Gatekeeping Forces, Nightmare Bacteria and the Fair Use & Journalism Video Explainer

FROM THE DIRECTOR We’re eager to hear what you think of the new name and organization of the website! And we’re also collecting stories of how you’re using fair use codes of best practices in your own work--what’s working and what’s not. Please get in touch at cmsimpact@gmail.com; and look for how we put your insights to work. Have you seen our new video on the Set of Practices in Fair Use for Journalism? Feedback, please! Meanwhile, we’re already planning Media That Matters 2014, and looking forward to seeing you there, so don’t forget to mark your calendar. Going to IDFA? Then I hope to run into you there! See you soon, Pat Aufderheide NOVEMBER 2013 — HIGHLIGHTS — >> Save the Date for Media That Matters 2014! >> What Filmmakers Can Learn from Journalists >> Fair Use Question - Ilustration in News Reporting  >> PBS FRONTLINE Tackles "Nightmare Bacteria" >> REACT to FILM Screening: How to Make Money Selling Drugs UPCOMING EVENTS Save the Date for Media That Matters 2014! The upcoming 10th anniversary conference will take place February 6-7, 2014. Registration for this year's conference, "Building the Storytelling Experience", will open in December, in the meantime check out our sponsorship opportunities!  Read more... American University is committed to providing accessible programs and services. For accommodations, contact dss@american.edu. MAKING YOUR MEDIA MATTER "State of Play" Reexamines Gatekeeping Forces in the Media Self-publishing has removed traditional barriers to distribution, but the result is what Nick Michael calls "a soup of undifferentiated content" that makes it harder for filmmakers to get their audiences' attention. These days, the problem isn't putting your message out there; it's finding people who will listen to you.  Read more... What Filmmakers Can Learn from Journalists (and Vice Versa) At the always-electrifying Online News Association conference, filmmakers could learn plenty from journalists—including the fact that journalists think they need filmmakers. Read more... "God and Gangs" Short Films Debut on YouTube Documentary filmmaker Bill Gentile looks at the role of religion in curbing Guatemalan gang violence in his new short film series, “God and Gangs: Criminal Violence and Religion in Guatemala.” Gentile, who teaches backpack journalism at American University, says Guatemalan gang members “have two exit routes: a coffin and the Evangelical Church”.  Read more... FAIR USE Fair Use & Journalism Video Explainer: Making Copyright the Journalist's Friend Check out our new video "Making Copyright the Journalist's Friend"- a 7-minute visual explainer to the Set of Principles in Fair Use for Journalism. This video helps educators and professionals understand when and how to legally use copyrighted material when practicing journalism under the protection of copyright law. It's a powerful tool for the journalism profession, media criticism and freedom of expression. Watch now... Fair Use Question of the Month: Illustration in News Reporting In this week’s question of the month, a reporter wonders if it’s ok to use Twitpics from customers to illustrate a feature story on the growing popularity of food trucks. Read more... FUTURE OF PUBLIC MEDIA PBS FRONTLINE Tackles "Nightmare Bacteria" One of the great storytelling challenges when it comes to public health issues is relating to audiences. Luckily for writer, producer and director Rick Young, “the FRONTLINE audience is very sophisticated.” Read more... PARTNER NEWS REACT to FILM Screening: "How to Make Money Selling Drugs" REACT to FILM AU in partnership with Students for Sensible Drug Policy present a free screening of “How to Make Money Selling Drugs, Tuesday, November 5. Moving from desperate street dealers to millionaire kingpins, from well-funded DEA agents to politicians who ensure reelection through egregious drug laws, “How to Make Money Selling Drugs” is a captivating, shockingly candid guide to the entrenched, corrupt and violent drug industry in which these players each inhabit a vital role. Read more… Community Cinema DC Screenings: "The State of Arizona" The new season of Community Cinema DC continues with November screenings of “The State of Arizona” at Busboys and Poets, the DC Jewish Community Center, and The Hill Center. “The State of Arizona” captures the explosive emotions and complex realities behind Arizona's headline-grabbing struggle with illegal immigration. Learn more... Community Stories Festival Filmmaking workshops, interactive storytelling sessions, and two nights of screenings of films on local people and places are among the events featured at the Community Stories Festival, November 14 - 18, at venues in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Maryland. The Community Stories Festival celebrates both the local community and the works of the region's growing cadre of emerging documentary filmmakers. Read more… The Land of Opportunity Interactive Web Platform This month, Land of Opportunity will release a new interactive web platform, which explores post-crisis community (re)building in America. The beta platform merges compelling multimedia storytelling with curated data, research, and calls to action in one experimental collaborative space. Watch the trailer... Apply Now for Diverse Voices in Docs Applications are now open for the second year of Diverse Voices in Docs, Kartemquin and Community Film Workshop's mentorship program for filmmakers of color. The program includes six intensive three-hour workshops held monthly at the Community Film Workshop, with creative advice provided by Kartemquin Films’ world-class staff and associates. Apply by December 13, 2013. Read more… Center for Environmental Filmmaking 2013 Film Series Join the Center for Environmental Filmmaking and Filmmakers for Conservation for November events hosted by Chris Palmer at American University. Upcoming screenings include, “Crowdfunding Success,” “Drawing Inspiration with Jim Toomey,” and “Telling Big Stories With Tiny Critters.” Read more…

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