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oin Robert Scheer and guest Peter Byrne as they delve into the dark side of artificial intelligence, exploring its militarization, misuse, and impact on global security and democracy. Through a series of in-depth investigations sponsored by Project Censored, they reveal how AI is being used to control societies, threaten peace, and undermine human rights—exposing what mainstream media often overlooks. Essential listening for those concerned about the true power of technology shaping our future.
Today's episode of Project Censored is preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2025 Spring Fund Drive. Brian Edwards-Tiekert speaks with author and political commentator Malcolm Harris about his latest book, What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis. To support our mission and receive the Malcolm Harris's book What's Left as a thank-you gift, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732 (800-HEY-KPFA). The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming: Malcolm Harris on Saving the World appeared first on KPFA.
Today's episode of Project Censored is preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2025 Spring Fund Drive. Jesse Strauss speaks with accomplished author, scholar, educator, cultural organizer, poet, and playwright Eve L. Ewing about her book Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism. To support our mission and receive Eve L. Ewing's book Original Sins as a thank-you gift, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732 (800-HEY-KPFA). The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming: Eve L. Ewing on Original Sins appeared first on KPFA.
In this podcast, our guest is Peter Byrne, a national and international award-winning investigative reporter and science writer. His works have been published in Scientific American, Wired, Mother Jones, and New Scientist. In partnership with Project Censored, Byrne has launched Military AI Watch, a groundbreaking ten-part series that will run monthly on the Project Censored website. This exposé reveals the manifold dangers of developing AI applications for military purposes and how the public has been kept in the dark about these efforts, which present potentially disastrous consequences for the world, while promising a financial bonanza to wealthy investors. Byrne has spent the last two years conducting in-depth research for this series and is at work on a database of selected AI weapons companies and their investors. This collaboration between Project Censored and Peter Byrne provides much-needed attention to an issue that has a profound public impact and has been under-reported for too long. Follow Military AI Watch on Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/military-ai-watch/ Peter Byrnes Website: https://www.peterbyrne.info/ Greg's Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ Pat's Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about Peter Byrnes#Military AI Watch#Project Censored#Andy Lee Roth#Mickey Huff#One Ring to Rule Them All#Stargate Fiasco#Data Centers#Gold Award#ChatGPT#CoPilot#DeepSeek#Wheres Daddy#Lavender#Artificial Intelligence#Predictive Policing#Military Industrial Complex#Peter Andreas#Peter Thiel#Palantir#Boeing#Lockhead Martin#Rathion#Northrop Grumman#Artificial Intelligence#SandboxAQ#Elon Musk#SpaceX#JADC2#OpenAI#Anduril#Iran Dress Codes#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Podcast#Coming FromLeftField#Coming From Left Field#zzblog#mltoday
Today's episode of Project Censored is preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2025 Spring Fund Drive. Nora Barrows-Friedman speaks with renown historian and author Rashid Khalidi about his work documenting the history of Palestine and his recent book The Hundred Years' War on Palestine. Rashid Khalidi is the author of numerous books about the Middle East, among them the award-winning Palestinian Identity, Brokers of Deceit, and The Iron Cage. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and many other publications. He is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University and coeditor of the Journal of Palestine Studies. Nora Barrows-Friedman is a longtime broadcaster and journalist who has focused on Palestine and Palestinian rights issues for nearly 20 years. She was the co-host and senior producer of Flashpoints on KPFA from 2003-2010, and has since been an associate editor and reporter for The Electronic Intifada. Nora is the author of In Our Power: U.S. Students Organize for Justice in Palestine. To support our mission and receive Rashid Khalidi's book The Hundred Years' War on Palestine as a thank-you gift, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732 (800-HEY-KPFA). The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming: Rashid Khalidi and The Hundred Years' War on Palestine appeared first on KPFA.
The past year has seen lots of discussion of the ‘human' nature of AI. Programs like ChatGPT were writing poetry, engaging in debates, and roasting users with witty retorts. Educators have been facing more serious concerns as they navigate a world in which students no longer need to learn to do their own research, writing, or thinking. But the militarization of AI makes these other activities seem like Donkey Kong. Investigative journalist Peter Byrne joins Steve to talk about the treacherous relationship between technology, capitalism, and militarization. They discuss how companies like Palantir, funded by figures such as Peter Thiel, have leveraged vast amounts of capital—often government-funded—to develop this militarized AI. In other words, venture capitalists and tech startups are shaping modern warfare.Peter draws historical parallels, explaining that the automation of warfare is not a new phenomenon but has evolved significantly since the days of analog computers in World War II. It only increases its destructive capabilities by unthinkable magnitudes. We would do well to remember that machine learning models are incapable of achieving true intelligence. They reflect the ideology and interests of those who are responsible for them.Peter Byrne is an award-winning investigative science reporter who has long uncovered corruption at the nexus of science and industry. Now, in partnership with Project Censored, Byrne has launched Military AI Watch, a groundbreaking ten-part series that will run monthly on Project Censored's website.https://www.projectcensored.org/military-ai-watch/
This week we're looking at the insidious and nefarious sides of tech, starting with a conversation with Esra'a Al Shafei discussing her new site Surveillance Watch, an incredible trove of data formulated into an easily searchable and interactive site that exposes the vast interconnected web of global authoritarian surveillance systems. Esra'a discusses the impunity with which these corporations and financial institutions operate, with no care for borders, side-stepping sanctions, and using genocide as a marketing tool. She highlights the importance of bringing this information to light, of acting to protect ourselves and each other and never normalizing the Orwellian panopticon. Next, cohost Mickey Huff sits down with investigative journalist Peter Byrne to unveil a new 10-part series titled Military AI Watch: the dangerous militarization of AI and the profiteering behind it. Peter and Mickey discuss the first piece in the series, “One Ring to Rule them All,” where Peter names the cast of characters in this dark fantasy turned reality, their terrifying aims, the monopoly on murder, and more. GUESTS: Esra'a Al Shafei is a Bahraini civil rights activist, free-speech advocate, and the founder of Surveillance Watch, a website that monitors the global surveillance industry. Peter Byrne is a veteran investigative reporter who has written on topics ranging from breast cancer, to wildlife conservation, to corruption at the Postal Service. Together with Project Censored, he is launching “Military AI Watch,” a ten-part series on the militarization of AI. The post The Dark Side of Technology: Surveillance and Militarization appeared first on KPFA.
