I am doing it. trying to live out my dream as independent journalist, media maker and media trouble maker. Making programs, editing the mediachannel.org website, and trying to raise my voice against irresponsible media practices.

It is an effort to marry money and meaning in an industry where the twain rarely meet. We have been doing it for 16 years. It is clearly an uphill battle especially when many of the people you hope would "get it" and be supportive are more mesmerized by getting into Hollywood or tagging behind big name celebrities as if their aura will run off on them. At the same time, there are many satisfactions, not the least of which is knowing that you are on the right side, in for the long haul. I went to South Africa as a kid at age 15 in l967. Remained active. Ended up being aside Mandela when he was elected President. As he put it, there is no easy walk to freedom and for the rest of us no easy walk to finding satisfaction and supportive community. For any of you interested in my adventures in this regard, I would refer you to two of my books "THE MORE YOU WATCH, THE LESS YOU KNOW" (Seven Stories) and NEWS DISSECTOR (Akashic Books) The stories are all there.

Right now I am embedded in my own bunker, watching the war with horror, not only because so many lives are being lost but because so many of us are being lied too so well--and many buying into it. Making media that matters depends on having some clear ideas about what does matter and how to translate that for all the folks who are inundated with the "faking news machine." I came off the mountain at Sundance inspired that there are so many beginning to take these challenges serious. But can we work together? Can we build the beloved community that Dr. King used to preach about. Can we hold on to our vision in these dark times.