The New Mexico Department of Health's Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program (TUPAC) has selected a television spot produced in the 2006-2007 Talk Back to Big Tobacco! Script & Storyboard Contest for commercial broadcast in New Mexico.

The TV spot, "Where Is Your Money Going?" was written by Amanda Daugherty, Krystal Lavender, Amanda Lopez, Angelica Martinez, Griselda Orrantia, and Lynda Ramirez.  The six authors wrote the winning storyboard in Fall 2006 in a filmmaking class taught by Theresa Parks at Tatum High School in Tatum, New Mexico.  The young writers will share a payment of $5,000.00 for the rights to their storyboard.

Four youth producers at Albuquerque Community Access Channel 27 -- Autumn Chacon, Zack Freeman, Tamarind King, and Ashley Leatherman -- produced the TV spot starring Joseph Taylor Flores. They will share an additional $5,000.00 for the broadcast rights to their work.  TUPAC is also paying $5,000.00 to Albuquerque Community Access Channel 27.

The TV spot will be broadcast in New Mexico in late 2009. 

The Talk Back to Big Tobacco! Script & Storyboard Contest is sponsored by NMMLP with support from TUPAC.  For more info, visit www.talkback.nmmlp.org

Last month, NMMLP taught seventeen girls in grades six through eight in the Girls’ Toolbox for Life class. This class is part of Albuquerque Academy’s Summer Academy, where students from ages four to eighteen descend on the campus from all over New Mexico to take classes and go to summer day camp. Girls’ Toolbox is comprised of three sections: experiential education, media literacy, and bullying and relationships.

NMMLP staff Christie McAuley and Jessica Collins co-taught the two-week media literacy portion of the course. The focus centered on media literacy and body image, with discussions about “What is beauty?” and “How does media influence me?” The girls deconstructed magazine ads, created counter-ads, and made a zine. The students also produced their own digital stories which are short videos using still images and narration. Their digital stories reflected on the topic of being a girl in our media culture. Through the insightful discussions and hands-on activities, it was another great year that encouraged girls to combine their critical thinking with media production to discover the power of their own voice.

JULY 31st DEADLINE: It’s not too late to apply for DTV converter box coupons! Eligible households may continue to apply for TV converter box coupons, until July 31, 2009. Applications for $40 dollar converter box coupons are accepted by phone (1-888-388-2009), by mail (PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208) and by fax (1-877-388-4632) or online at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.

Mailed applications must be post-marked by July 31, 2009. Please note that it takes roughly nine business days to process and mail coupons. So, apply today!

NO COST BOX: The Apex Digital Converter Box and the Venturer Digital Converter Box are both on sale at Target for $40. Target stores nationwide are offering these two no-cost boxes in stores only (not online). To find a Target in your area, click here. Feel free to share this information with members of your community and those who have not purchased their converter boxes yet.

Also, for a limited time, FreeTvSignal.com is offering a no cost converter box with a valid converter box coupon. Free shipping, too! Quantities are limited. No credit card required. Order a free converter box by going online or calling 561-572-2164.

FREE HOME INSTALLATION: The FCC has contracted with vendors to provide DTV assistance for consumers in need. FCC contractors are providing in-home DTV converter box installation assistance in communities throughout the country. Visit http://www.dtv.gov/dtv_contractors.html or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or for more information about how to schedule an appointment in your area.

NMMLP DTV SUPPORT: NMMLP has set up a DTV hotline at 505-828-3264 to collect your stories about the digital transition. This could include issues with the coupon program, converter box concerns, and general experiences with the transition process.

Our organization continues to provide assistance for the transition. Please visit the NMMLP website for more information on our involvement. NMMLP has been performing much of this work as a member of the Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) -- an emerging coalition of regional organizations working together to build a movement for media justice and communications rights.

MACCS Principal Glenna Voigt (second from left) is pictured with NMMLP staff at the event.

NMMLP is also happy to announce that staff will be teaching a media literacy class at MACCS this upcoming school year.

NMMLP staffers Omar Ahmed and Denis Doyon will host the Indy Media Show on Albuquerque’s Community Access Channel 27. This is the second appearance of NMMLP on the show, as Andrea Quijada and Jessica Collins hosted on June 19th.

The Indy Media Show is broadcast live in Albuquerque on cable channel 27 and is available to view in live streaming video at www.quote-unquote.org/channel27/index.html at 7 p.m. MST. Some content is also available on demand at www.viddler.com (sign-up is required).

The show will feature discussion on current media literacy and social justice issues. NMMLP staff guest host the Indy Media Show the third Friday of every month.

New Mexico Media Literacy Project may be visiting your area soon! Please contact us if you would like a presentation in your community. Our upcoming plans include:

July:
14-18, Detroit, MI: Allied Media Conference
17, Albuquerque, NM: NMMLP hosts Indy Media Show on Community Access Channel 27 at 7 p.m. MST. For live streaming video click here.
27-31, Jemez Pueblo, NM: New Mexico Multimedia Literacy Institute

August:
5-7, Chicago, IL: Youth Media Summit
10-11, Sioux Falls, SD: Midwest Rural Assembly
21, Albuquerque, NM: NMMLP hosts Indy Media Show on Community Access Channel 27 at 7 p.m. MST. For live online streaming video please click here.
26-29, Boston, MA: The National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC) 2009 Conference