In today's media environment, disinformation and distraction are pervasive. The most troubling issue may not be misinformation but the critical information that is systematically ignored or underreported. Andy Lee Roth, Editor-at-Large of Project Censored, returns to Sustainability In Your Ear to discuss the top censored stories of 2023–2024, with a special focus on environmental reporting. Project Censored has tracked and amplified suppressed stories since 1976, drawing attention to the topics that corporate media tends to ignore. Roth highlights how the U.S. is witnessing explicit censorship of climate-related information alongside the erosion of regulatory frameworks and cutting federal support for scientific research. Media campaigns are designed to resist change and maintain the status quo, even at the expense of future generations.In 2024, most of Project Censored's top stories involve environmental issues, signaling a critical moment in our media landscape. From the health risks associated with gas stoves to the underreported impacts of climate debt, from greenwashed net-zero pledges to global and domestic challenges in water security, vital environmental and climate issues often go unreported. The stories are not lacking in evidence, they are under-reported due to the incentives of media ownership and the influence of advertisers. Roth argues that people can practice media literacy to unpack the incomplete narratives that dominate the media to better understand the world around them. Ultimately, he believes that change lies in the hands of an informed and engaged public. Citizens are the ultimate arbiters of policy, values, and future direction—and it's through independent journalism that society learns and debates a more sustainable and just future. You can learn more about Project Liberty and the Under-Reported Stories of the Year at projectcensored.org.Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Matt Crawford speaks with Editor at large for Project Censored about its State of the Free Press 2025. We discuss media bias, under reported news stories and how algorithms are controlling most of the information we consume. A worthy and thought-provoking listen.
This week, a special Project Censored episode: “What To Us Is International Women's Day?,” a variation on the question asked by Frederick Douglass: What to the Slave is the 4th of July? March 8th is International Women's Day, and while many will and do celebrate this day in revolutionary ways, the truth is that IWD, like so many other holidays, is often used to serve the vehemently anti-feminist goals of the architects of our oppression. So-called white feminism perpetuates the evils of white supremacy, colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy, and imperialism — but with a femme facade, pushing us to ask what to us is an international women's day which doesn't seek to dismantle the very systems that use, abuse and torment women across the U.S. and the globe? Award-winning journalist Mnar Adley and organizer Afeni Evans will join Eleanor Goldfield for this special hour-long dive into the insidious machinations of white feminism, who gets violently othered and why, the internationalist demands of a revolutionary feminism, and what really to us, is — or could be — International Women's Day? The post What To Us Is International Women's Day? appeared first on KPFA.
Today's episode of Project Censored is preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2025 Winter Fund Drive: Brian Edwards-Tiekert interviews Jeff Miller, the founder and Executive Director of the Alameda Creek Alliance. Miller also works with the Center for Biological Diversity on media, outreach, writing endangered species listing petitions, and working on biodiversity issues. His latest book is Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide. Author and artist Obi Kaufmann discusses his book The State of Fire: Why California Burns. To support KPFA's mission, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732. The post Special Winter Fund Drive Programming: Jeff Miller on Bay Area Wildlife / The State of Fire, with Obi Kaufmann appeared first on KPFA.
Project Censored has been exposing the media's self-censorship for a half-century now and we talked with its director Mickey Huff about the current state of the media. We discussed some of the bigger stories that the media has overlooked (climate change, Gaza, labor issues) but also importantly talked about important stories that were picked up and covered by alternative media. Bio//Mickey Huff is the third director of Project Censored (founded in 1976) and is the president of the nonprofit Media Freedom Foundation. Huff joined Ithaca College in New York fall of 2024, where he now also serves as the Distinguished Director of the Park Center for Independent Media and Professor of Journalism. Since 2009, he has coedited the annual volume of the Censored book series with associate director Andy Lee Roth, published by Seven Stories Press in New York, and since 2021 with The Censored Press, the Project's new publishing imprint. His most recent books include Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2025, co-edited with Shealeigh Voitl and Andy Lee Roth (The Censored Press/Seven Stories Press, 2024); The Media and Me: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young People (co-authored with Project Censored and the Media Revolution Collective, The Censored Press/Triangle Square, 2022), as well as Let's Agree to Disagree: A Critical Thinking Guide to Communication, Conflict Management, and Critical Media Literacy (Routledge, 2022) and United States of Distraction: Media Manipulation in Post-Truth America (and what we can do about it), published by City Lights Books, 2019, both co-authored with Nolan Higdon.----------------------------------------------------Outro- "Sons of 1984" by Todd RungrenLinks//+ Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast +Our rad website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/ + Join our Discord community (https://discord.gg/vgKnY3sd)+Follow us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgreenred.bsky.social)Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast +Or make a one time donation here: https://bit.ly/DonateGandR Our Networks// +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: https://www.laborradionetwork.org/ +We're part of the Anti-Capitalist Podcast Network: linktr.ee/anticapitalistpodcastnetwork +Listen to us on WAMF (90.3 FM) in New Orleans (https://wamf.org/) This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). Edited by Isaac.
