This just in from Steve Anderson via OpenMedia.ca:

The CRTC is currently reconsidering the role of community television in Canada, providing an historic opportunity to create a rejuvenated, FRESH and innovative independent media system.

Many people are unaware that two per cent of what cable companies collect from their customers monthly is supposed to be spent on community channels. BUT, rather than provide community access to these resources as they should, cable operators have used these channels and funds to give themselves a competitive edge, and at times even pocketing the money while shutting down studios. Tell the CRTC what you think of this: http://tinyurl.com/ycf3uo5

OpenMedia.ca supports a proposal by CACTUS (Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations) calling for the millions of dollars already being collected by cable companies for community TV, be liberated to independent media centres for use by all Canadians. The CRTC can make this a reality – please send them a letter now! HERE: http://tinyurl.com/ycf3uo5

The best part of CACTUS’ plan is that Canadians won't have to pay another dime! The money we are already paying to cable companies will be directed to independent media!

That’s right. I’m hitting the road again to bring the “Web love” to magazine folks in Vancouver. This is the second-last stop on a cross-country tour that started in Toronto, got snowed-in in Halifax, and will conclude its first circuit in Edmonton at the end of March. So far, it’s been a hell of a lot of fun — the faculty is top-notch and the participants are reporting back that they’ve embarked on new Web initiatives already. What more could one ask?

So here are the details for Vancouver:

Just a reminder that there are only 3 days left to register for Web Weekend. Registration closes on November 9, 2007 and only a few spots remain. Don’t miss the chance to take part in two-day online marketing program designed specifically for magazine publishers.

Small Magazines staff: Inquire with Magazines Canada about bursaries.

It has been a hectic couple weeks since we returned from out west; catch-up sure can be a killer. Either way, I’m not letting my overly-tired ass stay put tonight, tomorrow, or Friday, as Toronto becomes ground zero for some of the most exciting conversation in online news, citizen journalism, and media democracy.

Thanks to Lisa Rundle, I’ve got ring-side seats for what is sure to be one of the week’s more exciting events: CBC’s The Future of the Future of News forum. Sparks are sure to fly when Andrew Keen and Leonard Brody go head-to-head on the topic of citizen journalism. Andrew is the author of The Cult of the Amateur — a book that refuses to accept that the Web is changing the rules — and Leonard is the founder of Now Public, a Vancouver-based citizen journalism start-up that is catching mainstream attention.

Marc Fest (Director of Communications at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation) asked me to pass this on:

The Knight News Challenge contest awards $5 million for innovative media ideas, however the October 15 application deadline is quickly approaching. The streamlined application takes less than 20 minutes. Anybody worldwide has a chance to win. For more information and to apply visit www.newschallenge.org.

The Knight News Challenge is one of the more innovative funding models that I referenced recently in a post about changing technology funding practices. Their approach to granting — both the application process and the fast, iterative funding cycles — is having a catalyzing effect, and a noticeable impact, on the shape of local news around the world.

If you’re involved with a citizen or local media project: get that pencil sharpened and start writing.

Today is the last day to have your voice heard on the CRTC’s “Diversity of Voices Proceeding.” Please take a moment today to send in your own comments — the future of Canadian media depends on it.

Looking south of our borders, we can see the impact of the concentration of media ownership; the Telecommunications Act of 1996 lead the way by allowing a company to own multiple media properties (including multiple properties in the same market). However, thanks to the work of the Prometheus Project, a further loosening by the FTC was stopped in 2004. The compelling argument for not loosening the regulations further: concentration of ownership means less ownership diversity. Put in plain words, it means that people like you and I will not have access to the public airwaves. (And, if you’re part of a traditionally “under-represented” community — forget about it.)

It’s been a fun week working with friends at The Tyee, Biro Creative, and WhatCounts to launch The Tyee’s new “media concentration” campaign. Have to admit that it’s been incredibly smooth and low stress; I think some of the folks at Biro even managed to get off to Social Change Institute at the same time.

The focus of the campaign is to highlight the issue of media concentration in Canada (Canada’s media ecosystem severely lacks diversity), and to help The Tyee spawn some new subscribers in the process.

Go check it out and support feisty and independent media in Canada!

On Monday night, my partner Melanie took me to see a film that many might call life-changing. Viva Zapatero paints a startling picture of a crippled independent media in modern-day Italy and the implications that has for Italian civil society. It’s a documentary told through the personal experience of political satire artist Sabina Guzzanti that lays naked what is possible today in the current political reality of many countries in this world. Unstopped media consolidation, blatant corruption, backward libel laws and the targeting of journalists with lawsuits, spineless public representatives, and coerced publishers and broadcasters all pave the way for censorship, propaganda, and a complete disintegration of the Italian media environment. Again, this is happening today.

The Tyee does a great job igniting the conversation on net neutrality in Canada. Thanks to the Save the Internet campaign, many folks up here know about the issue as it relates to the Telcoms in the US; however, as The Tyee points out, the issue is flying under some radars here in Soviet Canuckistan.

The examples of overzealous Canadian Telcos that have tried to shut down free speech are important to document, and to bring people’s attention to. For me, this is the heart of the issue: an independent, grassroots, media is a critical part of a functioning democracy, and net neutrality is critical part of a functioning independent media. The article does a great job laying the issue out (and you should read it, and sign the petition!), and I specifically wanted to draw attention to the comments of one of my favourite, tireless, freedom fighters — Russell McOrmond:

Who would think that Martin Newland — after helping to get Canada’s right-wing newspaper off the ground — would be speaking at an event on corporate ownership of Canada’s newspapers. Evidently, he thinks there’s a problem that there are only 4 independent papers in Canada.

Anyway, if you’re in Ottawa today, you may want to check it out.