May 5, 2009Newsletter

I'm looking forward to going down to the Copyright Office this week, to hear colleagues from the Media Education Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Kartemquin Films and others argue that their creative communities need exemptions from the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. The DMCA prohibits breaking code on a digital file (such as music or a movie), even when you could legally use the materials inside under fair use. Our colleagues, with our help and with the support of the Washington College of Law, have developed some powerful arguments for exemptions for media literacy teachers and for documentary filmmakers. I'll tell you what happened next month!

Meanwhile, I hope I see you at Reel Journalism or one of the other events we're co-sponsoring this month.

Pat Aufderheide

Reel Journalism

Beginning May 18, we join the Newseum and the American University School of Communication in presenting the annual film series Reel Journalism, showcasing classic and contemporary films depicting journalists' integral role in American life. This series showcases how journalists are portrayed in American popular culture; each session is accompanied with a discussion with professionals. Center Director Pat Aufderheide will introduce The War Room on May 18th; the next film is A Mighty Heart on June 1st. Read more here and buy your tickets today.

Beyond Broadcast 2009

Have you signed up yet for this year's Beyond Broadcast? The conference, which the Center is co-sponsoring, is June 3-6 at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School. The theme is: Public Service Media from Local to Global. The Center's Jessica Clark, a co-organizer of the conference, is also organizing a panel on impact measurement for mission-driven media. Register today at beyondbroadcast.net, and feel free to sign in to the Beyond Broadcast social network site where conversations are blooming. We're using the same social networking site as last year, so if you're already signed up, you can use the same log in.

Free Press Summit

Free Press, national leader in calling for media reform, is hosting a one day policy summit at the Newseum in D.C. on Thursday, May 14, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We're all going! This event is sold out but you can sign up hereto join the waiting list. Hope you can make it.

Urban Nexus Conference

Join us and urban policy bloggers on May 21st in Washington D.C. as they address the question: Are bloggers the future of urban planning? We are proud to co-sponsor this conference because it's a great example of public media 2.0 in action. Visit our websitefor more information and registration.

Arts Engine's Media that Matters Festival

The Center is delighted to co-sponsor Arts Engine's Ninth Annual Media that Matters Film Festival on Wednesday, June 3 at the SVA Visual Arts Theater in NYC. Arts Engine is a real engine of independent creativity, and its annual festival (soon to go online!) showcases amazing work by emerging creators. Be among the first to see this year's 12 inspiring selections! More information is available here. mediathatmattersfest.org

Will Public Media Survive Where Mainstream Media Failed?

How will public media evolve to better serve publics in the digital, participatory age? Jessica Clark hosts a forum examining prospects for public media at The American Prospect online, including a forum on the idea of a public media network, a set of brief policy recommendations, and an adapted version of our white paper, Public Media 2.0: Dynamic, Engaged Publics co-written by Clark and Center director Pat Aufderheide. Read more here>>>

Converged Public Media Demands Converged Funding Solutions

While the interfaces for news and information may be converging, the business and production models are still very distinct. This makes for a complicated conversation when it comes to addressing the crisis in news, but some converged solutions are in sight. Read more here>>>

Knight Pulse Interviews Jessica Clark

Check out Jessica Clark's interview with Knight Pulse's Kristen Taylor about the Center's latest publication, Public Media 2.0: Dynamic, Engaged Publics. Clark discusses what we have learned about how to restructure media for public knowledge and action, and the possibility of creating a national network of engaged publics. You can read the full transcript of the interview here, or watch the video here!

Public Media 2.0 Showcase: Spot.us

Our latest feature in our Public Media 2.0 showcase is Spot.us, a social media website that works to pioneer "community funded reporting." The project invites media makers from all walks of life, both amateur and professional, to submit a story pitch online. Then visitors can pay for it. It even seems to work. Read more here>>>

Spreadable Media, Digital Libraries and MiT 6

From April 24-26, Pat Aufderheide and Jessica Clark attended and presented at the Media in Transition conference (MiT6.) MiT6 has become a destination conference for people concerned with the social and political implications of the digital era. Read more here for Pat's takeaways from the conference.

Outraged Librarians and Fair use

At the New York Metro Library Council's Digital Dilemmas conference, librarians (mostly from higher ed) gathered to puzzle out how to meet the needs of scholars who increasingly are everywhere but the library --even online. Read more about the conference here>>>

Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Dance Collections

Dance archivists, librarians and museum curators face questions about fair use every day. Now they have answers in the form of the Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use for Dance-Related Materials, available at danceheritage.org/fairuse.  The Center for Social Media, with the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property at the Washington College of Law, is proud to have contributed to this report authored by the Dance Heritage Coalition. The Dance Heritage Coalition is inaugurating this code on May 8 at 2 pm, at the Washington College of Law (4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) and we join them in welcoming you to the celebration. 

Fair Use Question of the Month: Students Using Copyrighted Music In School Projects

Every month the Center for Social Media answers a new question concerning fair use. This month's question deals with a high school teacher who wants to know when it's OK for students to use copyrighted music in their class projects.  Read more here>>>

Human Rights Films Series Footage

Check out insights from the podcasts we've just uploaded of visiting filmmaker Sam Pollard who joined us for last fall's Human Rights Film Series.

Congratulations to the Visions Winners

American University's School of Communications announced the winners of the VISIONS festival on Friday, and  associate director Alison Hanold was pleased to present a Center for Social Media award for the film Housecall Portraits to filmmakers Michael Hyde, Jen Collins, Christina Meisel, Mariana Pereira, and Nick Shupper.  The film takes an intimate look at the under-served elderly community of southeast D.C. and one dedicated physician who comes to their homes for treatment.  This film demonstrated the importance of addressing social issues through character development and nuance, and we commend these filmmakers for their great work.

And congratulations to Claire Darby, our graduate fellow, for winning the Best Documentary Script award! 

Putting the Code of Best Practices in Sustainable Filmmaking to Use

The Code of Best Practices in Sustainable Filmmaking is being put to use internationally. In Britain, the South West Screen has adopted it. South West Screen is an agency providing film locations, crew and services for films, television, photoshoots and advertising in SW England

In the U.S., film schools are looking at the Code as well. American University's School of Communication has built it into the film and media arts curriculum.

Scott Kirsner's New BookFans, Friends and Followers

Scott Kirsner, a speaker at the latest Making Your Media Matter conference, has published a new book, Fans, Friends and Followers that helps independent filmmakers reach viewers with social media 2.0 tools. Visit (and contribute to!) his wiki, which showcases some of the best tools for filmmakers who want to build community.Read and add to the wiki here.

Docs In Progress Films in DC

Docs In Progress returns to Washington D.C. on Friday, May 8 with its latest documentary work-in- progress program. The featured films include To See, a film by Chris Wohlers and Michelle Lia about Chris documenting a temporary experience of blindness; and Joe The Brother, which looks at the impact of political campaigning on the families of the candidates, using the examples of John McCain's brother Joe and filmmaker Liz Lovern whose mother is a local fixture in Virginia's Democratic Party. The screening takes place on Friday, May 8 from 7:00-9:30 pm at the George Washington University's Media and Public Affairs Building (805 21st Street, NW Washington DC). The program is organized by Docs In Progress and sponsored by The Documentary Center at the George Washington University.  Suggested donation: $5.  More information at http://www.docsinprogress.org