Control of information is a vital weapon of the ruling class in its war on the people. Critical media literacy is more important now than it has ever been. For the past year we've been drowning in imbalanced coverage of the war on Gaza. (How many times did mainstream news outlets use the word ‘genocide'?) It's just one example – and it's an outrage. Steve's guest is Shealeigh Voitl, Project Censored's digital and print editor. They discuss the media's role in shaping public perception and delve into the systemic disinformation propagated by corporate and academic institutions. While sensational inconsequential stories dominate the headlines, the voices and experiences of the working class and the marginalized are silenced. Steve and Shealeigh look at the power dynamics inherent in media ownership, reinforcing inequality and promoting working class subjugation. Passive news consumption is the equivalent of unilateral disarmament. Shealeigh Voitl is the digital and print editor at Project Censored. She first began her research with the Project at North Central College alongside Steve Macek, co-authoring the Déjá Vu News chapter in the State of the Free Press 2022 and 2023 yearbooks, and the Top 25 chapter in SFP 2023. In addition to her editorial contributions to the yearbook series and work with the Campus Affiliates Program, Shealeigh helped develop the State of the Free Press 2024 teaching guide and the Project's “Critical Media Literacy in Action” social media series. Her writing has also been featured in Truthout, The Progressive, and Ms. Magazine.
Today's episode of Project Censored is preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2025 Winter Fund Drive. To support our mission, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732. The post Special Winter Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.
Mickey Huff is a history professor at Ithaca College and director of Project Censored, and organization that originated in Sonoma, California. We tallk about the need for citizens to have access to information that, too often, is suppressed in the regular press. Huff does not blame the government so much as corporate interests, though he points out that the US has interfered with elections in other countries for decades, so it is hypocritical to complain about disinformation campaigns from abroad now. For the video, audio podcast, and comments: https:/tosavetheworld.ca/episode-661-censorship.
Eleanor Goldfield is a journalist, filmmaker, and, more than anything, she's a creative radical. She co-hosts Common Censored and Project Censored. Also, I hope she doesn't mind my saying so, she put out some killer music a few years back. I've been following her for years now, and figured now was a perfect time for us to dive into the world.
Welcome to another episode of Scheer Intelligence! I'm your host, Robert Scheer, and today we're diving into a critical conversation about the state of media, censorship, and the role of independent journalism in our society. Joining me are two passionate advocates from the organization Project Censored: Shealeigh Voitl and Andy Lee Roth.In this episode, we explore the alarming trends of censorship, particularly in an era where many attribute societal issues to the influence of the internet rather than systemic inequalities or failures within our democratic structures. We'll discuss Project Censored's important work in highlighting underreported stories—stories that often reveal systemic injustices overlooked by corporate media.Shealeigh and Andy share insights from their recent list of the top 25 censored stories, touching on crucial topics such as environmental crises, reproductive rights, and the growing influence of big tech on our information landscape. As we reflect on the historical context of media censorship, we'll also examine how today's media environment serves to obscure the significant challenges faced by working people and marginalized communities.With the 2024 elections looming and the political landscape becoming increasingly polarized, this conversation is more relevant than ever. Together, we aim to illuminate the cracks in our media system and empower listeners to seek out independent voices that challenge the dominant narratives.So, stay tuned as we unpack these pressing issues and advocate for a more informed and engaged public.For more information go to https://www.projectcensored.org/Article link: https://www.projectcensored.org/top-25-most-censored-stories-2024/Photo from Project Censored
In this special fund drive episode of Project Censored, Mickey Huff and guests discuss the growing trend toward book bans in U.S. schools, as well as the Trump Administration's attempts to suppress public access to the records of federal agencies. First, we hear about a soon-to-be-released documentary titled Banned Together (www.bannedtogetherdoc.com) that looks at efforts by local school boards, or state-level politicians, to restrict students' access to books. Next, two press-freedom advocates warn that the Trump Administration is engaged in unprecedented, and possibly illegal, efforts to reshuffle how federal agencies' records are kept. Allyson Rice and Dorri Scott are members of the team that created Banned Together. Seth Stern and Lauren Harper are staff members at the Freedom of the Press Foundation (www.freedom.press) To support KPFA's mission, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732. The post Special Fund Drive Episode : Book Banning / Government Record Keeping appeared first on KPFA.
On this edition of Parallax Views, another year has passed and longtime listeners will know what that means: a look back at the news that DIDN'T get adequately covered by the corporate press. Yes, it's that time again. The annual Project Censored check-in to Parallax Views. This time we have not one but two guests from Project Censored: the returning Mickey Huff and first-time guest Shealeigh Voitl. We'll look back at the state of the media ecosystem in a turbulent year that ended with Donald Trump being elected President for a second time. We'll look at the problem of junk food news, important stories that haven't received their due coverage in the news, and much more in this conversation!
