Video workshop at WWP conference

In an effort to meet the increasing need for organization in this time of increasing class-consciousness and struggle, Peoples Video Network held a breakfast workshop at the recent Workers World Conference. The conference drew interested participants from all over the country. Reflecting that, the early morning workshop had activists from Boston, San Diego, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia and the greater New York area. The goal was to coordinate reporting news of the struggle as an alternative to the corporate media.

Sue Harris, New York co-director of PVN, described the 15-year history of the network, highlighting its 10 years in public-access television, with 50 weekly shows nationwide, and the production of “Poison Dust,” a full-length, nationally distributed documentary about depleted uranium.

She mentioned the more recent appearance of PVN on YouTube/peoplesvideo, workers.tv and peoplesvideo.tv. Stressing the wider reach of on-line broadcasting, she reported that some of the videos presented on YouTube reached tens of thousands—particularly prison interviews with Mumia Abu-Jamal as well as videos about the immigration struggle and Palestine.

Harris said, “We need to seize the means of production from the corporate media and tell our own story.”

Joel Stephen, an emerging professional videographer, spoke briefly about his work in corporate media. The corporate media approach to news-gathering obfuscates and hides the truth, he said, and makes it impossible to get one’s hands on equipment or training. He compared that to his experience with PVN, where he got hands-on training and experience in situations where it really counts.

Robert Summerville, a veteran public access producer, gave a brief history of his Long Island network and how it has influenced local government and community. He was eager to coordinate work with PVN. Summerville talked about the need to keep topics in the public consciousness, unlike the corporate media that focuses on topics and then drops them. The repetition of news of the same struggles from all over the country can produce a powerful momentum in people’s consciousness.

Nana Soul of Blackwaxx emphasized the power of collective planning at this time.

Berta Joubert-Ceci, PVN co-director from Philadelphia, said that joining forces, trading information and coordinating the work improved chances for funding and learning. The workshop was a step in the process of organizing to meet the needs of the coming period.