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Media Activism Tools

Welcome to our Media Activism Tools Page. Here you will find valuable studies, information regarding media activism, media education and different projects around the country doing similar media work.

These tools are very helpful for anyone looking to inform themselves or their organizations in matters concerning Latinos and the media, media activism and media justice.

If you know of more resources that would be useful, please contact us.

Studies

These studies, put forward by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) give excellent background on coverage of Latinos nationwide. If you are looking for data to quote relating specifically to Latinos and the media nationwide, these are excellent references.

The "Brownout" reports deal specifically with the portrayal of Latinos in network television news and go back to 2001. The News Magazine Coverage of Latinos 2005 Report looked at three major U.S. news magazines and analyzed both the frequency and the quality of coverage on Latinos.

Media Activism Kits and Resources

  • Media Empowerment Project's Manual - English (PDF)
    Media Empowerment Project's Manual - Spanish (PDF)
    This manual, fully translated in both English and Spanish, is a guide to understanding media power and organizing for media justice in your community; it offers nearly 50 pages of information, organizing tools and strategies.
  • Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting's Media Activism Resources
    This website includes wonderful resources including an exhaustive Media Contact List, Media Activism Kits, and a listing of Media Activism Groups.
  • Free Press's Activist Tools
    This site includes excellent resources including: Media Policy 101, Media Reform Action Guide, Mobilizing Media Reform, 10 Things Big Media Doesn't Want You to Know, 10 Questions About Media to Ask Every Candidate and Elected Official, Free Press Signup Sheets.
  • Resource Center of the Americas' How To Write a Great Editorial: Top 10 Tips
    The Resource Center of the Americas, is a local non-profit organization which informs, educates and organizes to promote human rights, democratic participation, economic justice and cross-cultural understanding in the context of globalization in the Americas. Their former Editorial Director, Mary Turck prepared these tips to writing a powerful Letter to the Editor.