News

Press Release: Help Burmese Journalists and Media Personnel Affected by Cyclone Nargis

News Release: HCMC condemns the violent suppression of human rights in Burma

(October 6, 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii) The Honolulu Community-Media Council (HCMC) joins with the Burma Media Association and other international organizations in expressing outrage at the violent suppression of human rights by Burma’s military regime. At least 1,000 people have been jailed and an untold number killed by military forces bent on silencing freedom of expression in Burma.

To read full news release- click here.

Audio Recording: "Serial Communications"

(September 14, 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii)Listen to the audio recording of oral arguments before Hawaii's Intermediate Court of Appeals in the "Serial Communications" case in which HCMC is one of the plaintiffs. This is an appeal of a judgment in favor of our position saying that City Council cannot have private serial communications regarding pending decisions: ICA - No. 27996 - Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. RIGHT TO KNOW COMMITTEE, a Hawaii non-profit corp., et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees/Cross-Appellants, and STATE OF HAWAI`I, Intervenor-As-A-Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellee, vs. CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU; et al, Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees. (Declaratory Judgment)

To listen to the recording, click here.

News Release: FCC Creates a Climate of Chaos over Video Franchising

(September 14, 2007, Washington, D.C.) News release regarding the Federal Communications Commission and pending decisions re: cable franchise agreements- click here.

Minutes of HCMC's September 2007 meeting

(September 8, 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii) For the minutes of the September 2007 meeting of the Honolulu Community Media Council click here.

Northeast Asia: Meeting Regional Challenges in the Media

(June 6, 2007, Wednesday, Honolulu, Hawaii) The Honolulu Media Council is pleased to announce that it is co-sponsoring another senior journalist forum with the East West Center, SPJ and Pacific Asian Affairs Council on June 6, 11:30 - 1:30 at the EWC Imin Conference Center. The luncheon panel brings together senior journalists from Japan, South Korea and the U.S. and presentations will include: North Korea, Regional Trade, and Reconciling Histories in NE Asia.

For the invitation of the event, click here.

Building Understanding between the United States and the Asian Muslim World

(May 25, 2007, Friday, Honolulu, Hawaii) The Honolulu Media Council joins the East West Center, Society of Professional Journalists , and Pacific and Asian Affairs Council in sponsoring a Senior Journalist Forum: Building Understanding Between the United States and the Asian Muslim World, May 25 11:30 - 1:30 at the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center.

Journalists from the United States and Asian countries with substantial Muslim populations presented their reflections and new insights stemming from their participation in the Senior Journalists Seminar, an EWC travel, study, and dialogue program. This program offered an opportunity for senior reporters, columnists, and producers to engage their peers on issues that have hurt relations between these Asian countries and the U.S., especially since 9/11.

For the invitation of the event, click here.

“Media and Emergency Response” To Be Topic Of Honolulu Community-Media Council Meeting

(February 27, 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii) The Honolulu Community-Media Council (HC-MC) hosted a luncheon meeting open to the public on February 27 at the Ala Moana Hotel to examine the media’s capability to respond quickly to emergencies.

The program titled “Media and Emergency Response” featured a panel discussion among representatives of print and broadcast media, State government and the public.

HCMC president Chris Conybeare said the panel examined the difficulties experienced by government and the media on October 15th after two strong earthquakes rattled the state and prompted a major power outage on Oahu. At one point, 70 percent of the state’s broadcast stations were off the air, which restricted the flow of emergency information to the public. Conybeare said the panel also discussed measures taken since Earthquake Sunday to strengthen media operations and improve the chain of emergency communications from State Civil Defense and other authorities to the public.

Panelists included Mark Platte, editor of The Honolulu Advertiser; Chuck Cotton, vice president and general manager of seven Honolulu radio stations owned by Clear Channel; Michael Titterton, general manager of Hawaii Public Radio; Marsha Weinert, the State Administration’s liaison to the visitor industry and co-chair of the Comprehensive Communications Review Committee that proposed communications improvements after the October 15th earthquakes, and Honolulu communications consultant Doug Carlson, writer of the Citizens Helping Officials Respond to Emergencies (CHORE) web log.

Conybeare said the February 27th luncheon was the first of several events this year as the Council resumes a regular schedule of communications-oriented programs. The HC-MC was established in 1970 and is the oldest of the three volunteer media councils that exist in the United States. The Council is composed of individuals from the community and media and is a non- partisan, non-profit, non-governmental independent group that seeks to improve public access to information, strengthen public support for First Amendment rights and freedoms, broaden public understanding of the role of the media, and promote accurate and fair journalism in Hawaii.

For the invitation of the event, click here and for the news release of the event, click here

Media Contact: Chris Conybeare, 225-6288

March 14, 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii

Digital Democracy and Freedom of Information Luncheon

The Honolulu Community Media Council presents - Annual Freedom of Information luncheon and keynote address: “Digital Democracy and Freedom of Information” Featuring Mark Cooper, Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America and a Fellow at the Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society, and the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information. While Congress and the U.S. Administration are deciding the future of media, Dr. Cooper will reflect on future implications for broadband media. The event was held on March 14, 2006 (Tuesday) at the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center – EWC, Garden Level, 1777 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848 at 12:00 Noon. For more information, click here.

March 3, 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii

Press freedom at risk in the Philippines

The Honolulu Community Media Council views with grave concern apparent attempts to curtail press freedom following President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s declaration of a state of national emergency in the Philippines. For full story, click here.

