Progressive Democrat Issue 69: HEARTLAND FOCUS

Progressive Media from the Heartland

One of the biggest problems facing America is the monolithic, right-wing biased, often lying mainstream media. Since their blind cheerleading for Bush's invasion of Iraq, we have learned we cannot trust the mainstreet media. But even if we could, having little more than a single, biased viewpoint expressed in the media is dangerous in a democracy.

We need to encourage and enjoy our alternative media choices. This diary is intended to introduce some of our better progressive voices in the media.

America's heartland is blessed with one of America's best alternative voices: Iowa's own Progressive Populist. From their website:

The Progressive Populist reports from the heartland of America on issues of interest to workers, small-business owners and family farmers and ranchers. In addition to reports from staff and contributing writers, the Populist prints populist essays, speeches and articles from independent newspapers and magazines. It publishes progressive and populist columnists whose points of view are blocked out of most daily newspaper op-ed pages.

The newspaper is edited by Jim Cullen, formerly a veteran daily newspaper reporter in Texas and Louisiana and associate editor of the Texas Observer, and Art Cullen, editor of the twice-weekly Storm Lake (Iowa) Times.

The Progressive Populist is the true voice of the Heartland.

Next is the Iowa Forum, an offshoot of American Forum. American Forum is a nonprofit media organization that works to encourage more citizen debate on important societal issues.

From Iowa Forum's website:

The Iowa FORUM is a nonprofit organization of community activists with a wide range of issue areas and journalists working to communicate ideas to the public and stimulate policy debate by tapping into the power of the media.

Over the years, editors have come to recognize the Iowa FORUM for well-written, well-researched, and thought-provoking commentary on topics including energy solutions , the farm bill , welfare reform .

On average, media packets reach 400,000 households through print and 600,000 listeners and viewers through the broadcast media. Commentary from the Iowa FORUM regularly appear in Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (circ. 68,727) , Davenport Quad-City Times (circ. 54,868) , Council Bluffs Daily Non-Pareil (circ. 18,500) , Marshalltown Times-Republican (circ. 11,847) , Ames Daily Tribune (circ. 10,500) , Spencer Daily Reporter (circ. 4,000) . Forum materials also receive significant local use/coverage by broadcast media throughout the state.

January 9, 1909, Senator Robert M. La Follette Sr. of Wisconsin founded La Follette's Weekly to be "a magazine of progress, social, intellectual, institutional." In 1929, La Follette's Weekly changed its name to The Progressive. The Progressive comes to you from Wisconsin and is one of the oldest Progressive voices in America. Barbara Ehrenreich, Molly Ivins, and Howard Zinn write regularly for The Progressive. And some of America's leading poets--Adrienne Rich, Martín Espada, C.K. Williams, Wendell Berry, and Rita Dove--publish original work with us.

Finally, one of my favorite national news sources with a fair but progressive slant is Salon.com. Combining AP newswire stories with op-ed pieces from great voices such as Arianna Huffington, the recovered Gingrich Republican, Garrison Keillor, the most recognized voice from America's center, and Joe Conason, one of America's sexiest and smartest Progressives. Since it's inception Salon.com has become one of the best news sources for Progressive America.

Please support and enjoy your progressive media.