From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2006-02-10 10:47:13
Help is here – Introducing IWT INDEPENDENT WORLD TELEVISION (IWT)
Unspun news, view and interviews worldwide With ZERO corporate or government funding, ZERO commercial advertising, ZERO political slant…
Democracy depends on an informed and engaged public and a courageous press that holds power accountable. Today, most television news reports propaganda as if its reality and treats facts as just a matter of opinion. Investigative journalism and debate are seldom heard. INDEPENDENT WORLD TELEVISION (IWT) is building the worlds first global non-profit independent news network. Online and on TV, IWT will deliver independent news and real debate – without funding from governments, corporations, or advertising.Help us build IWTnews Nightly, our flagship nightly news show that will boldly investigate and uncompromisingly reveal the world in which we live. Together with collaborators around the world, IWT news Nightly will become the foundation upon which we will build our global network. WE COULD BREAK THE MONOPOLY ON INFORMATION.
Fear runs stronger in every American newsroom and I mean every American newsroom now more than any time that Im aware of in my career… Corporate (media) owners have placed profits over the public good. Dan Rather, September 2005
THE PROBLEM
Serious news and diversity of opinion on which democracy depends are disappearing from television. Across the globe, news media ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few conglomerates whose economic needs dictate news coverage. They promote superficial infotainment and one-sided reporting over tough investigation, context and holding authority accountable. Public broadcasters face shrinking budgets and growing political and commercial pressures. THE SOLUTION
We must change the economics of journalism. We need a news and current affairs network that defends the public interest and the highest standards of journalism. Independent World Television will be such a network, a non-profit broadcast service financed by viewers across the globe independent of corporate or government funding and commercial advertising. WHY NOW?
The internet allows millions of people to band together to raise capital to compete with corporate media outlets. The economic power of the 15 million people worldwide who demonstrated on one day in 2003 against the war in Iraq could make IWT a huge success. The internet fundraising success of MoveOn.org, the Howard Dean presidential campaign and Tsunami relief show that when people believe in a cause they are willing to donate millions of dollars. By relying on millions of small donors, IWTcan achieve the economic independence that makes uncompromising journalism possible. (E.g., If 250,000 people worldwide contribute the equivalent of $50 — just $5 a month — IWTnews Nightly can go on air in 2006.) THE PROGRAMMING
IWT will be seen on satellite, digital TV, the Web and some public and nonprofit channels. In the U.S., IWT will be on Link TV, available in over 26 million homes. IWTnews Nightly will cover the big issues war and peace, race and class, political campaigns, environment, global economy, civil rights, labor issues and social policy. IWTnews Nightly will hire journalists for their experience, political acumen and understanding of history. Citizen journalism will bring insight from people around the world. Informed by a commitment to social justice and respecting diversity of opinion, IWTnews Nightly will focus on news other media ignore or suppress, and on individuals and groups that are transforming the world. THE LAUNCH Our first major program launch will be IWTnews Nightly, a primetime one-hour uncompromising news and current affairs show that will break the monopoly on information. In its ability to fearlessly hold power accountable, it will stand in stark contrast to corporate and government supported networks and cable news. IWTnews Nightly will report investigated and verifiable facts wherever they lead and without compromise. We have a right to know. Join us. Visit www.iwtnews.com .
