Do we want to bring it to the next Operation Hope meeting or do we want to continue pursuing it separately?
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I don’t want to upend the meeting or anything, but yes; I think we should bring it up and see how the full team feels about it. I believe this should be one of our goals, as it would bring a lot of Hope to folks in a very dark time.
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This is such a hard one! On the one hand, if all media outlets on the Left (or in general) were in good faith and got along, that could be a huge win. At the same time, we don’t know the ins and outs of everyone’s lives, and intervening, even when well-intentioned, can often do more harm than good. Cenk and Ana have made it very clear that they’re not open to conversation with some content providers on the Left, which is a clear boundary. Perhaps, we should instead borrow from Taoist philosophy, which is heavily steeped in The Art of War, and loosely practice Wu Wei (non-action and patience in letting the Universe sort shit out while we don’t fight against it).
I certainly wouldn’t want to pressure anyone to do something that they don’t really want to, and believe me, I totally get not wanting to talk to someone at all and burning bridges, I’ve had plenty of experience with that. Escaping your own perspective and talking to someone you feel has wronged you can be the hardest thing.
The thing is though, I don’t really believe in burned bridges. If the need is great enough, you just find a way to build a new damn bridge, and like you said, it would be a huge win. I think from Cenk & Ana’s perspective, their biggest concern has been that if they go to talk with these other outlets, they might then turn around and exploit that footage for clips/clicks/attention, etc. I think we could set up the Summit in such a way that folks could talk to each other without that being a concern.
At any rate, non-action at this time is not in the cards for me.
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I totally get what you’re saying! And you’re not wrong. My worry is pushing people who aren’t ready against knowing we don’t have unlimited time.
Making the WIIFM (What’s In It for Me?) clearer for potential attendees, here is a value proposition, emphasizing urgency and actionable outcomes:
———
Why the Progressive Media Summit Matters Now
Progressive media is at a turning point. Right-wing outlets are consolidating power, tech billionaires are controlling digital platforms, and independent progressive voices are more fragmented than ever.
Misinformation thrives when we’re divided, and the recent push to defund public media is just the latest attack on independent journalism. If we don’t act now, we risk ceding even more ground to bad-faith actors with unlimited resources.
This summit isn’t about forced unity—it’s about creating space for honest dialogue, strategic collaboration, and audience-building across platforms.
What’s in it for you?
- Clarify misunderstandings and reduce harmful mischaracterizations. Too often, conversations happen in silos or in bad faith—let’s change that.
- Strengthen coordination on shared priorities. Whether it’s Medicare for All, corporate accountability, or fighting fascism, we can amplify each other’s work instead of duplicating efforts.
- Expand progressive reach. The media landscape is rigged against independent voices—let’s explore how to grow and sustain our audiences together.
This isn’t just another conference—it’s a strategy session for the future of progressive media.
The question isn’t just why attend?
It’s: How will you help shape the future of progressive media?
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Thank you Maggie; I wish I could put 1,000 likes on this one!
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To be amended by whomever is sending it.
You are cordially Invited to the First Annual Progressive Media Summit
A United Front for a Stronger Progressive Media
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
We are thrilled to invite you to the first annual Progressive Media Summit, a groundbreaking gathering dedicated to strengthening progressive media, fostering collaboration, and building a coalition that can counter the growing influence of right-wing misinformation.
In an era where corporate interests and tech monopolies shape the media landscape, independent progressive voices must stand together. Too often, internal disagreements and fragmentation weaken our collective impact. This summit is our opportunity to change that.
Why This Summit Matters Now
Progressive media is at a crossroads. Right-wing outlets are consolidating power, public media faces relentless attacks, and independent platforms struggle to sustain and expand their reach. Meanwhile, misinformation thrives on division. This summit is not about forced unity. It is about about strategic collaboration, honest dialogue, and a shared commitment to amplifying truth and justice.
What We Aim to Achieve
Clarify misunderstandings & strengthen trust, Address tensions, correct mischaracterizations, and foster solidarity.
Coordinate on shared priorities from Medicare for All to corporate accountability, lets amplify rather than duplicate efforts.
