FreeMediaOnline.org
Encyclopedia
Free Media Online is a California
-based nonprofit organization
dedicated to defending and advancing free speech and freedom of the press
worldwide through journalistic, educational and information sharing activities. It was founded in 2006 by a group of media specialists with backgrounds in international broadcasting, media marketing, and media research. Free Media Online's main website, FreeMediaOnline.org, FreeMediaOnline.org has a blog Free Media Online Blog focused on media freedom, international broadcasting and public diplomacy. Free Media Online also publishes GovoritAmerika.us GovoritAmerika.US, a Russian-language news analysis website, and Opinia.US Opinia.US, a Polish-English bilingual news analysis website. Both websites offer current news, information and analysis from multiple sources, including US media and US government.
The organization's founder and president, Ted Lipien, was a journalist
, broadcast manager, and media marketing specialist at the Voice of America
(VOA) and the International Broadcasting Bureau
(IBB). He was in charge of VOA Polish radio programs during the Solidarity labor union's struggle for democracy in Poland
in the 1980s and helped place VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) programs on stations in the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union
, Afghanistan
, and in the Middle East
. Other founders and associates also had careers in journalism, human rights organizations and academic institutions.
Free Media Online's stated goal is to help create a media environment supporting greater freedom, understanding and tolerance. The organization advocates for the rights of independent media and works to make free information available to journalists in media-at-risk countries. It also offers training programs in journalism and media marketing. Free Media Online is registered in California as a nonprofit public benefit corporation.
Free Media Online offers free information sharing and program delivery assistance to journalists and media organizations whose right of free expression is denied or restricted. Its reports and analysis of media freedom and independence issues around the world are available for use free of charge by any media organization or independent journalists.
Recent FreeMediaOnline.org reporting covered issues of censorship
and other violations of freedom of the press in Russia, Iran
, Cuba
, and Venezuela
. FreeMediaOnline.org has published articles critical of President Vladimir Putin
's clampdown on independent media in Russia and Moscow's efforts to restrict rebroadcasting of RFE/RL and VOA news programs on Russia
n stations. FreeMediaOnline.org reports have been critical of the Bush Administration and the Broadcasting Board of Governors
(BBG) for their plans to eliminate VOA radio programs in Russian and for insufficient support for media independence in Eurasia.
FreeMediaOnline.org also publishes articles analyzing issues of journalistic balance and objectivity in U.S. media reporting dealing with issues of press freedom.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-based nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to defending and advancing free speech and freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
worldwide through journalistic, educational and information sharing activities. It was founded in 2006 by a group of media specialists with backgrounds in international broadcasting, media marketing, and media research. Free Media Online's main website, FreeMediaOnline.org, FreeMediaOnline.org has a blog Free Media Online Blog focused on media freedom, international broadcasting and public diplomacy. Free Media Online also publishes GovoritAmerika.us GovoritAmerika.US, a Russian-language news analysis website, and Opinia.US Opinia.US, a Polish-English bilingual news analysis website. Both websites offer current news, information and analysis from multiple sources, including US media and US government.
The organization's founder and president, Ted Lipien, was a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, broadcast manager, and media marketing specialist at the Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
(VOA) and the International Broadcasting Bureau
International Broadcasting Bureau
The International Broadcasting Bureau is an entity within the Broadcasting Board of Governors , which is a U.S. independent agency. The IBB supports the day-to-day operations of Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting...
(IBB). He was in charge of VOA Polish radio programs during the Solidarity labor union's struggle for democracy in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in the 1980s and helped place VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) programs on stations in the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Other founders and associates also had careers in journalism, human rights organizations and academic institutions.
Free Media Online's stated goal is to help create a media environment supporting greater freedom, understanding and tolerance. The organization advocates for the rights of independent media and works to make free information available to journalists in media-at-risk countries. It also offers training programs in journalism and media marketing. Free Media Online is registered in California as a nonprofit public benefit corporation.
Free Media Online offers free information sharing and program delivery assistance to journalists and media organizations whose right of free expression is denied or restricted. Its reports and analysis of media freedom and independence issues around the world are available for use free of charge by any media organization or independent journalists.
Recent FreeMediaOnline.org reporting covered issues of censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
and other violations of freedom of the press in Russia, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. FreeMediaOnline.org has published articles critical of President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
's clampdown on independent media in Russia and Moscow's efforts to restrict rebroadcasting of RFE/RL and VOA news programs on Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n stations. FreeMediaOnline.org reports have been critical of the Bush Administration and the Broadcasting Board of Governors
Broadcasting Board of Governors
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for all non-military, international broadcasting sponsored by the U.S government. It was previously a department within the United States Information Agency until 1999.-Origins:Starting in...
(BBG) for their plans to eliminate VOA radio programs in Russian and for insufficient support for media independence in Eurasia.
FreeMediaOnline.org also publishes articles analyzing issues of journalistic balance and objectivity in U.S. media reporting dealing with issues of press freedom.