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NETWORK NOTES

Radio programs air alternative viewpoints

Another source of information often forgotten about today is the radio. Although National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" have become considerably less critical of and more willing to air official press releases in the last few years, several radio programs still support important and often silenced voices.

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) produces "Counter Spin," a weekly look at media coverage of current events. This half-hour program is dedicated to revealing the inaccuracies, biases, and lies hidden in many pieces produced by major news sources like the Washington Post, the New York Times, and various television programs.

A more well-known program is Pacifica Radio's "Democracy Now," a daily hour-long comprehensive look at issues that don't receive much attention in the mainstream news. The program's recent coverage of the independence referendum in East Timor and the ensuing massacre by the Indonesian military began well before any substantial pieces made it to the cover of any major newspaper, and the show has continually aired unheard and unpopular facts about the explicit U.S. military, financial, and political support of the Indonesian Army.

Another program diverse in its topics and uplifting in its courage is "Alternative Radio," hosted by David Barsamian. Every week, "AR" airs an hour-long lecture by people such as Noam Chomsky, Susan Douglas, Bobby Seal, and Edward Said on a wide range of issues, both past and present.

Contact your local radio station for a schedule of these programs; or see www.pacifica.org and www.fair.org.