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Tag: Journalism

Any Journalist Can Become A Media Troll, Even ‘Neutral’ JournalistsA citizen journalist hangs on a light pole to get a better view of a protest as he films on a smartphone.
Journalists can't endanger movements then expect to be welcomed by protesters. (Photo: Seattle Women's March 2018, Cindy Shebley / Flickr, Creative Commons license)
September 25, 2020
Kit
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Any Journalist Can Become A Media Troll, Even ‘Neutral’ Journalists

Posted in Creative Commons, and Journalism

The First Amendment doesn’t grant you the right to film people’s faces or put protesters at risk without facing social consequences.

Recently, I’ve watched protesters turn increasingly hostile against some media, especially livestreamers. Even though I’m a journalist, I find myself agreeing with protesters that streamers can put them at risk.

Any journalist, even well meaning ones, can become a media troll if they endanger movements. And right now, as we face off with ascendant fascism, the potential risks to activists are very high.

Read moreAny Journalist Can Become A Media Troll, Even ‘Neutral’ Journalists
Beyond The Concrete Milkshake: Tactics For Defeating Media Trolls & Grifters (Zine)Photo: A Black person with long curly hair shouts into a bullhorn at a counter-protest to a fascist event in Washington, D.C.
Noise can be a powerful tactic for shutting down media trolls. But it's not foolproof. (Photo: Protest against Unite the Right 2 in Washington, D.C. 2018, Melany Rochester, Public Domain, Unsplash)
June 22, 2020
Kit
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Beyond The Concrete Milkshake: Tactics For Defeating Media Trolls & Grifters (Zine)

Posted in Creative Commons, Journalism, and Zines

A free zine by Kit O’Connell with nonviolent tactics for protecting your movement from media trolls and grifters that seek to harm activists.

During the Occupy movement, the smartphone allowed anyone to broadcast live or instantly report on protests or police action using social media. Some of these citizen journalists started to bring in donations from their viewers, usually just enough to keep them supplied with Megabus tickets to the next protest. Most of them either broadly supported the movement, or subscribed to “journalistic neutrality.”

Then, some of them figured out you can make way more money working for the dark side. So they tucked their beanie caps down a little lower and got to work making the Left look bad. A trickle of donations turned into a flood of money.

Dishonestly edit a video, and you could land a job with Infowars. Get roughed up while harassing antifascists, and you earn a 6-figure paycheck. All you have to do is give up a piece of your soul.

Read moreBeyond The Concrete Milkshake: Tactics For Defeating Media Trolls & Grifters (Zine)
How The Media Fueled The Early War On DrugsFilm still: A fivesome of ladies in 50s cocktail dresses laugh uproariously as they smoke cannabis cigarettes.
The media helped spread the early War On Drugs, working with the early government anti-drug warriors. (Film still from "Marihuana: Weed With Roots In Hell" (1936))
April 28, 2020
Kit
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How The Media Fueled The Early War On Drugs

Posted in Journalism

Honeysuckle Magazine published my article on the early history of the drug war in the media under their “Honeysuckle Magazine’s Honeypot” imprint.

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Upcoming Zine: Beyond The Concrete MilkshakePhoto: A chocolate milkshake in a mason jar, garnished with whip cream and chocolate sauce. The shake is artfully photographed in a moodily lit room, with a streak of light behind it.
Kit's upcoming zine "Beyond the Concrete Milkshake," due out in late March or April 2020 will detail nonviolent techniques for dealing with media trolls and grifters at protests and other movement events. (Vince Fleming / Unsplash, public domain)
February 24, 2020
Kit
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Upcoming Zine: Beyond The Concrete Milkshake

Posted in Journalism, Occupy Wall Street, and Zines

I’m pleased to announce the upcoming publication of a new zine, “Beyond the Concrete Milkshake: Tactics for Dealing with Media Trolls & Grifters.”

At the beginning of the year, I announced on Patreon that one of my goals for 2020 was the creation of a zine. I’ve made great progress and intend to publish by late March or early April.

One side effect of the first few years of the Donald Trump administration, with all its associated increase in far-right activity, is a hijacking of Leftist tactics for use by fascist causes. One clear example is the banner drop. Once beloved primarily by far left activists, this technique now sees regular groups by nazi and hyper-nationalist fascist groups. So too it is with the media grifter.

Read moreUpcoming Zine: Beyond The Concrete Milkshake
FDA Warning Letters Hint At Future Of CBD RegulationPhoto: A white woman in a lab coat helps a white man with many tattoos, wearing a black t-shirt, select a CBD oil product in a dispensary.
Currently, the FDA doesn't regulate CBD products. But that could change someday soon. (Pixabay / altika, public domain)
December 23, 2019
Kit
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FDA Warning Letters Hint At Future Of CBD Regulation

Posted in Journalism, and Ministry of Hemp

Even as CBD’s popularity grows, so does confusion about its legal status and the Food and Drug Administration’s handling of CBD. In reality, the FDA currently does not regulate CBD.

In December, the FDA issued a “consumer update” about the safety CBD. The administration also sent 15 warning letters to CBD brands around the same time. This only added to the tension and confusion. Is CBD safe? Is it legal?

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March 6, 2019
Kit
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VIDEO: A Bright Future For Hemp (Kit on Act Out!)

Posted in Act Out!, Journalism, Ministry of Hemp, and Video

I appeared on the newest episode of Act Out!

I spoke with host Eleanor about the recent legalization of hemp via the 2018 Farm Bill. We talk about what hemp can do for people and planet, discuss what the FDA plans to do about CBD, and then look at what this means for overall cannabis legalization.

Read moreVIDEO: A Bright Future For Hemp (Kit on Act Out!)