Mainstream media criticism has turned into an obsessive/compulsive activity for me since my discovery of independent media two and a half years ago. 

     I am adamant that the key to an informed citizenry and true democracy is a free press.  I find myself comparing what the mainstream press is reporting to what independent journalists are reporting and other such mundane tasks as counting the drugs being pushed during the prime time news hour. Viagra, Cialis, Wellbutrin, Ambien and Prevacid appear over and over again on a nightly basis.  I guess one would need antacids, sleep aids, antidepressants and drugs for erectile dysfunction if one were watching the mainstream news every night.

     That’s why last Saturday night I let my curiosity get the best of me and I decided to crash the Alaska Press Club annual awards dinner.  I was dying to see what stories and reporters would be honored during this gala event.  Originally, I had planned on attending because it was rumored that the Ester Republic might be receiving an award for running a story by a local, independent journalist, Dahr Jamail, who has spent months unembedded in Iraq.  Unfortunately, that was just a rumor.  I was disappointed but not surprised.

     While standing there listening to the 24 pages of headlines receiving awards, I realized my definition of newsworthy and the judges’ definition were quite different.  Don’t get me wrong, many reporters and their stories on topics like the high rate of cancer among the Alaska Native population, the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act in rural schools, AIDS, fifteen years after Exxon – Valdez oil spill, bullying and its impact were recognized. 

     That made me happy.  I want to applaud Paula Dobbyn for her thorough expose of the Gregg Renkes fiasco.  Her story is just one that illustrates how the press can be effective in holding our government accountable and actually making a positive impact (Renkes’ resignation).  

      Story titles like “Porky and the Volcano” and “Sen. Stevens brings home the bacon for UAF” (tell me something I don’t know) - made me wonder a bit.  When I look at the panel of judges for these awards, every single one is an esteemed journalist living and working in another state (http://www.alaskapressclub.org ).  I did not see one citizen, also known as consumers these days, represented as a judge.  Hmmmmm.  It seems to me it would be more important to find out what people have to say about what they read, listen to and view than what fellow professionals might have to say.

     So, why am I feeling so critical?  Well, I feel like many local, not to mention national stories could have been reported and honored  - but haven’t.  I’m not sure why that is.  I am so naïve when it comes to how editors and producers decide what makes the grade for sharing with the public.  How do they decide what is newsworthy?  Is it driven by the government and the market?  I’m trying not to be too cynical about the bottom line and I’m hoping this article will stimulate some discussion about that. 

     I believe many stories were missing from that prestigious list – like:

* The missile defense launch sites in Alaska and the fact that land on Ft. Greeley is highly contaminated with radioactive waste that has not been cleaned up and they plan on launching missiles soon.

* Children from the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta suffering from a mysterious collection of symptoms with such a frequency, doctors have coined the diagnosis “Yukon Kuskokwim Syndrome”

* The thousands of toxic waste sites in Alaska and the slow clean up

* Election fraud in Ohio and Florida

* Illegal occupation of Iraq

* PATRIOT Act

* How environmental protections are being gutted by the current administration

* The impact of Free Trade of Americas Act and the impact of globalization to developing countries and the US

* How China and Japan own 60% of our treasury bonds

     I understand our local reporters have a responsibility to focus on local events.  However, I believe it is also their responsibility to report stories the general population of Alaska may not be exposed to because of our remote geographical situation. 

     We need to remember that we own the airwaves and the press has a responsibility to inform us first and then address entertaining us.  Don’t be afraid to email editors and producers with requests for coverage on topics that are important to you.  We can’t continue to let the corporate agenda and government be the dominant influences to the media.

     We can review corporate charters for media groups and examine their performance and compare it to what their charter requires relating to serving the public – or whether that is even addressed.  We can contact the FCC and question license renewals for stations that consistently fail to inform the public in a nonbiased manner.  With over 95 percent of the networks being owned by only six global corporations, we must take back the media.  The survival of our ideal of a democracy demands it.  But, wait a minute, maybe most Americans enjoy living in this fascist nation…Who am I to be promoting a democracy?

Katy Parrish is a freelance writer and media activist who can be reached at takebackthemedia@hotmail.com.