News From Indpendent Arts & Media

[iam at lists.artsandmedia.net]

Dear Friends;

In May 2005, I was at the National Media Reform Conference in St.
Louis to present a Ford Foundation-sponsored report I had just
completed. The report called for supporting local media workers and
advocates to create a national coalition to increase access to media
and improve media content.

During the three-day event, I spent a lot of time listening to panel
discussions of the problems of media consolidation. I also met some
terrific people from North Carolina, Texas, Illinois and other places
all over the U.S. who are doing amazing work every day to make their
voices heard.

These one-on-one conversations inspired and motivated me.

Unfortunately, the panels did not. So much talking, so few practical
suggestions.

Frustrated, I walked out of Amy Goodman's presentation and ran into
Josh Wilson, handing out flyers for Newsdesk.org, a project of
Independent Arts & Media.

Instead of sitting in the big conference room listening to the
problem, he was inviting people to be part of the solution.

I was delighted to see him representing Independent Arts & Media at
the event. For me, IAM is a model of true media reform and arts
advocacy, because it focuses on people putting ideas into action:

        -- Instead of sitting around complaining about a
        lack of services and support for local artists, IAM
        board member Adam Myers helped bring together
        the Bay Area creative community to co-found the
        Expo for the Artist & Musician.

        -- Shocked by the media inattention to core issues
        behind September 11, IAM volunteer Jen Anderson
        (who later became Executive Director) started News
        You Might Have Missed, a weekly email newsletter
        summarizing important but overlooked news from
        around the worlds.

        -- Instead of battling media lobbyists over commercial
        news reform, Josh created the commercial-free news
        service Newsdesk.org.

I was already an IAM donor and volunteer, and was thrilled to join
their advisory board in May 2005 to help to promote and support these
vital programs.

When Jen stepped down as Executive Director in January, I offered to
become the Acting Executive Director. I am eager to work with Josh,
Adam, Jen and the rest of the IAM board and volunteers.

This is an exciting time for us. The Zellerbach Foundation and Theatre
Bay Area have provided a consultant, Ellen Sebastian Chang, to help
with our organizational development. IAM is also expanding its Board
of Directors to increase resources and represent the wide range of
artists and media workers we serve. The 7th annual Expo is coming up
on September 16 at SomArts in San Francisco. Newsdesk.org's Web
traffic is growing at a record pace -- enrolling more subscribers and
receiving more "hits" than ever.

IAM programs are very successful, but not yet financially sustainable.

IAM doesn't wait for media reform; we create our own media. We don't
wait for charitable foundations to put these important concerns on
their agenda; we draw our strength directly from the communities we
serve.

You, too, can be part of the solution. Support grassroots, independent
arts and media by donating your time and money to Independent Arts &
Media.

Your contributions will go directly to Newsdesk.org, News You Might
Have Missed, the Expo for the Artist & Musician, dialog and discussion
events, D.I.Y. workshops for independent artists and media workers,
and much more.

To volunteer, contact me at kari.gray at artsandmedia.net.

To contribute financially, you can make a tax-deductible donation
online or by mail:

        https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=695
        Independent Arts & Media
        PMB 821
        601 Van Ness Ave., Ste. E
        San Francisco, CA  94102

I look forward to working with you. Please contact me with any
questions, comments or suggestions.

Best regards,

Kari Gray
Acting Executive Director
Independent Arts & Media
www.artsandmedia.net

(415) 861-5302 w
(415) 786-9935 cel

Stay Up to Date on IAM Programs!
-IAM General Info
http://lists.artsandmedia.net/mailman/listinfo/iam

-Newsdesk.org/News You MIght Have Missed
http://lists.artsandmedia.net/mailman/listinfo/nymhm

-Expo for the Artist & Musician
http://lists.artsandmedia.net/mailman/listinfo/expo