{"article":{"id":1893,"heading":"Working Assets Media: Corporate Media In Disguise?","author":"bob feldman","created":"2000-08-17 22:40:47","modified":"2000-08-18 01:17:39","last_modified":"Fri, 18 Aug 2000 08:17:39","article":"

Despite yet another Democratic Party Establishment-authorized LA police attack on non-violent protesters tonight, Working Assets-sponsored media seem to generally censor the various perspectives of most U.S. revolutionary Movement activists in its Democratic National Convention week protest coverage. One reason may be because Working Assets Inc. is a for-profit telecommunications corporation. Only a fraction of the $140 million in annual revenues that Working Assets Inc. collects from its exploitation of consumers is actually donated to U.S. social change groups. And Working Assets Inc. apparently refuses to make public the annual compensation it gives to its top corporate executives.

Working Assets Inc.'s apparent use of both the anti-corporate Movement and certain independent media centers as an additional marketing tool for Working Assets Inc.'s business\/media empire-building activity contradicts the traditional anti-profit\/non-profit\/anti-commercial goals of the U.S. Movement and the independent U.S. revolutionary media.

The Movement belongs to the people--not to Working Assets Inc.

End corporate-sponsored alternative media censorship of revolutionary U.S. Movement voices.

Revolution Now in the USA.<\/p>\n","contact":"bob_jan@xensei.com","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Is Working Assets media really a for-profit corporate alternative media?","numcomment":5,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2000\/08\/1893.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":1901,"heading":"Exactly What Long Distance Service Do YOU Use","article":"Exactly what long distance service do YOU use then??? Don't try and tell me that you are so liberated that you don't have a phone. If so, better make sure the revolution is only in shouting distance then. I have been with Working Assets for 6 years now and I truly believe they are a powerful asset to the causes on the street and in D.C. Trust me, I believe that all the free calls Working Assets has given to its customers to call the White House has done more good then a bunch of people bickering on the internet. \r\n\r\nAnd exactly how could they be a non-profit that is a for profit company? Do you have any proof of this? Doubt it. Better swallow your pride and sign up for a Working Assets account today so that you give every single month to the cause.\r\n","author":"JLR","parent_id":1893,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-17 22:51:57","modified":"2000-08-18 02:20:24","fileurl":""},{"id":1906,"heading":"Ummm...","article":"I think you're missing the poster's point, though I don't know what incidents his message exactly relates to.\r\n\r\nWorking Assets is FOR PROFIT. That's a fact. I believe\r\nworking assets was started as a spinoff project of Global Exchange (which is non-profit).\r\n\r\nAnyhow, I think the point that Bob Feldman was making is:\r\n\"The Movement belongs to the people--not to Working Assets Inc.\" Which is absolutely true regardless of how many free\r\nphone calls to congress that WALD offers.\r\n\r\nAgain, I don't know what brought on his post, hopefully,\r\nBob Feldman will explain further.\r\n\r\nShawn\r\n","author":"Shawn","parent_id":1893,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-17 23:06:04","modified":"2000-08-18 02:45:52","fileurl":""},{"id":1937,"heading":"Working Assets","article":"I've used Working Assests long distance for several years. I'm not under any illusions that they are 'not-for-profit', but some of the money I give them does go to good causes. They also do a fair bit of organizing for issues inside their billing. For example in my July bill there is a page offering to send letters to Congress on \"protect parks and wildlife\",\"raise the minimum wage\",and \"oppose the death penalty\". They charge a bit for this, but there is also something here about a daily \"free-speech\" call.\r\n\r\nAgain, I am not under any illusions that they are not making a profit. But a bit of my money is going to better causes than raising the AT&T stock price. If someone wants to offer a better deal, I'll take it. If the International Socialist Organization can offer me long distance at a somewhat decent rate, but all of the money left over after operating costs goes to activist organizations, I'll change. Until then, Working Assets is a better deal to me than AT&T.