The Current TV Saga Continues

[ ](https://idisk.mac.com/lizandsam/Public/Currentflick.mov)** [Current TV pre-launch](https://www.flickr.com/photos/69258677@N00/8764046/) Originally uploaded by [blackcatmedia](https://www.flickr.com/people/69258677@N00/). Out of respect to the many good people at [ Current TV](https://current.tv/) I have refrained from publicly commenting on Current’s response to my [original post](https://thisrevolution.blogspot.com/2005/06/current-tv-announces-new-submission.html) about their new submission policy. In light of the fact that Current has refused to respond to the e-mail I sent them Monday night, I’ve decided to post an update for those reading my blog. On Monday June 27th, shortly after [Dan Gillmor](https://bayosphere.com/blog/dangillmor/) made his post about my entry, I recieved a phone call from Suemyra Shah at Current TV. Suemyra Shah stated that several people at Current were frustrated by my post about the new submission terms. She went on to tell me that various employees at Current look at the Meetup organizers almost like employees, that we are percieved as representatives of Current, and therefore, as organizer, it is inappropriate for me to criticize Current TVs policies. Suemyra stated that if I’m going to continue to do so, I should step down as organizer.** Shocked by such a strong reaction, I told Suemyra that I’d need to let this all sink in before I was able to really give her an answer as to whether or not I was going to step down as organizer or if I was going to refrain from critical discussion regarding Current TV. Late Monday night I sent my response. In recognition that Suemyra’s concerns were valid, I told her that it should be up to our meetup group to decide whether or not I should continue as organizer. I proposed that I share with the meetup group that I’ve been asked to step down over a post I made on my blog, and that we’d be having an election at the July meetup to ascertain whether the group wants me to stay on as organizer. The days went by with no response. Robin Sloan elected to address my original concerns on the Current blog, but only did so in response to Dan Gillmor who essentially just linked to me and stated his agreement with my concerns. According to Current TVs CEO Al Gore: We are about empowering this generation of young people… to engage in the dialogue of democracy adn to tell their stories about what’s going on in their lives in the dominant medium of our time. Additionally, Current has stated on several occasions that are commited to “fearless truth-telling.” As a television station with a news-charter, it seems hypocritical for Current TV to suggest that I can’t volunteer as organizer and be critical of the station. Where’s the fearless truthtelling in that? I look at the meetup group, less as a cheerleading squad for the upcoming station, and more as a guild or union. I think that if there are developments at Current that take issue with, then as a group we should be vocal about our concerns in the hope that Current is really listening and attempts to help find a solution to these various concerns. [Technorati](https://www.technorati.com/) tag: [Current TV](https://technorati.com/tag/Current+TV)