Get the Project Censored 2025 here: https://www.project-censored.org/.../state-of-the-free... What stories is the mainstream media keeping from you and why! We'll discuss. Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents? Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!) THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/
This week, we swing into the new year (2025), with Mickey engaging media scholar Nolan Higdon. They discuss the incoming administration, Trump 2.0, the failures of the punditocracy, and what might mean for press freedom in his second term; social media and an end to so-called fact-checking; and why we will continue to need a truly independent press to keep us informed moving forward. Later in the program, media scholar Steve Macek joins the conversation, and it's Deja Vu all over again as they revisit previously censored news stories around significant current events (including in Gaza) and how the ongoing lack of establishment media coverage around key issues contributes to low information voters and allows myriad injustices to persist at home and around the globe. Nolan Higdon is a lecturer in Education at the University of California Santa Cruz campus, a prolific author on media issues, and a frequent guest on the Project Censored Show. His books include The Anatomy of Fake News; he also writes on Substack. Steve Macek teaches communications and media studies at North Central College in Illinois. He's also the co-coordinator of Project Censored's Campus Affiliates Program. The post Pressing Issues for 2025: Trump 2.0, Media Failures, and the Fight for Press Freedom appeared first on KPFA.
Critical media literacy is essential to democracy and a pillar of the work Mickey Huff and Shealeigh Voitl do at Project Censored. The post Today's fake news becomes tomorrow's fake history appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.
In this podcast, Andy Lee Roth discusses the annual publication of Project Censored State of the Free Press, which takes the pulse of the media and shares the 25 most essential but underreported stories of the past year. Editors Mickey Huff, Shealeigh Voit, and Andy Lee Roth look back on a year in which significant news stories lost out to coverage of celebrities and non-events. They highlight 25 of the most underreported stories of 2024. Andy Lee Roth is the associate director of Project Censored, a nonprofit media watchdog organization. He coordinates the Campus Affiliates Program, a network of students and faculty at colleges and universities across North America who research and identify the top "censored" news stories. He earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of California–Los Angeles and a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Haverford College. Order the book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760692/project-censoreds-state-of-the-free-press-2025-by-mickey-huff/ Greg's Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ Pat's Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about AndyLeeRoth#AndyRoth#MickeyHuff#ShealeighVoit#StateoftheFree Press2025#ProjectCensord#FreePress2025##AI#algorithms#SocialMedia#MediaBias#Censorship#FirstAmendment#Journalism#Newsworthiness#AlgorithmicLiteracy#ShadowBanning#HorseRaceReporting#AlanMacleod#KevinGosztola#Gatekeepingmodel#Censorshipbyproxy#qualitativedataanalysis#PatCummings#PatrickCummings#GregGodels#ZZBlog#ComingFromLeftField#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast#zzblog#mltoday
Project Censored's new yearbook, “State of the Free Press 2025” is fresh off the presses. In the first segment, Andy Lee Roth and Shealeigh Voitl talk with Mickey about the extensive process that culminates in the selection of the annual “Top 25” censored stories. They also speak about the need to extend media analysis beyond fact-checking to “frame-checking.” In the second half, Mickey and co-host Eleanor Goldfield speak about Eleanor's new article on media literacy for activists, including various ideas on how activists can successfully interact with the different categories of media. Mickey and Eleanor also alert listeners to the dangers of House Bill 9495, a measure that would empower the U.S. Treasury Secretary to unilaterally remove an organization's non-profit status. GUESTS: Andy Lee Roth is Associate Director of Project Censored and the coordinator of the Project's Campus Affiliates Program. Shealeigh Voitl is digital and print editor at Project Censored. The post Unplugging the News: The Fight for Local Journalism and the State of the Free Press (encore) appeared first on KPFA.
Mickey Huff joins Aaron to discuss the sorry state of American media. Mickey is Professor of Journalism at Ithica College in New York where he also serves as the Distinguished Director of the Park Center for Independent Media. Additionally, Mickey Huff is the third director of Project Censored (founded in 1976), and he is the president of the nonprofit Media Freedom Foundation. Mickey Huff is the co-editor of Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2025. Special thanks to: Dana Chavarria, production Casey Moore, graphics Michelle Boley, animated intro Mock Orange, music
Project Censored's new yearbook, “State of the Free Press 2025” is fresh off the presses. In the first segment, Andy Lee Roth and Shealeigh Voitl talk with Mickey about the extensive process that culminates in the selection of the annual “Top 25” censored stories. They also speak about the need to extend media analysis beyond fact-checking to “frame-checking.” In the second half, Mickey and co-host Eleanor Goldfield speak about Eleanor's new article on media literacy for activists, including various ideas on how activists can successfully interact with the different categories of media. Mickey and Eleanor also alert listeners to the dangers of House Bill 9495, a measure that would empower the U.S. Treasury Secretary to unilaterally remove an organization's non-profit status. GUESTS: Andy Lee Roth is Associate Director of Project Censored and the coordinator of the Project's Campus Affiliates Program. Shealeigh Voitl is digital and print editor at Project Censored. The post Unplugging the News: The Fight for Local Journalism and the State of the Free Press appeared first on KPFA.