Expand our collective outreach. The media ecosystem is rigged against independent voices. Together, we can explore ways to grow and sustain our audiences.
Develop a post-summit action plan. Cross-promote content, share resources, and build momentum beyond this event.
This isn’t just another conference it’s a strategy session for the future of progressive media.
What’s in it for You?
Engage in critical discussions on messaging, audience-building, and media strategy.
Connect with fellow journalists, creators, and activists who share your commitment to progress.
Shape the future of independent media by collaborating on long-term initiatives that strengthen our collective voice.
Be Part of the Conversation
The question isn’t just why attend?
It’s how will you help shape the future of progressive media?
Join us for this essential summit as we come together to build trust, find common ground, and forge a stronger progressive media movement, one that is resilient, impactful, and ready for the challenges ahead.
We look forward to your presence and contributions.
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: [Insert Location / Virtual Option]
RSVP: [Insert RSVP Link or Email]
Warmly,
[Your Name]
[Your Organization]
[Your Contact Information]
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Just an FYI… I didn’t see names like Brian Tyler Cohen, Jesse Dollemore, Farron Cousins, Glen Kirschner, and the Meidas Touch Network.
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These summits can be twice a year or quarterly. I think it’s a GREAT IDEA!!!
I love the hybrid idea as well where a zoom meeting can bring us all together from all over.
Future events can even include going global on zoom and inviting independent media and content creators from other countries to get a fresh outlook on how things are done around the world as well as how they problem solve dealing with mainstream media, and even state run media.
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Damn, that’s awesome!
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The summit will need a logo. I took the liberty of designing some options. Feel free to critique or vote on your favorite. Before you do I’ll explain the rational behind the design… I simply based it on a peace sign.
This Progressive Media Summit logo embodies the themes of innovation, communication, and technological advancement. Here’s what its design elements represent:
- Typography:
The bold, futuristic typeface conveys professionalism, forward-thinking ideals, and digital innovation.
The clean, modern style suggests a cutting-edge and high-tech media landscape.
- Abstract Symbol:
The stylized icon symbolizes communication, collaboration, and media evolution.
If there are interconnected elements, they represent peace, the networking of progressive voices and digital platforms.
- Color Scheme (Blues, Purples, and Whites):
Blue represents trust, technology, and communication key pillars of media and journalism.
Purple signifies creativity, progress, and transformation, aligning with the summit’s forward-thinking vision.
White or light elements enhance clarity and openness, promoting transparency in media.
Overall Meaning:
This logo visually represents a peaceful gathering of progressive media voices, emphasizing innovation, digital transformation, and the future of communication. It appeals to journalists, creators, and technologists working toward impactful storytelling and technological evolution in media.
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WOW, they’re all so good! I really like them all; it’s hard to choose. I think I lean towards the one on the bottom left. Is there a reason the two esses are blended together? I’m just curious if it represents something I don’t understand. Would it be possible to incorporate more of the line design into the lines inside the peace symbol? Like, make it take longer for the lines to merge into a solid line. Am I making any sense? Seriously, they’re all fantastic! A dove with an olive branch in its beak would be cool, too. Sorry, I’m probably not being very helpful. 
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Please don’t apologize. It’s why we are here. To kick around ideas. I’m here to help however I can. The merged S signifies unity, coming together. I forgot to explain that element of the design. I’ll give it another go.
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Does anyone else want to add to the design?
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These are very simple beginning images, which might be a good way to go that I could actually draw out. I’d never done anything with AI before, but I thought I’d give it a go, so I got some Microsoft app. Maybe having the blue and red merging into purple is good, as it represents the political spectrum. Also, has anyone else realized that Progressive Media Summit is PMS? Maybe the United Progressive Media Alliance or Progressive Media Alliance would be better? 
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Glad you noticed… PMS 
I like Progressive Media Alliance for unity’s sake and Progressive Media Conference for the gathering.
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Lol yes, I was wondering when we would get to that, I don’t know how much it matters but I’m not sure if ‘PMS’ is the acronym that we’re really looking for here. We can workshop the name, but the gathering itself is the most important thing.
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