-Called 'Intelligent Design' Being Taught at ISU The Des Moines Register  By Lisa Livermore Ames, Ia. — Tom Ingebritsen is a science professor who leads a small class where he pushes a hot button at the Iowa State University … Continue reading →

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Steve King: Having It Both Ways

Posted on September 13, 2005 by bfiachadthompson

Steve King: Having It Both Ways There seems to be an odd theme in the “conservative camp” these days that is boiling to the surface in the aftermath of Katrina: What's Good Enough For Me, Isn't Good Enough For Thee … Continue reading →

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Vote for Dave Loebsack for DFA Endorsement!

Posted on September 13, 2005 by Trish Nelson

  Vote for Dave Loebsack for DFA Endorsement! Democracy for America Hey Bloggers! Here’s your chance to throw your weight around.  Congressional Candidate David Loebsack is running against Jim Leach in the Second District and is seeking an endorsement from … Continue reading →

Posted in Calls to Action, Candidates, Iowa in the News, Main Page, Progressive Community | 1 Comment

Media Reform: Help IBLTV Stop Ownership Expansion – Sign the Petition Now

Posted on September 12, 2005 by Trish Nelson

  Media Reform:  Help IBLTV Stop Ownership Expansion – Sign the Petition Now Iowans for Better Local TV IBLTV is sponsoring a citizen's petition to advocate better local broadcast television. Please add your voice by signing our petition, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Calls to Action, How You Can Help, Iowa in the News, Main Page, Media Bias, Progressive Community | Comments Off on Media Reform: Help IBLTV Stop Ownership Expansion – Sign the Petition Now

Your Second Priority

Posted on September 10, 2005 by Trish Nelson

Your Second Priority

NicholasJohnson.org

Nick Johnson (pictured above) was formerly an FCC Commissioner and Iowa City School Board member and now teaches at the University of Iowa College of Law.  These are his remarks to the Iowa City Federation of Labor Labor Day Picnic, September 5, 2005


“Whatever is your first priority, your second priority has to be media reform.”

I've been saying that to gatherings of labor, and other progressive organizations, for 40 years now.

Your first priority may be a fairer shake for labor. Healthcare for Iowans. Rights for women and minorities. Improvements in local schools, or the environment. Electing your candidates to public office.

Whatever is your first priority, you have little hope of making any progress with it if you can't get media coverage – fair and favorable media coverage.

For no group is this more true than for labor.

“Yeah, so what else is new?” I hear you say.

I'll tell you what's new.

For the first time in the history of Iowa, so far as I know, two currently sitting commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission – Michael Copps and Jon Adelstein – are coming to Iowa City because they want to hear from you.

The national organization Free Press is seeing to it that Wednesday, October 5th, a month from today, probably at the IMU, hundreds of Iowans will be coming forward to tell the FCC what they think about our local media.

There are petitions that give you a chance to participate. The petitions ask the FCC to at least hold hearings before automatically granting license renewals to Iowa's television stations.

All those Iowa stations have to file for renewal by October 1st. If their licenses are renewed they will be able to keep up what they've been doing for another 8 years.

Meanwhile, a local group called Iowans for Better Local Television,  and anyone else in the state, has from now until the end of December to get comments and petitions to the Commission. IBLTV's Web site actually lets you sign the petition online.

So why should labor care?

You can probably answer that better than I.

 – When did you last see a documentary favorable to organized labor on local television?


Continue reading →

Posted in Calls to Action, How You Can Help, Iowa in the News, Jobs, Labor, Local Events, Main Page, Media Bias, Progressive Community | Comments Off on Your Second Priority

Hurricane Evacuees Arrive in Iowa

Posted on September 9, 2005 by bfiachadthompson

Hurricane Evacuees Arrive in Iowa From the Des Moines Register: About 200 people or more evacuated from areas hit by Hurricane Katrina will arrive in Des Moines today, state officials say. The first group 18 evacuees from New Orleans arrived … Continue reading →

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Iowa to Accept Storm Victims

Posted on September 3, 2005 by bfialindathieman

Iowa to Accept Storm Victims by Mike Owen, West Branch, Iowa Iowans should be proud to have Governor Vilsack speaking for them about the state's interest in helping up to 5,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina relocate to our state. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Posts, How You Can Help, Iowa in the News, Jobs, Local Events, Main Page, National News | Comments Off on Iowa to Accept Storm Victims

Speaking Truth to Power

Posted on September 3, 2005 by Trish Nelson

Speaking Truth To Power The Prairie Progressive – A Newsletter for Iowa's Democratic Left by Clara Oleson Minnette Doderer was the political mother of the second wave of feminism in Iowa and defined feminist electoral politics in Iowa for decades. … Continue reading →

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IOWA’S NEW BOHEMIA SOLAR PROJECT

Posted on August 28, 2005 by bfiamollyreagan

Iowa's New Bohemia Solar Project by Cliff Day A group of enthusiastic volunteers recently completed installation of the LARGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY EVER CONSTRUCTED IN IOWA (7,200 Watt) in the New Bohemia neighborhood of Cedar Rapids (3rd Street and 10th Avenue … Continue reading →

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