Sustain OpenMedia.ca

As we're thrust into a digital era, many of us have come to realize the importance of citizen-centered media and communications. For me personally, I'm driven by the belief that we need a media system that maximizes our opportunities for free expression, collaboration and sharing exciting new ideas. It's through this free flow of ideas that we come across insights and innovations we can't even imagine yet; it's through this free flow of ideas that we keep open the possibility of a better society.

I and others started OpenMedia.ca because there were a number of decisions coming from policy makers that we felt were clearly not in the public interest and not reflective of the public's will -- decisions that were going to close down, not open up, our media system. These decisions were being made on behalf of an exclusive set of stakeholders. I also felt convinced that the only way to change that dynamic was to engage the public en masse. There were some organizations doing important tactical work on specific media issues, and many organizations that addressed media as a side issue in addition to their other areas of focus, but there was no organization that was building a movement and a community to push for media policy in the public interest, writ large. OpenMedia.ca combines media education, engagement, and empowerment in order to mobilize citizens at a national level, and bring them together in their communities to work for change.

I wanted to create an organization that was membership driven because it reflects the democratic principles of community control and access that are the major goals of our work. Being membership driven helps ensure that we're not controlled by granters and powerful institutions and organizations. Having a broad and deep membership base helps secure our independence and builds responsiveness to the public into our structural DNA. When you become a sustainer of OpenMedia.ca, you help ensure that citizen-centeredness is at our core. Please become a sustain here: http://openmedia.ca/sustainer

Fundamentally, media is about our access to each other -- it's hard to say this without sounding cliché, but I can find nothing more worth saving and cultivating than that access. It is that access that will break down the barriers between us and help us solve the complex problems we face. It is that access to each other that brings out the best in humanity. Please join us today. http://openmedia.ca/sustainer

Steve Anderson
National Coordinator
OpenMedia.ca