October 20, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

"Why Are They Killing Journalists?” A Filipino Journalist Talks about the Threat to Press Freedom

In 2004 more than 55 journalists were killed while on the job. At the event hosted by the Honolulu Community Media Council at Sacred Hearts Academy on October 20, 2005, visiting Filipino journalist, Luisita Cruz-Valdez talked about the threat to press freedom. Ms. Cruz-Valdez discussed the challenges facing journalists in the Philippines, the public’s right to information and the role women have played in the media. Ms. Cruz-Valdez is Vice President for Current Affairs of ABS-CBN, the largest radio and television network in the Philippines. For a summary of the event, click here.

September 20, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Annual General Membership Meeting

Welcome to a new HCMC season! We have exciting programs in the planning stages, and hope to see you at our monthly meetings.

The first meeting of the new season, our Annual General Membership Meeting, will be on Tuesday, September 20 from noon to 1:30pm at The Pacific Club, Cleghorn Room. Registration begins at 11:30AM.

For the meeting agenda click here, and for driving directions to the Pacific Club, click here.

June 3, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Assassination of Samir Kassir Latest Assault on Press Freedom

In late April Fulbright Researcher, Chris Conybeare, provided a grim report on the high price of journalistic freedom at a Honolulu Community Media Council luncheon at the Pacific Club. Having spent 2003-204 as a Fulbright Research Fellow in Turkey and having traveled extensively elsewhere, Conybeare was able to provide numerous stories of journalistic courage in the face of harassment, intimidation and very real threats to life.

Today, we receive with sadness and outrage the news of the assassination of outspoken Lebanese journalist, Samir Kassir who had been under constant threat because of his courage in speaking out against Syrian domination of his country’s politics. This tragic event lends further weight to the importance of Conybeare’s report and the need for continued vigilance in protecting the freedom and responsibility of the press to keep the public informed. According to Conybeare who is also a television journalist, media and human rights lawyer, in 2004 more than 55 journalists were killed while on the job, scores of others beaten, jailed and harassed.

We deeply regret that today one more important voice has been silenced.

Beth Ann Kozlovich

Chair,

Honolulu Community Media Council

April 5, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

World Report on Journalism Luncheon: "A Dangerous Year for Journalism... and Some Good News"

(April 19, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii) The news from Chris Conybeare, speaker at the Honolulu Community Media Council’s luncheon on April 19 at the Pacific Club could be summarized as: "World Report: A Dangerous Year for Journalism... and Some Good News" . For a summary of the luncheon and pictures, click here.

April 2, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Freedom of Information Project Activities

Through collaboration with many organizations and individuals, HCMC’s FOI Project for 2005 expanded far beyond the annual Freedom of Information Day Luncheon. Fifteen activities were included in the FOI Project; all key events were successfully produced and attracted relatively large audiences. While HCMC was the lead organizer, the following organizations were key partners: Society of Professional Journalists, Sunshine Week Project, Society of Professional Journalists - University of Hawaii Chapter, Asian American Journalists Association, KHON-TV2, East-West Center, UH School of Communications, UH Political Science Department, UH English Department, UH Office of Sustainability, University Peace Initiative, Mark’s Garage, FOI Artisans, Honolulu Weekly, UH Political Film Series, UH Hawaii Film Series, Hawaii Institute for Human Rights, re:VERSES Poetry Collective, and Youth Speaks Hawaii.

March 16, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Freedom of Information Day Luncheon

March 16th- Freedom of Information Day is celebrated nationally on the anniversary of President James Madison’s birth. Madison was the chief author of the Bill of Rights. The Honolulu Community Media Council joined the celebration with a luncheon featuring guest speaker Bill Dedman of the Boston Globe, Pulitzer Prize winner, as part of a series of events ending April 2 to highlight the importance of the First Amendment and the need for public access to government information. For a summary of the luncheon and pictures, click here.

March 1, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii Freedom of Information Project Activities

The Honolulu Community Media Council is proud to be a leading sponsor of the Hawaii Freedom of Information Project which is coordinating a series of events from March 13 to April 1, 2005. For a complete list of the upcoming events and for more information click here or check our FOI calendar of events. In addition, please check the Freedom of Information Herald for more detailed information and interesting facts about the upcoming events (Adobe Acrobat required, please visit www.adobe.com for free download if needed).

February 15, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Business Side of Media Luncheon

The Honolulu Community Media Council and Society of Professional Journalists hosted an exciting luncheon program at the Pacific Club on the topic of the “The Business Side of Media” featuring three media leaders: Mike Fisch, Honolulu Advertiser President/Publisher; Mike Rosenberg, KITV President/General Manager; and Michael Titterton, Hawai’i Public Radio President/General Manager. For a summary and pictures of the event, please click here.

January 25, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii Ethnic Media Luncheon: Twin Challenges of Serving Readers and Remaining Viable

In its first public event since the start of the new year, the Honolulu Community Media Council hosted a luncheon panel discussion at the Pacific Club on January 18 that featured spokespersons from television, radio and print media dedicated to serving specific ethnic groups. For a summary and pictures of the event, please click here.

May 18, 2004. Honolulu, Hawaii

THE STRONG FOUNDATION GRANTS $25,000 TO HONOLULU COMMUNITY MEDIA COUNCIL

The Honolulu Community Media Council has been granted $25,000 from The Strong Foundation to establish and support the Youth Speakers Bureau Community Outreach Project of the Honolulu Community Media Council.

Under this project, members of the Honolulu Community Media Council will speak to Hawaii’s students and community organizations on First Amendment Rights and the Media, Media and Democracy, Freedom of Information and Democracy and Understanding the Media and Media Literacy. To find out more, please click here.

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