As many here have noted, our media is dominated by a small group of very right-leaning mega corporations. There have been a variety of attempts to counter the noise machine. From the dedicated FlushRush type groups to our own home-grown radio programs here at DKos. We have daily diaries bemoaning MSNBC's schizophrenic 'liberal' mask and howling about GOP-TV's latest dangerous idiocy.
There's one media outlet, though, that I rarely see mentioned.
Free Speech TV
Free Speech TV is a national, independent news network committed to advancing progressive social change.
As the alternative to television networks owned by billionaires, governments and corporations, our network amplifies underrepresented voices and those working on the front lines of social, economic and environmental justice.
Reaching over 40 million US television households, we bring our viewers an array of daily news programs, independent documentaries and special events coverage.
Free Speech TV is one of the last standing national independent news channels.
As a nonprofit with freedom from corporate control and government pressure, we are uniquely positioned to elevate perspectives that often don’t break through the corporate media filter. We believe a more just and democratic world is possible when media empowers people with the information they need to fight for what matters.
Unfortunately, for all the success the FlushRush movement has had (and which I heartily applaud), there has been collateral damage done to progressive efforts to continue building our television and radio presence. Some advertisers are avoiding all talk format programming. This has cut into the resources needed to continue producing and disseminating factual content. So, since Free Speech TV is having their fund drive, it seemed like a natural step to ask this community to see what we can do to give a huge boost to the bottom line.
At first, I thought just a straight up appeal for a money bomb would be great. But, then my husband mentioned a matching challenge someone had done today. Now, I'm not quite sure how it could be arranged, but perhaps we could do an internal pledge to build up a 'kitty' and then use that figure as a challenge to the viewers/listeners to increase the donations further.
Remember, you would be helping to support:
Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman
The Bill Press Show
The Stephanie Miller Show
The Thom Hartmann Show
Ring of Fire
Uprising with Sonali
The David Pakman Show
Gay USA
plus, a variety of exclusive programming on current topics
The fund drive lasts through next week, so what I had in mind is something like picking one day next week for the matching challenge, which would give us a few days to gather our funds. Then, we let them know we have such and such amount and issue our challenge. If it's large enough and they promote it, it should generate double the amount in the end.
Their annual budget is under $3 million, only a third of which comes from contributions. We can get a lot of bang for our buck on the national stage.
Annual Income: $2,675,478*
Individual Contributions: 34%; $913,629
Foundation Grants: 64%, $1,719,867
Earned Income/In-Kind/Other: 2%; $41,982
Annual Expenses: $2,668,146*
Programming Services: 70%; $1,880,245
Management & General: 9%; $228,194
Fundraising: 21%; $559,707
Net Assets as of 06/30/2013: $831,978*
What about it, Kossacks? I'd love some feedback and suggestions on how to gather our resources in one easily transferable lump sum.