HEADLINES
One weekend, two conventions
by Mary Turck, TC Daily Planet
Who will it be—Al Franken, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Mike Ceresi? This weekend’s DFL convention has become more of a horse race than expected. And in Minneapolis, the National Media Reform Conference continues with Amy Goodman, Bill Moyers, Dan Rather and much more. Just click on this page, and you will find links to all of the coverage of both political and media events this weekend.
Smalltown pride: Pine City LGBT picnic changes hearts and minds
by Andy Birkey, Minnesota Monitor
Pine City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride picnic celebrated its fourth year on Sunday, an occasion that was made all the more because dozens of “pro-family” residents who’d planned to protest their right to assemble never showed.
You don’t know Jack: can Nelson-Pallmeyer beat Franken for the DFL nomination?
by Paul Demko, Minnesota Monitor
In October, Barb Olsen drove from her Duluth home to Augsburg College in order to watch Al Franken speak at a forum. She was extremely excited about the radio host and satirist’s then-fledgling senatorial campaign.
Live, from Seward June 6-8
by John O’Brien, The Bridge
“Live from Minneapolis, it’s Saturday Night!” No, the legendary late night TV jokesters have not left New York and taken the show on the road. However, Saturday Night Live! (SNL) will be the theme for this year’s annual outdoor show, put on by a group of talented Seward youth. All proceeds from the event go to benefit Project Offstreets’ Kulture Klub.
Local innovators offer a “Minnesota model” for media reform
by Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet
“The Twin Cities have been an epicenter for media consolidation,” notes the National Conference for Media Reform program book. “Both daily newspapers have been bought, sold, and downsized by conglomerates. The alternative weekly is part of a national chain, too. And the TV and radio airwaves are dominated by some of the nation’s biggest media companies.” Yet the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is also home to some of the country’s most exciting alternative media projects.
INSIDE THE DAILY PLANET
One language, many voices
by Mary Turck, TC Daily Planet
Spanish Language Media: Is it serving the Hispanic community? That was the question posed for a panel at the National Conference for Media Reform.
NCMR panel blasts media coverage of American media as shallow and “ignorant”
by Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet
On Friday afternoon, media coverage of American politics came under impassioned attack by members of a panel at the National Conference for Media Reform.
Meeting (and mending) with Obama in the bowels of the Xcel center
by Paul Demko, Minnesota Monitor
At the end of Barack Obama’s speech last night, roughly 20 audience members were whisked away to the bowels of the Xcel Energy Center to meet with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The group, assembled by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman during the previous 24 hours, were supporters of Hillary Clinton. They included former Secretary of State Joan Grow, Minneapolis City Council members Barb Johnson and Gary Schiff, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Minnesota AFL-CIO president Ray Waldron.
NEW IN VOICES
Walking with the Proverbs
by Larry Johnson, Special to the TC Daily Planet
When I took the 50 Mile Hike in 1961, I was still a Republican, like most of my family. Things change, however, and when I hiked 61 miles on my 61st birthday, I was also celebrating something like 40 years of leaning slightly to the left. Even so, I believe strongly in dialogue around differences, so I’ve been getting some pretty good business training from a group that leans strongly Republican — actually “take no prisoners” Republican.
NEW IN BLOGS
Preventing the next war
by Lydia Howell, 6/5/08 • On May 28, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., hosted Iran scholars for a community forum in a packed hall at the First Unitarian Society church in Minneapolis. The focus was on the U.S.-Iran relationship, estranged for over 30 years, which many fear may become the next chapter in the Bush administration’s “war on terrorism.”
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