Independent World Television

This is exciting. Exciting enough to bring me out of my summer session stupor and write a posting.

The dearth of global news in American media, coupled with the increasing corporatization of the same, is seen by many as a problem of epic proportions. As the decisions our government makes greatly affect the world outside as well as within our borders, the half-information our citizens are given does not foster the kind of debate necessary to make informed decisions about our future and that of the rest of the world.

Last year, the interns in the English Majors’ office were bemoaning this deficiency in our media and were inspired to publish the International Newsletter (recently renamed The Boylan Brief) in an effort to bring news of the world to students. Now the world of journalism is responding to the insufficiency with Independent World Television.

The goal of Independent World Television is to create an alternative news and current affairs network that is global in reach and free from corporate or government pressures. Their advisory committee reads like a who’s who of progressive activism and journalism. Such luminaries as Phil Donohue, Amy Goodman, Naomi Klein, Gore Vidal, Laura Flanders and and Lewis Lapham have banded together to shake up the world of investigative journalism to create a place where the truth is not tainted by governmental and corporate interests.

The creators were inspired by the 15-20 million people around the world who demonstrated against the Iraq war on Feb. 15, 2003. The network’s success depends on changing the economics of media, with an audacious plan to raise $25 million a year made up of $50 donations from half a million people around the world. Money from business, advertisers and government will be prohibited.

To check it out go to iwtnews.com and watch the video. I recommend you watch the full 15-minute version that is found in the lower right-hand corner of the page.

Hope is alive, people. Even if you don't have the dough to contribute right now, you should check this out and pass it on to everyone you know!