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Katie Fleming

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Katie Fleming (Boulder, CO)

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What does this mean for the media landscape in Colorado?

By Katie Fleming - Feb 27th, 2009 at 12:15 pm EST

Statement on the Closing of the Rocky Mountain News

Jenny Rose Flanagan, Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause

Denver—It’s a sad day in Colorado. Over the last 150 years, the Rocky Mountain News has established a strong tradition of reporting on the local issues that matter to Coloradans. From award-winning investigative reporting to their distinctive political perspective on the editorial pages, the Rocky has been a consistent voice on the issues of the day.

While we will mourn the loss of the Rocky, we are troubled by what this loss means for the future of journalism in Colorado and beyond. The Rocky Mountain News is not the first newspaper to announce plans to close in recent months, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last. The Rocky’s closure is more than the loss of a single newspaper, it’s just one example of a failing model for the news industry. Although print media has become less popular, the desire—and need—for diverse and independent journalism has not.

An informed citizenry requires a diverse and independent media. Newspapers have long been the medium to connect neighbors, inform communities, and give us the information necessary to hold government leaders accountable. As more Coloradans choose to get their news online, we must ensure that the news they get continues to meet the standards set by the Rocky Mountain News and other print media.

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Rally for Journalism

By Katie Fleming - Feb 26th, 2009 at 1:48 pm EST

The Rocky Mountain News is in trouble, after 150 years. So much trouble, in fact, that they could make the announcement to close any day. Journalism is in crisis not just in Colorado, but around the country.

IWantMyRocky.com, Colorado Common Cause, and many others are coming together to speak out for the Rocky Mountain News and good journalism everywhere.

What: Rally to support Rocky Mountain News

Where: Outside Denver Newspaper Agency at 101 W Colfax Ave.

When: Sunday, March 1st

Time: 11:30AM

The story of the Rocky's demise should put us all on alert to the threat to journalism at large. While newspaper readership is on the rise, we are changing the ways we consume it. Our centers for good investigative reporting are not being supported to do their important work.

We need more voices fighting for the independent reporting that is the bedrock of our democracy. Without good reporters, we will no longer be able to hold power accountable.

Now more than ever, we need professional journalism to guide us and watchdog powerful interests. Information is power!

Please join us this Sunday.

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Young people are impulsive and lazy

By Katie Fleming - Jun 23rd, 2008 at 2:34 pm EDT

This is what I continue to hear from people in my own world and in the media.

Our youth holds the hope, creativity and energy that we need in this moment in history.

Check out this great example:

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Half the Story

By Katie Fleming - Jun 19th, 2008 at 5:09 pm EDT

In an article in The Denver Post yesterday, Aldo Svaldi laid out some interesting information about the reasons why our newspapers are slowly consolidating into a few large hands.

Print newspapers' advertising sales are expected to drop $4.7 billion this year, down to levels last seen in 1996, Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Ginocchio recently predicted.
. . .
Publishers can pursue several strategies to avoid default, including selling off assets, raising outside capital or cutting costs to boost their cash flow.

The second part of this story is the impact this kind of change has on democracy. As our newspapers, radio stations and TV stations have gone from many to few, so have the perspectives that are critical in a democracy.

Since 1995, the number of companies owning TV stations has gone down 40%. Since the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Clear Channel has been able to go from the previous 40 radio station limit to owning over 1,200 stations nationwide.

The result has been infotainment, less local news and much of the same pre-packaged content being consumed all over the country.

Although there are real economic reasons for these vast changes, diversity in media ownership has to be a priority.

Ownership limits have to be restored and communities need to find innovative ways to create and maintain local media.

This is where you do something about it.

Sorry for the cross-post.

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Senate votes to roll back media ownership rules

By Katie Fleming - May 20th, 2008 at 2:12 pm EDT

Last week the Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 28 that would nullify recent FCC rule changes that let Big Media get even bigger.

This is a great victory for democracy. Consolidation leads to fewer voices in the media, less local news coverage and a general disconnect between media and the people.

The media has to reflect our diverse society. A one way path of entertainment news and lackluster local coverage from large media conglomerates to the public can no longer be tolerated.
You can do something about it! Come to the first Boulder Media Task Force meeting this Thursday at 7pm at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center in Boulder.

For more info: www.ColoradoCommonCause.org

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Creating Journalism that Matters

By Katie Fleming - May 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pm EDT

In response to the rapidly changing media landscape, plans for "Creating A Journalism That Matters" will be the subject of a community forum.