Today - John discusses ABC News agreeing to pay the Trump Presidential library 15 million dollars as a settlement to his defamation lawsuit. Then, he interviews Andy Lee Roth who is associate director of Project Censored, co-editor of the State of the Free Press yearbook series, and coauthor of The Media and Me: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young People. They talk about his latest work - Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2025 which illuminates issues that the establishment press have obscured and raises voices that corporate media have throttled. And then finally John welcomes back comedian Rhonda Hansome to joke with callers about current news and Trump's tomfoolery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89.7FM “Be Bold America!” Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 5:00pm (PT) “First they came for the journalists. We don't know what happened after that.” – Maria Ressa Every year, Project Censored highlights the vital stories that corporate media underreported, exposes rampant news abuse, and tracks emerging threats against the press from financial and political powers “State of the Free press 2025” comes at a time when trust in the media is at an all-time low. A 2024 Pew Research Poll found that a remarkable 73 percent of adult Americans believe a free press is either extremely or very important to the well-being of society—though only a third of those polled believe that US media are completely free to report news. Half of those surveyed believe that US news organizations are influenced a great deal by corporate/financial or government/political interests. Reporters Without Borders gave the US a score of 66.59 out of a possible 100 points in their 2024 World Press Freedom Index—a drop of nearly five points from 2023. Tragically, 2024 stands out as the year that the corporate media failed to adequately cover Israel's ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people and the threat it poses to the whole world. With their gaze trained elsewhere, the powerful got a pass from the very institution that should hold them to account. In 2023 Reporters Without Borders labeled US press freedom “satisfactory;” in 2024, they called it “problematic.” Interview Guest: SHEALEIGH VOITL is the digital and print editor at Project Censored. She first began her research with the Project at North Central College alongside Steve Macek, co-authoring the Déjá Vu News chapter in the State of the Free Press 2022 and 2023 yearbooks, and the Top 25 chapter in SFP 2023.
Today's episode of Project Censored is preempted by special programming for KPFA's 2024 Holiday Fund Drive. To support our mission, please donate here or call (800) 439-5732. The post Special Holiday Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.
The News That Didn't Make the News. Each week, co-hosts Mickey Huff and Eleanor Goldfield conduct in depth interviews with their guests and offer hard hitting commentary on the key political, social, and economic issues of the day with an emphasis on critical media literacy. The post Project Censored – December 6, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.
Mickey's first guest this week is Project Censored's Associate Director, Andy Lee Roth. Roth is a 2024-25 Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow where he is developing an “algorithmic literacy” toolkit for journalists. He explains why today's journalists need a basic understanding of the algorithms used by internet and social media tech giants to better serve the public. Issues around horse-race poll coverage, shadow banning, and algorithmic gatekeeping are discussed. In the second half of the show, Maya Schenwar of Truthout and Lara Witt of Prism introduce the organization they co-founded, the Movement Media Alliance. They explain why social-justice-oriented media outlets should work together, both to enhance their impact and to better the working conditions for journalists in independent media. GUESTS: Andy Lee Roth is Associate Director of Project Censored, co-editor of its state-of-the-free-press yearbooks, co-author of The Media and Me, and coordinator of its Campus Affiliates Program. His work on algorithmic literacy for journalists is supported by a fellowship from the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri. Maya Schenwar is Editor-At-Large for Truthout, and writes extensively on prison and policing issues. Lara Witt is Editor-In-Chief at Prism Reports. The post Algorithmic Literacy for Journalists / A New Movement Media Alliance appeared first on KPFA.
This episode of The Project Uncensored Show titled, "Crisis, Culture, and Civility: Critical Media Literacy Education and Election 2024," was produced as part of the 2024 TBR Podcast Carnival, "Politics/Rhetorics: Navigating Crisis, Culture, and Civility," with new podcasts released each day from October 28-31, 2024. For more information visit thebigrhetoricalpodcast.weebly.com.
**Milestone 300! We dedicate this, the 300th weekly episode, to our loyal listeners, and we wish to recognize the valiant work of our underpaid podcast crew – correction: our unpaid podcast crew – who have put in thousands of hours editing audio, correcting transcripts, writing show notes, creating artwork, and posting promos on social media. To have the next 300 episodes delivered to your inbox as soon as they're released, subscribe at realprogressives.substack.com Project Censored has been a valuable resource for Macro N Cheese. This week, sociologist Andy Lee Roth talks with Steve about information gatekeeping by big tech through their use of AI algorithms to stifle diverse voices. The discussion highlights historical and current instances of media censorship and looks at the monopolization of news distribution by corporate giants like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. In an economic system that is fully privatized, trustworthy journalism is another casualty. News, which should be treated as a public good, is anything but. Andy Lee Roth is associate director of Project Censored, a nonprofit that promotes independent journalism and critical media literacy education. He is the coauthor of The Media and Me (2022), the Project's guide to critical media literacy for young people, and “Beyond Fact-Checking” (2024), a teaching guide about news frames and their power to shape our understanding of the world. Roth holds a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA in sociology and anthropology from Haverford College. His research and writing have been published in a variety of outlets, including Index on Censorship, In These Times, YES! Magazine, The Progressive, Truthout, Media Culture & Society, and the International Journal of Press/Politics. During 2024-2025 his current work on Algorithmic Literacy for Journalists is