Help a Station Out...

By Tolu Olorunda

Those who depend on the mercies of the mainstream-media for Information and news-reporting, should understand the dire-need for an alternative and more reliable/dependable/accountable/responsible/un-diluted//unattenuated/un-controlled source! One need only look at Fox News, and shutter at the level of unabashed arch-conservatism, or attempt to contrast its nemesis MSNBC and instantaneously stagger from the un-concealed patriarchal/chauvinistic/anachronistic rhetoric of some of its paid-pundits. CNN is hardly an exception, with a neo-liberal agenda and a “The Best Political Team on Television” slogan that rarely lives up to its promise. The singular element that binds these incremental forces together, is the financial contributors who fund an assembly that assaults the moral conscience of Journalism.  

In this market of paid-pipers, a structure has continually risen to challenge the incompetence and sheer-inconsistency of its sibling. This structure is often neglected and forsaken, but the biting-reality remains true for a constituency upset while obsessed with the snap-shotting and sound-biting techniques overused by every arm of the mainstream-media. This structure of moral-fiber and veracity, is the only reason accountability is appropriated to the very much sacrosanct news-outlets. I speak of a structure that built a foundation of integrity and ethics, to engage in a rarely witnessed form of self-interrogation. This structure is known to many as: Independent Journalism. Indeed, this vital element remains as vibrant and effervescent as it ever was. Notable representatives of this vision are: Democracy Now! NPR, PBS, FAIR, Media Matters, Newshounds , Free-Press and many un-named others. This is especially note-worthy because of the profound dedication to the refusal of corporate-funds by these exemplars. To ensure utter-accountability, the majority of Independent Media is kept-alive by the generous and well-deserved contributions of every-day citizens.   

I end this rather short piece, with a charge and challenge to every concerned and collected person, willing to ensure a balance to the rigid style of commercial-journalism presented by the corporate-owned stations. Support something that supports you. Support the very core of un-compensated truth-telling, by putting your money where your mouth should be. This is especially timely, as Indiana Public Radio is having a week-long donation drive to guarantee the quality of programming that stimulates and educates its listener-base. Do something worth doing, and invest in the future that awaits you. Peace! 

To support IPR, Call 1-800-646-1812, or mail your pledge to:  
Indiana Public Radio, Ball State University, Muncie IN 47306.