Democratizing the media during the Olympics

The Vancouver Observer published an article regarding the types of tactics that are available to independent media at the time of the Olympics. The article interviews directors of AHA Media, Hendrik Beune and April Smith, and Vancouver Media Coop's, Franklin Lopez. It also interviews executive director of the W2 Media Arts Centre, Irwin Oostindie.

The article addresses how important it is for the public to have a voice during this time. Mainstream media will be focusing on the events themselves, while independent media will focus on the people.

The article also speaks to community television volunteer, Sid Tan. Tan addressed the current dilemma in community television:

The community trust of the right to broadcast is currently under the control of major cable operators in the country. Eight hundred million dollars in public money has been handed out to cable companies over the past 10 years, with approximately $60 million going to Rogers and Shaw in Metro Vancouver. And yet, these companies have little accountability to the community. Tan is dismayed, "There is no logic when community programming produced by volunteers is only available by subscribing to a corporate service."

The W2 Community Media Arts Centre will attempt to fill the gap. The centre will offer independent media journalists an array of media tools to aid the publication of their stories during the Olympics. The centre "will be operating as a multipurpose multi-platform media arts facility, including live performance, print, radio, television and new media."

Community media looks to document the voice of the people rather than the events of the Olympics.

Read the original article here.