supported by a fellowship from the Reynolds Journalism Institute. projectcensored.org @ProjectCensored on Twitter
Nolan Higdon and Allison Butler are specialists in media literacy and, with their book, Surveillance Education: Navigating the Conspicuous Absence of Privacy in Schools, they focus attention on the pervasive use of digital surveillance technologies in schools that often results in a pernicious effect on students. Nolan Higdon is a founding member of the Critical Media Literacy Conference of the Americas, a Project Censored National Judge, an author, and a lecturer at Merrill College and the Education Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA. Allison Butler is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. She is also Co-Director of the Mass Media Literacy non-profit organization, where she develops and runs training programs for teachers covering critical media literacy in K–12 schools, Vice President on the Board of the Media Freedom Foundation, and a spokesperson for Project Censored. Order the book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781032812274 Nolan Higdon's Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com Mentioned in the podcast Project Censored https://www.projectcensored.org/ Greg's Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ Pat's Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about #NolanHigdon#AllisonButler#MediaLiteracy#SurveillanceEducaton#Privacy#ProjectCensored#DigitalSurveillance#SurveillanceCaptialism#DataBreach#CritialMediaLiteracy#AnatomyofFakeNews#FakeNews#DigitalCulture#TikTokHarm#ChallengeVideo#Secition230#InternetHarm#PatCummings#GregGodels#ZZBlog#ComingFromLeftField#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast#zzblog#mltoday
The titans of capital aren't just the obscenely wealthy. They are the directors of transnational finance companies; they manage the money of the obscenely wealthy.Steve's guest, political sociologist Peter Phillips, is the author of Titans of Capital: How Concentrated Wealth Threatens Humanity. The titans, he says, have doubled their AUM (assets under management) in the past 5 years.“There's only 117 of them and they manage $50 trillion of capital. That $50 trillion is the core –– almost half of the free-floating capital in the world. And that is what the US calls a vital interest. So, when the US says we have vital interests in the world, that's what they mean.“And that's why we have military bases everywhere in the world, because these investors are everywhere. And any rivalries are undermined by our intelligence agencies, by the government, by military whenever possible. So, it just happens that governments work on behalf of capital.”So, if you're wondering why the US has military interests in Ukraine or Gaza. Look to the titans, whose firms are investing in the defense industry. They profit off of warWhile the titans are massively increasing the wealth of the top .05 percent of the world's population, over 20,000 people die each day from starvation and easily curable diseases. While the ruling class and their media mouthpieces insist that capitalism is going to save the world and money will trickle down...“It's not. It's exactly the opposite. People are dying daily. There are 700 million people who live in extreme poverty in the world. And extreme poverty means you're living on $2.15 a day. That's the UN set level for extreme poverty.Steve and Peter discuss ways in which the titans are able to bend policy to their own purposes. They mention the role of groups like the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations.The episode also compares the approaches of the US and China, illustrating China's success in alleviating extreme poverty through state-driven economic strategies and how the US tries to spin China as a threat.Steve and Peter talk about the need for revolutionary social movements to challenge the entrenched capitalist structures and demand wealth redistribution, using the insights of MMT to spur new thinking about alternative economic possibilities.Peter Phillips is a Professor of Political Sociology at Sonoma State University since 1994, former Director of Project Censored 1996 to 2010 and President of Media Freedom Foundation 2003 to 2017.
This week we offer a special episode featuring Project Censored's recent “Decoding Democracy” series, a collection of interviews showcasing media scholars, journalists, and activists discussing how an informed public and an independent press are vital aspects of any free and just society. These excerpts are part of the larger Project Censored aim to empower individuals to better navigate the media landscape and political climate, becoming more engaged citizens. The focus of the series is to promote critical media literacy education while harnessing the power of a free and independent press to spur more broadly and deeply informed civic engagement among the electorate. Among the many commentators featured in the Decoding Democracy video series, and included in this radio broadcast, are Mnar Adley, Nora Barrows-Friedman, Eugene Puryear, and Victor Pickard. The post Decoding Democracy: Exploring Critical Media Literacy Education, Independent Journalism, and Civic Engagement appeared first on KPFA.
According to the Californian political sociologist Peter Phillips, American capitalism is facing an existential crisis. In his new book, Titans of Capital, he argues that the concentrated wealth of investment companies like BlackRock and Fidelity not only threatens human rights and democracy, but also the future of planet. Perhaps. But where Phillips really goes out on a limb is to argue that the Chinese state controlled model of capitalism which, he says, has brought hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, is more humane than the free market American model. Seriously?Peter Phillips is a Professor of Political Sociology at Sonoma State University since 1994, former Director of Project Censored 1996 to 2010 and President of Media Freedom Foundation 2003 to 2017. He has been editor or co-editor of fourteen editions of Censored, co-editor with Dennis Loo of Impeach the President: The Case Against Bush and Cheney (2006), editor of two editions of Progressive Guide to Alternative Media and Activism (1999 & 2004). His most recent book is Giants: The Global Power Elite. He was a co-host of the weekly Project Censored show on Pacifica Radio with Mickey Huff from 2010 to 2017, originating from KPFA in Berkeley and airing on forty stations nationwide. He teaches courses in Political Sociology, Sociology of Power, Sociological of Media, Sociology of Conspiracies and Investigative Sociology. He was winner of the Firecracker Alternative Book Award in 1997 for Best Political Book, PEN Censorship Award 2008, Dallas Smythe Award from the Union for Democratic Communications 2009, and the Pillar Human Rights Award from the National Associations of Whistleblowers 2014. He lives in a redwood forest near Bodega, California with his wife Mary Lia.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe
