On August 21st, I attended a media ownership meeting at the Albuquerque office of Representative Heather Wilson. The meeting was organized by Free Press. Four people from Public Access Channel 27, Common Cause, and other organizations in Albuquerque attended the meeting to discuss media consolidation and ownership with one of Rep. Wilson’s local staff. We urged Rep. Wilson to support the Resolution of Disapproval (H.J. Res 79) which would prohibit one company from owning a broadcast station and a major daily newspaper in the same market. The good news is that the Resolution of Disapproval has already passed through the Senate.

Each of us brought our own voice and perspective to the issue. I mentioned the lack of diverse voices both on camera and behind the scenes and cited Free Press' study Out of the Picture 2007: Minority & Female TV Station Ownership in the United States as evidence of this in news media. Media consolidation affects not only who we see in the media and how they are represented, but also who is behind the scenes producing what we see, read, and hear. It is all connected. If more cross-ownership occurs, it will likely diminish further the voices of underrepresented communities in mainstream media. Although it is uncertain which way Rep. Wilson will vote on this issue, it was exciting to meet others who are concerned about media consolidation and doing great work in Albuquerque.

For more information on the Resolution of Disapproval go to: www.stopbigmedia.com

Jessica Lopez is NMMLP’s Associate Program Director

New Mexico is once again considered a battleground state in the 2008 Presidential Election. Simon McCormack of the Weekly Alibi newspaper in Albuquerque recently published an article about the attention the state is receiving from both the Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns.

Below are the first couple paragraphs of the article and an excerpt of New Mexico Media Literacy Project’s take on the attention New Mexicans are receiving. To read the entire article please visit the Weekly Alibi online.

Man the Battle Stations: Presidential candidates staff N.M. outposts

By Simon McCormack
Sen. Barack Obama swung through Albuquerque on Monday to talk health care, saying his policies would be similar to Gov. Richardson’s proposal for New Mexico. Sen. Hillary Clinton stopped in Española on Sunday to rally for Obama. Sen. John McCain was set to stump in Las Cruces on Wednesday.

These visits aren’t the only sign that the national contenders are taking the state seriously. There are at least 23 others. 

Getting Past the Hype
Christie McAuley, director of curriculum development for the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, says the focus is a double-edged sword. While she’s excited the state is getting so much attention, McAuley says the numerous negative TV ads for both candidates could discourage people from voting. “All the attacks have the potential to wear people down and create apathy among voters,” she says. “When there's apathy, fewer people go to the polls.”

According to McAuley, some political theorists say this type campaign strategy is especially common when the race is close. “Persuading people not to vote for your opponent is often easier than persuading them to vote for you,” McAuley says.

Cutting through the political rhetoric is a challenge, but McAuley says it’s the only way to find the truth. “If people really want to know the issues, they should take time to read, listen to, watch and sort through all of the information on the candidates,” McAuley says. “The best way to get facts is to steer clear of the 30-second sound bites and the attack ads that dominate the election landscape.”

On medialiteracytoolbox.com, you can preview the media examples in each kit, and see sample pages of the discussion and activity guides.

Most kits can be used in a single class session or workshop, and they cost just $14.95. 

The new website also offers several free kits, including Media Literacy Concepts & Skills, Food Marketing & Nutrition, and Media Activism.

Several of the media literacy kits initially offered on the site are included on NMMLP’s new Media Literacy Toolbox DVD-ROM.  But you can also download some brand-new kits, including Reality TV and Censorship, only available on medialiteracytoolbox.com.

We’ll be creating and posting new media literacy kits on a regular basis.  To receive email notifications when new kits are available, special offers, tips on doing media literacy and more, just sign up to receive our Toolbox Alerts.

We’ve been working on the new website for several months, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer new media literacy resources online.  Please browse the new website and let us know what you think by posting a comment in our Discussion Forum.  And if you like the site, please tell a friend about it!

New Mexico Media Literacy Project continues to expand its reach nationally and internationally. Here is a look at where staff have been recently and where we will be in upcoming weeks:

NMMLP Executive Director Andrea Quijada will be presenting on a panel regarding the connection between alcohol and tobacco addiction at the 6th Annual National LGBTQ Tobacco Summit on September 22-23 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Safe and Drug Free Schools and the Anchorage School District will once again bring Quijada to Anchorage, Alaska for five days of training from September 29th to October 3rd. Omar Ahmed and Paula Williams joined Quijada in 2007 as NMMLP provided a weeklong training for teachers and students in Anchorage.

Quijada recently returned from the state of Oklahoma for the second time in a year, as she conducted a three-day catalyst training for the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Students Working Against Tobacco in Oklahoma City on August 20th-22nd.

Check back with NMMLP to see if we are coming to a community near you, or invite a speaker to your school, organization or community.