Rogue Valley Independent Media Center

Jackson County votes for Censorship & Ignorance

INDEPENDENT MEDIA WEEK - 2008, 06.04.2008 11:07

Jackson County (located in Southern Oregon on the California border and I-5 corridor) gained new distinction in April, 2008 when elected officials decided NOT to support a proclamation for "Independent Media Week - 2008". By a vote of 2 to 1 Jackson County Commissioners were succinct with their 2007 decision to embrace censorship. Last year the entire Jackson County Library System was shut down for 6 months with officials citing a "lack of funds" as the reason. The library system later opened with greatly reduced hours and services, but only after privatizing the entire operation.

Keeping Citizens Uninformed

C.W. Smith Supports Censorship

Jack Walker Supports Ignorance

David Gilmour Supports Indymedia

2008 will be the fourth year in a row that Southern Oregonians have highligted independent media as an important alternative to corporate owned mainstream media. On April 1, 2008 at the regular City of Ashland council meeting Mayor John Morrison read a Proclamation for Independent Media Week - 2008 (see proclamation below). Following Ashland's declaration Indymedia Week committee volunteers attended the April 2, 2008 Jackson County Commissioners' meeting and asked the county leaders to join in on the proclamation.

This year was the first time for the request to come before Jackson County. At the April 2 meeting after being read the Independent Media Week proclamtion a request was made for the county to join Ashland in embracing it. County Commissioners were asked if they had any questions or comments. The only response came from Commissioner David Gilmour who spoke in favor of the proclamation. Gilmour cited the recent combining of the area's two local daily newspapers, the Ashland Daily Tidings & Mail Tribune, along with both paper's recent sale to Rupert Murdoch and his huge media conglomerate as a good reason for supporting independent media. Asked a second time for comments both Commissioners C.W. Smith and Jack Walker declined to say anything. Obvioulsy the good ol' boys had other plans.

The following morning at another Jackson County Commissioners meeting which is seldom covered by the media and often has little public attendance both C.W. Smith and Jack Walker chose NOT to include the proclamation on the "consent agenda" for the next county meeting planned for April 9, 2008. Commissioner David Gilmour was blocked 2 to 1 and the proclamation was effectively killed by the good ol' boys. Sadly Censorship and Ignorance continue to be promoted in this Southern Oregon county.

Here you can find the schedule for Independent Media Week - 2008
http://www.kskq.org/indymediaweek/

Here is the proclamation passed by Ashland but turned down by Jackson County

- - - - - INDEPENDENT MEDIA WEEK - - - - -

* An informed citizenry is a cornerstone of democracy.

* An informed citizenry depends on unrestrained press, which provides greater access to information, more points of view and greater diversity of thought and fact.

* The trend toward the consolidation of media ownership has resulted in journalistic practices that hinder public awareness by excluding or marginalizing minority and dissenting viewpoints.

* Fewer media voices can result in homogenized messaging and the silencing of many points of view.

* Democratic principles support the case for more independent media in this country, not less.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John W. Morrison, Mayor of Ashland, do hereby proclaim the week of April 13 - 19 2008 as INDEPENDENT MEDIA WEEK and encourage all citizens to seek out and explore the rich diversity of independent media available within, and to our community.

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Jackson County votes for Censorship & Ignorance