Get the book here: https://www.routledge.com/Surveillance-Education-Navigating-the-Conspicuous-Absence-of-Privacy-in-Schools/Higdon-Butler/p/book/9781032812274?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwiaa2BhAiEiwAQBgyHs2MhoYab7Ld9RsFDkbYalCEXtkGqrxcuAPG34rqoksz0pRsI4c6yBoCbjkQAvD_BwE&fbclid=IwY2xjawE7fnNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcECBrn52bD-ZHA7es_QxesJuquayVNSc9fwp4bnhZsOFO5M0p6RoA8QAw_aem_RtfSDNDMjqwT9CJVbvM-1w Surveillance in Schools Introduction In an era where alienation and loneliness have become almost normalized, the proliferation of surveillance technologies in our daily lives is both alarming, pervasive and sadly, accepted. These technologies are not only prevalent in our streets and workplaces but have also seeped into our educational institutions, raising critical questions about privacy, autonomy, and the very nature of schooling. Surveillance systems in schools claim to enhance safety by identifying potential threats, from school shooters to students exhibiting signs of suicidal ideation. However, the validity and ethical implications of these claims are hotly debated. Are these technologies truly protecting students, or are they contributing to a culture of mistrust and control, much like the predictive policing tactics used by law enforcement? Today, we are joined by Allison Butler and Nolan Higdon, authors of the insightful book “Surveillance Education: Navigating the Conspicuous Absence of Privacy in Schools”. Their work delves into the complex and often troubling landscape of surveillance in educational settings, exploring how these practices affect not just safety, but the very essence of learning and human development. As Higdon and Butler point out, "In a society increasingly defined by surveillance, schools have become testing grounds for technologies that monitor, predict, and control behavior, often at the expense of students' rights and well-being." We will explore the implications of this surveillance, asking whether it is a necessary precaution or a net negative that deepens the sense of alienation and distrust in an already fragmented society. Please welcome our guests Allison Butler is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. She is also Co-Director of the Mass Media Literacy non-profit organization, where she develops and runs training programs for teachers covering critical media literacy in K–12 schools, Vice President on the Board of the Media Freedom Foundation, and a spokesperson for Project Censored. Her research focuses on critical media literacy and critiques of surveillance technologies in education. Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents? Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!) THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/ Pascal Robert's Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/author/Pascal%20Robert
Dr Rebecca Culshaw is a mathematician who questioned the official science to support the HIV virus and AIDS narrative. Earlier, Rebecca taught at the University of Texas at Tyler as an assistant professor. She received her doctorate in mathematics from Dalhousie University in Canada, her dissertation focusing on immune response to HIV infection and AIDS treatments. She has written for several peer-review journals about mathematical modeling of HIV-related immunology and served on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Systems. Dr Culshaw is the author of "The Real AIDS Epidemic: How the Tragic HIV Mistake Threatens Us All" -- which presents the mistakes and corruption in the so-called War Against AIDS. Her most recent book is "The Truvada and PrEP Disaster" as a Kindle release and provides the history and details of anti-HIV drug toxicities and lawsuits against their manufacturers. Neenyah Ostrom was the first American investigative journalist to report on myalgic encephalomyelitis and Chronic fatigue syndrome in the 1980s and 90s. Her writings have been recognized by Project Censored as among the most important censored stories. Neenyah is the author of four books addressing the chronic fatigue syndrome epidemic including "What Really Killed Gilda Radner" and "America's Biggest Coverup: Fifty More Things Everyone Should Know about the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic and its Links to AIDS." Her latest book is "Ampligen: the Battle for a Promising ME/CFS Drug." Robert Kennedy Jr relies on Neenyah's work extensively in his best seller "The Real Anthony Fauci." She has also worked as an editor and ghostwriter on popular science books, including "Total Breast Health", which was chosen "Best Book of 1998" by Publishers Weekly. REBECCA CULSHAW BOOKS: "The Truvada and PrEP Disaster". &. "The Real AIDS Epidemic How the Tragic HIV Mistake Threatens Us All" NEENYAH OSTROM'S BOOKS: "America's Biggest Coverup: Fifty More Things Everyone Should Know about the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic and its Links to AIDS." AND "Ampligen: the Battle for a Promising ME/CFS Drug."
In the first segment, we learn about the phenomenon of “dark money”: political campaign contributions designed to be difficult or impossible for the public to know about or trace. Mickey talks with media scholar Steve Macek about GOP plans for legislation to make it even easier to keep these contributions secret, as well as the failure of corporate media to energetically report on dark money and the wider issues of what big donors get for their dollars. Then, Project Censored's curriculum development coordinator Mischa Geracoulis guest co-hosts the show to address the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, the conservative wish list for a second Trump term. Mischa speaks with Lisa Graves, who specifically addresses how education and the media landscape would be changed if Project 2025 is actually implemented. GUESTS Steve Macek is a professor of communications and media studies at North Central College in Illinois. He's also the co-coordinator, with Andy Lee Roth, of Project Censored's Campus Affiliates Program. Steve was also one of the editors of the recent book Censorship, Digital Media, and the Global Crackdown on Freedom of Expression (Peter Lang, 2024). Lisa Graves is the founder and executive director of True North Research, a national investigative watchdog group. She has previous experience at the Justice Department and in the federal court system. More analysis of Project 2025 can be found at project2025admin.com. The post Dark Money and Project 2025: A Deep Dive into Political Secrecy and Conservative Ambitions appeared first on KPFA.
