9 - 11 Opening Plenary

Welcome and Statement of Purpose - 15 min
Peter Phillips, David Kubiak

 What does our democracy need to hear and see?

In Search of Some Big Picture/Deep Structure Consensus on the Basic Threat(s) We Face, Our Potential Media Power, and Credible Political Goals.

Kristina Borjesson, David Cobb, David Ray Griffin, David Lindorff, Peter Dale Scott, Cindy Sheehan...
 
What can independent media achieve this year if it tries?

-Assessing our current growth, strength and potential as a transformative political force

Jason McKain, Danny Schechter, Barbara Trent, Toni Whiteman

What we can start to do right now

- Explaining the structure, theme division and goals of summit format - and how to extract the most juice from this event

Kenoli Oleari, Marc Trognotti

• What citizens need to hear and know to preserve our democracy
• What independent media can do
• Short intro to conference process

11:00 - 12:00 Affinity Groups

Theme Breakout Sessions

Overview -
Design: Each session will consist of very brief (2-3 min.) resource team self intros - who they are, what they've studied, and their areas of concern; 15-20 min group interaction deciding how to best use them to achieve the session's goals; 30 min discussion; 10 min group interaction prioritizing summary Q&A; and 20 min responses.

1) narrative/Messaging theme

- How and what we need to communicate

Challenge: Discovering in 2008 America the story lines, language and memetic synergy that would reveal the deepest reality, promote the most effective activism, and give the greatest hope

2) news Source development theme

- What we need to know and share

Challenge: Rebuilding the power of investigative journalism, supporting whistleblowers, and creating a comprehensive influential source of trenchant non-corporate news

3) networking/technology theme

- What we need to deliver the goods

Challenge: Designing/exploiting new media tech, alliances and networks to distribute news further, faster, cheaper with far more political impact

Three breakout tracks:

1. Messaging and Master Narratives
2. Empowering Investigative Reporting, Whistleblowers & News Source Creation
3. Networking Technologies and Alliances

To reiterate design issue: panel members are NOT "speakers" but resource people for the group to gratefully exploit, and other members of the session group may be called upon as well......

1 - 2:30 Theme Breakout Sessions 1

Narrative/Messaging Session I
Understanding the current zeitgeist, propaganda models, and public mind

Resource Team: David Altheide, Dennis Bernstein, Kristina Borjesson, Marc Pilisuk 

Resource Team lists are still partial...

news Source development Session I
Maximizing the clout of whistleblowers and investigative reporting

Resource Team: Larisa Alexandrovna,  Charlotte Dennett, Brad Friedman, Ray McGovern, Colleen Rowley,

networking/technology Session I
Marrying the best network tech and distribution models out there

Resource Team: David Mathison, John Perry Barlow, Jason McKain, Carolyn Goosen, Lauren Elliott

3 - 4:30 Theme Breakout Sessions 2

narrative/Messaging Session II
Identifying common themes underlying diverse crises

Resource Team: David Cobb, Frank Dorrell, Bonnie Faulkner, Robert Fitrakis, Michael Nagler

Resource Team lists are still partial...

news Source development Session II
Designing collaborative platforms for non-corporate news and analysis

Resource Team: Peter Phillips, Paul Thompson, Janice Matthews, Mickey Huff,

networking/technology Session II
Evolving into and supplanting the mainstream

Resource Team: Russ Baker, Dennis Bernstein, Jalal Ghazi, John Scott,

4:30 - 5:30 Affinity Groups 2nd Huddle

Choose group roles* (see right)

• 3-minute report-backs on earlier theme breakouts.
• Discussion
• Identify items to post on Narrative and Goals walls.
• Deploy for Sun. breakouts (assign reporter(s) to each session).
• Post items on walls.

*Group roles:

• Discussion leader.
• Recorder.
• Time-keeper.
• Wall-person.
• Breakout Session Reporters

7:00 - 9:30 Entertainment Cash Bar

Flash Points Poetry Slam hosted by Dennis Bernstein

Includes open mike segment

- All social message poets welcome...