Media activists from across the United States converged in San Diego last week for Media EmergenC, a convergence focusing on issues of corporate consolidation of the media as well as ways to build and strengthen the emerging independent and alternative media movement. The four-day event, hosted by the San Diego Independent Media Center and radioActive sanDiego incorporated speakers and panels of representatives from various independent media outlets including: Indymedia, Guerrilla News Network, Pacifica Radio, Prometheus Radio Project, Global Peace Solutions, Political Storm and several independent journalists.



Throughout the week, radioActive sanDiego provided live radio coverage, broadcasting from the location of the Saturday conference, taking calls from the street and interviewing media activists around the country. With the help of the Prometheus Radio Project, a number of radioActive journalists went into the NAB conference and interviewed industry executives and FCC officials.



Photos: Conference | March 1 | 2 | 3 Audio: Opening Night | Vinny 1 | 2 | 3 | March on the Media 1 | 2 | 3 | FCC Interview | NAB Attendees | Prometheus | Conglomco

Opening Wednesday, October 6 at Voz Alta with screenings of films by San Diego Indymedia, Hudson Mohawk IMC and Democracy Now, and San Diego's Media Arts Center, spoken word performances by Al Howard, Brujas y Bellas and the Anarchist Think Tank and an address from Byron Delear of Global Peace Solutions, Media EmergenC attracted well over 70 participants it's first evening.



Thursday took Media EmergenC out into the street to protest the National Assocition of Broadcaster's Marconi Awards ceremony. Media EmergenC participants handed out their own awards including awards for Most Racist, Homophobic and Misogynistic Broadcasting as well as Best Cheerleaders for War. the march gathered in front of the Manchester Hyatt where the NAB's Marconi Awards Ceremony was taking place and attracted the attention of numerous attendants to the Radio Road Show.



Following the second presidential debate on Friday, the Media EmergenC's Celebration of Independent Voices began with a short address from Anthony Lappe of Guerilla News Network and featured local San Diego musicians Los Able Minded Poets and members of Scarlet Symphony.



Media emergenC culminated in a day-long event at the World Beat Center featuring speakers ranging from Robert Horwitz, a professor at UCSD who specializies in the history of media consolidation to Davey D, a Hip-Hop DJ at Oakland's KPFA. Participants came together from Montreal, Philadelphia, New York City, Tempe, Los Angeles, and Northern California. Workshops throughout the afternoon focused on how participants can make their own media with presenters discussing: Pirate Radio, Internet Radio, Independent Journalism, the Public Access TV Model, Tactical Video, and Independent Film Making and Distribution. Over 100 people participated in Saturday's event which closed with dinner and a set from the Kiss Ups, a hyper-pop band from New York. Speakers, panelists and workshop facilitators are listed below:



Robert Horwitz, UCSD

Sonali Kolhatkar, KFPK, Los Angeles

Daniel Price, author of Slick, Los Angeles

Liam Scheff, Freelance Journalist, NYC

Alternate Focus, San Diego

radioActive Radio, San Diego

Free Radio San Diego

San Diego IMC

Arizona IMC, Tempe

Gababout Film Festival, New York

Davey D, KPFA, Oakland

Hannah Sassaman, Prometheus Radio Project, Philadelphia





Films screened include:

The Miami Model, FTAAIMC.org

The Fourth World War, Big Noise Tactical

Join the Resistance, Fall in Love, Submedia TV

Independent Media in a Time of War, Hudson Mohawk IMC and Democracy now

Empire State, San Diego Indymedia

UnConventional TV, NYC Grassroots Media Coalition

Shocking and Awful, Deep Dish TV

Fuck the Corporate Media, Portland Indymedia

Tu Voz, Media Arts Center

Battleground, Guerrilla News Network

The Empire Strikes Out, Alternate Focus

Many films from the Gadabout Film Festival

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