According to Mischa Geracoulis, of Project Censored, media is a public good and journalism is a public service. “Being able to access information, being able to join in, participate in the free flow of information, to have an opinion, to formulate a stance –that is actually considered a human right, under Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.” It only follows that censorship is a violation of human rights. Project Censored defines censorship more broadly than a government's control over the media. It is the suppression of information, whether purposefully or not, by any method – (including) bias, omission, underreporting, or even self-censorship by the reporter or publisher. Steve and Mischa discuss the urgency of getting the public to understand the genocide in Gaza, and crucial for Americans to see their government's role in it. They look at the challenges faced by independent press, as well as special problems of news deserts. They also talk about the need for media literacy while much of the public relies on social media, where algorithms play a suppressive role. Mischa Geracoulis is a media literacy expert, writer, and educator, serving as Project Censored's curriculum development coordinator. Mischa is on the editorial boards of the Censored Press and the Markaz Review. @MGeracoulis, @ProjectCensored on Twitter
Ten months in, the US role in Israel's genocide in Gaza goes far beyond complicity. Israel is butchering Palestinians with US bombs, funding, and political and military support, and some members of the US military are resigning in protest. In this episode of the Project Censored Show, which is now syndicated by TRNN, host Eleanor Goldfield speaks with Palestinian-American Mohammed Abouhashem, who on Oct. 21 of last year left the US Air Force after 22 years of service. Abouhashem discusses his decision to leave amidst the murder of six of his family members in Palestine. He describes the ongoing genocide through a lens of military experience, highlighting how Israel and its ally the US are well aware of the civilian casualties—an awareness that, for Mohammed, made any further military service impossible.In the second segment of the show, Goldfield speaks with filmmaker Kym Staton about his film 'Trust Fall,' which was recently released in the US. The documentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Julian Assange as well as the US case against him. Staton makes clear the importance of this story and case, even after Assange won his freedom, and offers insight into the remarkable smear campaign against him and how people power is the key to not only combating misinformation, but in freeing one of the most significant political prisoners of our time.Read a transcript of this podcast here. Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Sign up for our newsletterLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcast
In a plea bargain with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the Justice Department ended its effort to extradite him to the U.S. for an Espionage Act trial, and Assange, freed from Britain's Belmarsh Prison, returned home to Australia a free man. The Assange legal case is over, but what are the ongoing implications for press freedom? We hear from the reporter who covered the Assange case for its entire duration. Then … How might social media influence the 2024 election? Mickey speaks with the three authors (also Project Censored staffers) of a new article on social media, the efforts of government and Big Tech to control or censor it (often without users' knowledge), and the countermeasures employed by online communities to maintain communications. GUESTS: Kevin Gosztola is an independent journalist. He has covered the Julian Assange legal proceedings in the UK from their beginning, as well as other press-freedom and whistleblower cases, and has been a frequent guest on the Project Censored Show. His book on the Assange case, Guilty of Journalism, was published in 2023. Gosztola is also the editor of the Dissenter newsletter, www.thedissenter.org. Kate Horgan is Website Design & Media Assistant at Project Censored. Reagan Haynie is Social-Media Manager at Project Censored. Shealeigh Voitl is Digital & Print Editor at Project Censored. The post Julian Assange is Free / Social Media 2024 appeared first on KPFA.
The Progressive magazine dedicated its June/July issue to an in-depth look at media and media literacy, especially in the context of the upcoming election. On this week's program, we hear from the publisher of the venerable political journal, as well as two Project Censored staffers who took part in producing the special issue. Later in the program, Mickey and Eleanor discuss the usefulness — and limitations — of electoral politics. Norman Stockwell is the Publisher of the Progressive (www.progressive.org). Andy Lee Roth is Associate Director of Project Censored, coordinator of the Project's Campus Affiliates Program, and a contributor to the current issue of the Progressive. Mischa Geracoulis is Curriculum Development Coordinator at Project Censored and the guest editor for the Progressive's June/July media issue. The post The Progressive Magazine and Project Censored Look at U.S. Media in an Election Year appeared first on KPFA.
The discussion today is about the Supreme Court ruling to preserve access to the abortion drug Mifepristone - for the time being. Then, John speaks with Mickey Huff who is the director of Project Censored and serves on the board of the Media Freedom Foundation. They talk about the importance of media literacy. Next, he welcomes back Simon Moya-Smith and Julie Francella to discuss Native cultural heritage and myths about indigenous people. Then finally, John once again interviews Jessica Mason Pieklo who is a Senior Vice President and Executive Editor for Rewire News Group. They go over the Supreme Court's decision on Mifepristone's availability via mail and what it means for abortion access.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today's Project Censored is preempted by special spring fund drive programming. The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.
Today's Project Censored is preempted by a special fund drive episode of Voices of the Middle East and North Africa in which Rashid Khalidi discusses his book, The Hundred Years War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017. The post Special Fund Drive Programming: Voices of the Middle East and North Africa appeared first on KPFA.
The News That Didn't Make the News. Each week, co-hosts Mickey Huff and Eleanor Goldfield conduct in depth interviews with their guests and offer hard hitting commentary on the key political, social, and economic issues of the day with an emphasis on critical media literacy. The post Project Censored – May 10, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.
On this edition of Parallax Views, Project Censored's Mickey Huff joins us to discuss Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2024, the media watchdog group's annual round-up of the most censored news stories in the United States. However, rather than just a straight rundown of this year's annual Project Censored offering, Mickey and I use this conversation to take the opportunity to discuss the recent controversy over the Columbia University pro-Palestinian Gaza protests, John Fetterman's comparing those protests to the Charlottesville "Unit the Right" rally, and Senator Tom Cotton calling for vigilante violence against protesters. With calls for the National Guard to be brought to Columbia University to put an end to the protests, Mickey and I reflect on the Kent State Massacre of 1970, the anniversary of which will be on May 4th. Additionally we'll discuss: - Mainstream media coverage of the Gaza war as well as the leaked New York Times memo telling journalists to avoid words and phrases like "genocide", "ethnic cleansing", and "occupied territories" when covering Israel/Palestine-related issues. - The importance of the right to protest to a functioning democracy - The lack of trust in corporate media and the worrying state of journalism today - Remembering Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg - Project Censored's coverage of PFAS or toxic "forever chemicals" and why this environmental story needs more coverage - And much, much more!
Guest Interview: Mickey Huff, Director of Project Censored & President of the nonprofit Media Freedom Foundation on the State Of the Free Press 2024. Ukraine War Update: Veteran War Correspondent in Kyiv, Phil Ittner reports. Debris from falling intercepted munitions. The Russians now say this themselves.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.