Amy Goodman, Paul Mellon Distinguished Fellow Lecture 2002

Groundbreaking independent journalist Amy Goodman gives a lecture at Skowhegan talking about her role starting the not-for-profit, independent news channel Democracy Now!. Goodman talks about being inspired by the history of Pacifica radio: a source of storytelling run by journalists which began in Berkeley, California. Goodman says how inspiring it is to watch librarians and everyday activists enter the front lines on the war for freedom, the importance of the preservation of public spaces and independent voices, and the need to always critique corporate media and hold those with power accountable. Goodman also comments on the expansion of Democracy Now!, stating that it started as a public radio program in 1996 and has now expanded public access across television. Goodman says that she is inspired by media activists and their fight to take television away from corporations, and how Democracy Now! is about bringing community together in public spaces to take on corporate media by always covering grassroots movements around the world.