Network Conference Tackles the Right-Wing Media
The Network has a growing concern about the rightward shift of the media, especially the right-wing's domination of AM radio. On November 1-2, the Network examined this problem at its annual conference, titled The Myth Makers: The Right Wing and the Media.
The conference began on Friday night with Peter Werbe's presentation "Is there Life after Rush Limbaugh?" Werbe is a nationally-syndicated talk show host, and one of the only progressive voices found on the AM dial. Werbe discussed how liberals are "people of the circle" who are concerned with community, equality and diversity. According to Werbe, this mindset flies in the face of the hierarchical system that dominates society. He lamented that too many Americans sit at home watching television and allow the media and government to make decisions for them. He urged people to stand up for what they believe in and disregard the right's propaganda that liberals are a minority. After all, Werbe says, Al Gore received more votes than George W. Bush in the 2000 Presidential Election. Werbe is part of I.E. America Radio Network, and his show can be heard on Helena's KCAP radio.
The conference continued all day Saturday with workshops. Topics included the media's portrayal of the working poor, along with its role in waging war. Other workshops dealt with the FCC, hate radio in Montana, and international human rights, among other topics.
Saturday afternoon began with a keynote by University of Montana Journalism Professor Dennis McAuliffe. McAuliffe is also involved with the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute that trains students of color to work in daily newspapers. McAuliffe's presentation focused on the lack of coverage given to Indian issues and criticized the media for treating Indians as cultural curiosities and/or problem people. Even when Indian issues are covered, McAuliffe said the media rarely talks to Indian people.
The Myth Makers concluded with a panel comprised of Montana's independent newspapers. Representatives from the Queen City News, Billings Outpost, Missoula Independent and Butte Weekly discussed how and why their papers were started. Moderated by Nathaniel Blumberg, former dean of the University of Montana's Journalism School, the panel also discussed how corporate-owned chains of newspapers have affected the quality of news coverage by the media.