\r\n\r\nAs to their broadcasts, have you listened to Bob Harris or Laura Flanders? I think Bob Harris is hilarously funny in poking fun and pointing out the absurdity of both Republicans and Democrats. And Laura Flanders has done as good as job as any of covering the protestors outside the convention hall. \r\n\r\nThey aren't focusing entirely on the protests the way IMC is in their direct broadcasts, but they are doing a pretty good job. \r\n\r\nIf you want to pick a target in the Media to harrass, go work on CNN, Fox News, MicroSoft News, GE News, Disney News, et al. If we get to the point where Laura Flanders and RadioForChange is the top of our list as to who to criticize, then we've probably already won.\r\n\r\n","author":"marc","parent_id":1893,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-18 00:25:52","modified":"2000-08-18 00:44:15","fileurl":""},{"id":1945,"heading":"Re: Working Assets","article":"I think Laura Flanders is wonderful -- though I don't listen to radio for change. Bob Harris is a mildly amusing\r\nliberal, and as amusing liberals go, Michael Moore is much\r\nfunnier.\r\n\r\nI'm glad that you're not under any illusions about\r\nWorking Assets. I feel that, if they're doing something fucked up, they need to be called on it, it is irrelevant\r\nthat they are nicer than AT&T.\r\n\r\nNow let me be clear, I don't know if they are doing\r\nsomething fucked up or not. I asked Bob Feldman, the original poster, to clarify, he hasn't -- but then, he\r\nmight not have read this thread since posting the article.\r\n\r\nShawn\r\n","author":"Shawn Ewald","parent_id":1893,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-18 00:51:05","modified":"2000-08-18 01:03:25","fileurl":""},{"id":1961,"heading":"reacting to la & other imcs pr spin","article":"what i pick up from bob's posts is that there is a big lie going out to activists & protestors about the los angeles independent media center & the other imcs. they try to represent themselves & their actions as being completely anti-corporate & anti-capitalist (this includes in their meetings) but in truth they are neither, nor is this movement, which is a coalition of activists, with many who happily work with corporations that demonstrate social responsibility, as well as small businesses that do the same. does anyone really think that groups like regenerationtv.com & freespeech.org & rage against the machine don't use events like this to gain attention solely for themselves & their future plans? the problem is that they are just as adept at targeting their audience, protestors, activists, armchair 'anarchists', & selling that targeted demographic the spin they want to hear, not \"the people's\" stories. anyone noticed how the reference material in the e-zine is just the standrd academic\/intellectual rhetoric that has been available for years? at least the establishment, like working assets & the soros foundation are completely up front about where their money comes from, unlike the imcs.\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.workingforchange.com\/services\/aboutwa.cfm\r\n\r\n\"Working Assets Funding Service is a long distance, credit card, Internet\r\n services and broadcasting company that was created to build a world that is\r\n more just, humane and environmentally sustainable. Since Working Assets\r\n was created in 1985, the company has raised over $20 million by helping\r\n people make a difference in the world through progressive philanthropy and\r\n political activism. Working Assets Funding Service donates a portion of its\r\n revenue to nonprofit groups working for peace, human rights, equality,\r\n education and the environment. The company also serves as a strong\r\n political force, dedicated to giving its customers the opportunity to speak\r\n out on critical public issues... \r\n\r\n...WorkingForChange, the information portal for people for people who want to\r\n make a difference, was launched in the spring of 2000. At\r\n WorkingForChange.com, Working Assets customers along with the general\r\n pubic can access news, shopping, donation, activism, volunteer, and\r\n broadcasting services through a central online hub. NewsForChange provides\r\n a sharp, critical read of the latest headlines that are updated throughout the\r\n day. ActForChange allows individuals to find out how they can do something\r\n about the major issues of the day from the comfort of their computers or out\r\n on the actual front lines. RadioForChange features a live online audio feed\r\n from the Working Assets Broadcasting station in Boulder, CO. Local\r\n opportunities to make a difference are listed at VolunteerForChange, and\r\n online donation services are available at GiveForChange, the one stop shop\r\n for donating money to progressive nonprofits. ShopForChange offers another\r\n simple way to work for change -- 5 percent of the purchase price is donated\r\n to nonprofits when you buy products from one of our online merchants.\" ","author":"@","parent_id":1893,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-18 01:17:39","modified":"2000-08-18 01:32:35","fileurl":""}]}