Chicago public tv prost documentary censorship

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Chicago public tv prost documentary censorship

Postby sam » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:38 am

http://www.windycitymediagroup. com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=17026

Beyondmedia’s Battle
by Amy Wooten
2007-12-26

Beyondmedia Education is currently engaged in a censorship battle with Chicago public television station WTTW for its refusal to air Beyondmedia’s award-winning documentary about prostitution in Chicago, Turning a Corner.

As a result of this disappointment, Beyondmedia wants to draw attention to what they believe is a dire need for the community to regain access to public media. They will hold a public meeting mid-January to discuss the issue of access to media and censorship with allies and supporters in order to come up with a unified action plan. The main goal will be to later meet with public media outlets and come up with a plan to expand media access and representation.

Turning a Corner won the Chicago Reporter’s John A. McDermott Documentary ( Short ) Film Competition. The competition promised that the winner would get his or her film screened on WTTW’s Image Union program, but the station is now refusing to air the film because it feels the subject matter, prostitution, is too sensitive. ( According to the Chicago Reader, Image Union producer Eddie Griffin said that his program never promised to air the winner of the competition. )

Turning a Corner is a documentary that shares the personal stories of women who were once involved in the Chicago sex trade. It was created in a media activism workshop with former sex trade workers, all members of Prostitution Alternatives Round Table. These women, while sharing their personal stories, attempt to raise awareness about the multiple issues surrounding prostitution and promote reform. The film shows that the issue of prostitution is a small slice of a much larger pie, and highlights other issues as well, such as racism, the unfairness of the criminal justice system, abuse, homelessness and much more.

Turning a Corner does not contain any nudity or foul language. Beyondmedia Education Executive Director Salome Chasnoff believes WTTW’s action is outright censorship. Chasnoff is also the director of Turning a Corner.

Chasnoff is concerned that WTTW has become very entertainment-heavy, and that the community’s voices aren’t represented. Although Beyondmedia wouldn’t mind being screened on the station, they really want WTTW to rethink the direction that pubic television is going in.

“The issue is much larger,” Chasnoff said. “Yes, we want a screening. But one of the reasons we want a screening is so people know that action matters, and that it is worthwhile standing up for yourself.”

Beyondemedia wants to take this opportunity to explore larger issues like access to the media, as well as censorship.

“We’re feeling the pinch here. I don’t think we yet have the kind of media democracy movement we should have,” Chasnoff added.

Beyondmedia, in partnership with Columbia College Chicago’s Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media and Crossroads Fund, will hold a public media justice meeting Jan. 17, 5-7 p.m.. The event will take place at Columbia College Chicago, 218 S. Wabash, 7th floor, Room 713. Beyondmedia asks that individuals RSVP to beyond@beyondmedia.org or 773-973-2280.

The purpose of the meeting is for people to engage in a process to yield dialogue and an action plan.

Beyondmedia is a nonprofit that focuses on telling the stories of under-represented communities, such as women and youth. See http://www.beyondmedia.org for more information.
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