Respect the media rights of New Yorkers

The stakes are high and MNN
is calling on all democratically
minded citizens to join it and
others in demanding that the
big cable and telecom firms
respect the media rights of all
New Yorkers.

Increasing consolidation of
media ownership is not only
limiting the number of voices
and opinions that find
expression on the air, but is
also adversely affecting the
objectivity and veracity of
information needed for our
democracy to thrive. As these media giants grow and seek to consolidate their market share they relegate citizens
to the role of corporate
information consumers as
opposed to active participants
in a diverse "marketplace of
ideas".

What Can You Do?

On Thursday, February 7, 2008 at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, from 3pm-7pm, the City of New York wll be holding public hearings on cable television franchises and on the communications needs and interests of the residents of Manhattan. 

It will be crucial
for MNN's constituents,
viewers, producers, and
community organizations to
turn out for these hearings
and let the city's political
officials know that MNN and
the cable public access are
a vital and needed service
in Manhattan.

 

Join This Media Campaign

For Free Speech and Local Voices in New York

A vibrant media democracy campaign advocating for more public access and inclusivity to cable television is building momentum in Manhattan and across the City of New York as franchise negotiations get underway between the City and the companies that provide cable services to all five boroughs.

The Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) is a leader in this advocacy campaign and is in the forefront of championing the first amendment rights of citizens to free expression on the airways and to greater public access to mass media by local communities citywide.

The campaign comes at a time of growing consolidation in private ownership of the media and telecommunications industries resulting in the monopolization of ideas and a stifling of the rich diversity of voices and perspectives emanating from the multi-ethnic neighborhoods and communities of New York City. Working together, we can strengthen local voices and free speech.

Adapting to Change
Our media and communications landscape is changing rapidly, and cable is at the cutting-edge of these dramatic changes. 

"Convergence", the merging of traditional media and "new media" technologies, is transforming the way we receive information and the means by which we communicate with one another. 

With the advent of new technologies and marketing gimmicks like "triple play" —the ability of companies to provide voice (phone), data (internet) and television (cable) services in one package— new corporate players, like the big telecommunications companies, are vying for a share of the expanding digital marketplace. But the public interest can't be left out of this new media world.

MNN's democratic media campaign that’s now picking up steam across the city must ensure that the new cable franchise agreements be flexible enough to adequately address the needs and concerns of local communities and neighborhoods.

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Please feel free to contact
us for more information on
the franchise campaign and
on the cable and Internet
services provided by the
Manhattan Neighborhood
Network:

Address:
537 West 59th Street,
New York, NY 10019

Phone:
 212-757-2670        Ext 319
Fax:
212-757-1603
E-mail:
franchise08@mnn.org

What is MNN doing?

Once the City and the cable companies come to a general agreement regarding the overall cable franchise, MNN will begin negotiating with the companies to determine what will be made available to the community for Public Access.

As a part of this process, MNN is developing a "community needs assessment", and it is looking closely at the future communications needs of the Borough, reviewing current resources and determining what community media resources and technologies will be needed in the 21st Century. As part of this assessment, MNN recently conducted a series of 15 focus groups with producers, viewers, and representatives of government, not-for-profit, and community-based organizations based in Manhattan.
 
The results of the community needs assessment will help set the agenda for MNN's negotiations with the city and the cable companies.  Our goal is to make sure that New Yorkers have full access to the communication resources they will need in the in the beginning stages of the 21st Century. Because the franchise is negotiated by City government, MNN is working to maintain good communications and relationships with those in the political arena who will influence the process.