Media Reform

Social Media Hazardous to Health?

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Article in The Hill by Sarah Fortinsky, 09/10/24 2:42

Headline: “42 states and territories press Congress on social media warning labels”

“US Surgeon General Murthy, in June, called for a surgeon general’s warning label to be placed on social media platforms, similar to those warning labels that appear on tobacco and alcohol products. He noted that studies have shown that warning labels on tobacco products can increase awareness and change a user’s behavior.

“ ‘It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents,’ he wrote.

“This problem will not solve itself and the social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own. Therefore, we urge Congress to act by requiring warnings on algorithm-driven social media platforms, as recommended by the Surgeon General,” they wrote in the letter”

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4871983-social-media-warning-labels-attorneys-general/

 

Media Reformer Phil Donahue Dies

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Headline: “Phil Donahue Daytime Talk Show Pioneer Dies at Age 88”

Article in CBS News by Alex Sundby, 8/19/24

Phil Donahue was a keynote speaker at the National Conferences on Media Reform in Memphis and Minneapolis. The events, sponsored by Free Press, brought together activists, educations, media makers, and concerned citizens working for better media.

“President Biden awarded Donahue the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year. The White House called ‘Donahue’ one of the most influential television programs of its time.

” ‘Phil Donahue broadcast the power of personal stories in living rooms all across America,’ Mr. Biden said during May’s White House ceremony. ‘He helped change hearts and minds through honest and open dialogue. And over the course of a defining career in television and through thousands of daily conversations, Phil Donahue steered the nation’s discourse and spoke to our better angels.’ ”

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/phil-donahue-dies-age-88/

Wikipedia article:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Donahue

 

Bangladesh Could Have Free Press Soon

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From The Guardian article of 8/9/24 by Redwan Ahmed and Kaamil Ahmed.

Headline:  “Bangladeshi journalists hopeful of press freedom as Hasina era ends”

Recently the authoritarian leader Sheikh Hasina fled the country after protesters forced her out.  This followed years of oppressive rule and censorship of the press.

“Arrests, abuse and forced disappearances at the hands of Bangladesh’s security forces have loomed over journalists for most of Hasina’s 15-year rule, preventing them from routine reporting for fear of writing anything that could be perceived as embarrassing for the government.”

Link:  https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/09/bangladeshi-journalists-hopeful-for-return-to-press-freedom-as-hasina-era-ends

Looks Interesting

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Training Session for Netroots Nation 2024! Will you please help choose the title?” – Sue Wilson
 
1. “How Local Communities can Hold TV and Radio Stations Accountable”
2. “Empowering Local Communities by Holding the FCC Accountable”
3. “Making Local Broadcasters Accountable to Your Community”
4. “How to make Local Broadcasters Accountable to Your Community”
5. “How to Stop Local TV and Radio from Poisoning Your Air” Don’t like any? I’m open to suggestions. THANKS!

Sue Wilson may be contacted on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/SueWilsonTV