Media Democracy Day

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October 18th is Media Democracy Day

A day of action based on three themes:

Education - understanding how the media shapes our world and our democracy.

Protest - against a media system based on commercialization and exclusiveness.

Change - calls for media reforms that respond to public interests, promote diversity, and ensure community representation and accountability.

[edit] History

Since 1996, there have been several efforts by concerned citizens and media activists to build coalitions to make the media more democratically accountable in the US as well as Canada. Initially MD Day was organized by local Toronto and Vancouver groups of the CPBF — modeled after its British namesake, a coalition of groups which came together in 1996 to challenge Conrad Black's takeover of much of Canada's press, and the threat to diversity posed by media concentration. Early supporters included the Council of Canadians, the CEP union, the Canadian Media Guild, the Graphic Communications International Union, the CLC, and the Periodical Writers Assn. Today, the tradition of MD Day is carried on by local citizens and student groups in Canada and around the world.

Events were organized in 2001 in Toronto, Vancouver and Kitchener-Waterloo Canada.

In 2002 activist events were held in cities around the world.

In 2003 there were assorted events in Toronto and Vancouver.

[edit] Why October 18th?

In short, October was selected as a good time since students are back in school and there are not too many competing holidays or events.

In previous years, the 18th was a convienient day of the week, but since has just become tradition. In general, most organizations conduct their own actions on what ever dates suites them.

But for those who want a good reason to select October 18th, here are two western centric historically signifcant facts...

Oct 18 1922 - BBC was established http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_18

Oct 18 1892, First Long-Distance Telephone Line Opened http://www.todayinsci.com/10/10_18.htm