by Pamela Nowicka
I’m excited…and that doesn’t happen much these days.
A lot is going on with news/media/content…the swirl of infoentertainmation, legacy media, social media, media moguls, AI slop, influencers, journalists, presenters, personalities, slebs and celebs and a steady churn between them all.
So how on earth is the average punter, trying to get a grip on their life and screen ‘spaces’, supposed to figure it all out?
I struggle…even as an experienced investigative journalist (Observer, Guardian, BBC).
Challenging the co-opted liberal media class on issues like climate, inclusion, neoliberalism, Nature and basic reality, I saw my career and life crash and burn for refusing to bend the knee to middle class media gatekeepers of the information economy and their billionaire bosses.
And it’s gotten steadily worse over time.
But something happened yesterday which gave me back not only my journalistic mojo (go me!) but has thrown a spotlight of change on the convoluted and problematic media landscape. Which will, hopefully, give the average punter the opportunity and tools to have a real say and understanding in creating the kind of media we can trust and rely on in these increasingly complex and difficult times, as old certainties dissolve into a murk of lies, misinformation, bias and hidden agendas while new models of how to live with grace on a burning planet are few and far between.
So what happened yesterday?
I went to a ‘News Club’, organised by Media Revolution, Coexist and The Bristol Cable. Five people, four women, two journalists, four activists, one man. Good snacks. Great coffee (Aldi special apparently). A whiteboard and, sticky notelets, and a willingness to get stuck in to analysing and deconstructing the spoken, unspoken, implicit and explicit assumptions and messages in (fittingly) the Bristol Cable…and a big well-done to a very brave Adam Quereishi, the Cable journo who white knuckled his way through the dissection of his print baby.
Other participants included Cable staffer and facilitator Begona, Bex, Community Connection and Engagement lead at Coexist CCBS, and Liz, co-founder of Media Revolution which has tasked itself with challenging toxic corporate media so that we can all have a shot at learning the truth and making the world a better place to live in. And enjoy ourselves and even have fun at the same time while we’re at it.
(Pro tip: a News Club is a great place if your idea of The Best Time Ever is discussing media stuff with like minded people over houmous, grapes, excellent crackers..and vegan crisps.)
So how will groups of people flicking through a publication and chatting about it help to spiritually cleanse toxic media and help us to undo the ‘menticide’ (deliberately false and divisive propaganda designed to keep vested interests in power) we are subjected to hundreds of times every day?
Liz, co-founder of Media Revolution explains. “We feel baffled and overwhelmed by trying to keep up with the news and figure out what’s accurate and what’s not. So coming together in a news club, talking with real people in person is a game changer! It’s so refreshing to break out of our little algorithm bubbles. Talking in person with people instead of endlessly scrolling rage-bait and comments from fake social media accounts designed to rot our brains…”
Liz, who in a previous life ran her own design and marketing agency, then spent time coordinating with Extinction Rebellion, decided to dedicate herself to Media Revolution, because “it feels like every change we need to see in the world is stuck behind a broken information system deliberately designed to scare and confuse us.”
“I love that no two news clubs are the same. You always learn something new. Hearing what someone experiences when they read something is eye-opening. You get a real feeling of connection”.
One of the surprising things I learned was when Bex shared her reason for coming to the news club.
“I got involved with Media Revolution on the back of breakdown in the relationship with a close family member due to far-right radicalisation. I never saw it coming. Then I went to the Media Democracy festival this year and it made me realise that we are all victims of the divide and conquer exploitation of mainstream media. We’re manipulated so that our own internalised oppressions – sexism, racism, ageism, whatever – are being used to brainwash and divide us. it’s called menticide and was used in Nazi Germany to turn people against their neighbours.
“I love that News Clubs bring people into community and connection and that Media Revolution give so much respect to everyone. There’s a humility and understanding that this is a systemic issue. It’s not about taking sides, but enabling people to choose what they think and feel from an empowered place, rather than fear and manipulation.”
As Bex shared about her family breakdown I recalled something that happened to a close activist friend. They had a close and supportive relationship with their family, including supporting them through a time of activism-related incarceration, only to realise recently that their family member had been radicalised by anti-immigrant /refugee rhetoric, forcing them to cut ties. The pain that both they and Bex shared was very real.
The news club uses a simple ‘CAPE‘ format to analyse content: Content. Accuracy. Politics. Emotions. They use active listening and have an ‘empty chair’ awareness to include all voices and species who may not be in the room.
Begona, from the Bristol Cable, facilitated with a light touch, ensuring we all felt heard. “I’m tired of having conversations with people who think like me! We hope that they will highlight the role of independent media as a catalyst for civic participation. The Cable believes that journalism shouldn’t stop at identifying problems. We want to help create the conditions for solutions, bringing people together, connecting different narratives and creating opportunities for shared action.”
So that’s why I’m excited.
People sitting around discussing news, meaning, media manipulation and how to change the world while drinking coffee and snacking…If this sounds like a plan, keep an eye open for a Media Revolution news club happening near you.
You know it makes sense…
In the meantime, as the saying goes, stay cool, hang loose, admit nothing.