Date: Tuesday May 6
Time: 7:30 to 9:00 PM
Location: Atlas Building Auditorium Room 100
University of Colorado, Boulder   Read More »

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Amy Goodman in Denver

By Katie Fleming - Apr 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm EDT

Amy Goodman is coming to Denver on Sunday to talk about her new book and support independent media in Colorado.

Please check it out and come by!   Read More »

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What is stop-loss?

By Katie Fleming - Apr 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pm EDT

I saw this movie Stop-Loss over the weekend and it blew me away. The term refers to what happens to a soldier after he/she has put in the contracted time and then is still sent back to war for more tours of duty. This is happening, presumably, because the Bush administration does not want to begin a draft. So in order to maintain troop levels, the same courageous men and women are being sent back, whether they want to or not.
These people signed up to serve their country, showing their honor with their actions. Are we serving them by dragging them back into combat after years of good service?
The Vietnam War became unpopular enough for people to stand up and speak out. Family members, friends, and acquaintances were being sent overseas, making the war closer to home for more people. With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, fewer families and communities of people are being directly affected by the tragedies of war, keeping the reality of these wars and their unconstitutionality just out of sight.
With the majority of the media that we consume consolidated into just a few hands (over 50 in 1983 and 5 right now), only a handful of people decide what we see, hear, and read about the war, perpetuating this problem of no information. If our local paper, TV station, magazines and even state level papers were independently controlled, just think of the diverse perspectives we would have access to!
I don’t want to read the same stuff that everyone in the country is reading. How are we to inform ourselves as responsible citizens if most of the media have exactly the same content?
These soldiers deserve to be heard. We owe it to them to learn of their sacrifice.
Tell the FCC you want diverse media, instead of corporate media. Tell your Congressmen to stop the FCC from allowing more consolidation. For more information, go to www.ColoradoCommonCause.org .

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Meet Jim Hightower this weekend!

By Katie Fleming - Mar 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm EDT

This Sunday, March 30th, Jim Hightower is coming to Ft. Collins!

Jim Hightower, a Texan born and bred, is a fiery and funny popular public speaker. Frequently appearing on television and radio programs, Jim brings a hard-hitting populist viewpoint and the credo: "You can fight the gods and still have fun."

Join Common Cause at noon at the New Belgium Brewery for good food, good beer, and great conversation.

At the event you'll hear Jim speak and have the opportunity to get a signed copy of his new book, Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go with the Flow!  Register now for the event.

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend so we can get an accurate head count for lunch. To sign up, call (303) 292-2163 or email Colorado@commoncause.org. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door. If you want to purchase a copy of the book in advance, $45.

Hope to see you there!

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The Digital Transition

By Katie Fleming - Mar 19th, 2008 at 10:39 am EDT

Many people don't know this yet, but on February 17, 2009 anyone with a TV that watches the regular broadcasting stations without cable or satellite will see blackness when they go to watch the news or their favorite TV show. Congress has mandated the broadcasters move to digital and free up the spectrum they were using for other new wireless enterprises.

The problem is that this transition means that an average of 15% of the population will have to buy a converter box for their old TV or buy a new one to get news, programming and emergency information. There is a campaign to educate people about the change and even a $40 coupon for the converter box for whoever wants one. But...no one is telling us about it.

The Colorado General Assembly had a joint resolution that encouraged more education for the transition, but many of the legislators felt the coupons were a corporate give-away and therefore did not support the education of Colorado on this issue.

While this may or may not be a valid point, the poorest people, minorities, people with disabilities and people in rural areas are the most affected by this lack of education. Call your state legislator and tell them that we don't want to leave our most needy out in the cold. Anyone should be able to turn on their TV for the news or emergency information, not only those that can afford cable.

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Participation Made Easy!!

By Katie Fleming - Mar 13th, 2008 at 1:20 pm EDT

Colorado Common Cause and the League of Women Voters are hosting Democracy Day at the Capitol in Denver tomorrow.
You can learn how to be an effective advocate and also learn just how accessible our legislators really are.
You will meet legislators and have discussion with them about money and politics, what we will experience during the next election and what the next steps will be to make sure that our legislators are not changing our district lines in order to be re-elected.
Register online at http://www.ColoradoCommonCause.org or give the office a call at 303.292.2163.

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