Rob Williams Media

Welcome to the publications page! In the spirit of free copyright, I have taken the time to assemble these materials for global reading. Feel free to download any or all of the published articles for noncommercial educational use in your classroom or community. All I ask is that you send me a quick email letting me know you're using these resources, so I can keep track of publishing numbers. As always, if I can be of any further assistance, don't hesitate to contact me.

Bye, Bye, Miss American Empire (PDF), Article, Orion Magazine, July 2007

Thanks to Orion magazine and writer Bill Kauffman for this thoughtful and thorough exploration of nonviolent secession in their July/August 2007 issue. Please support their work at orionmagazine.org.

Tackling the Beer Barons: Dissecting Alcohol Industry Super Bowl Ads (PDF), Article, East Bay Newspapers, February 2007

Thanks to Barrington, Rhode Island's BAY TEAM for hosting me for a day of talks on the eve of Super Bowl XLI.

Women's Libation (PDF), Article, The Hartford Courant, March 2006

Thanks to reporter Joann Klimkiewicz for this article, in which Rob discusses ways in the alcohol industry is targeting young women by linking sexy new "dainty drinks" with (so-called) female empowerment in a new and emerging "cocktail culture" in which women are drinking more than ever before.

School Students Learn How Big Media Markets Tobacco and Alcohol To Kids (PDF), Article, Burlington Free Press, April 2006

Thanks to BFP reporter Jill Fahy for this nice story on my efforts to link together corporate media marketing and public health, and a big raspberry to whomever chose the photo to go with this story. Bad choice.

Kids Wage Film War On Smoking (PDF), Article, Swanton Messenger, May 2006

Thanks to reporter Leon Thompson for capturing the MemeFILMS mojo so well here. "Anytime we can put tobacco in its place is a good day," says my Meme colleague, professional videographer James Valastro. Couldn't have said it better myself. To find out more about MEME Films

Vermont: The Once (And Future?) Republic (PDF), Article, Vermont LIfe, Winter 2006

The Vermont independence movement thanks Tom Slayton and "Vermont LIfe" for publishing this winter 2007 piece on the history of Vermont as its own independent nation. May it be so again. Notice that Jeff Danziger's cartoon, while visually creative as always, sends exactly the wrong message about secession, suggesting it is somehow antithetical to the spirit of 1776. In fact, all of our Founding Fathers and Mothers were secessionists! Read the Declaration of Independence closely to see what I mean.

If I Did It - O.J. Isn't Just For Breakfast Anymore (PDF), Article, Fresno Bee, November 2006

The Fresno Bee's Rick Bentley and I conducted an interview about the OJ book deal on November 20, just after Murdoch's Newscorp announced cancellation of the contract with Regan Press. Good timing, and a victory against the forces of sensationalism masquerading as "news.

Sounding off on Scholastic Book Fairs (PDF), Article, Boston Globe, November 2006

Barbara Meltz of the "Boston Globe" wrote a hard-hitting November 20, 2006 piece on why Scholastic Book Fairs are problematic, and was kind enough to check in with me and ACME as part of the conversation.

The First National Secession Convention - Coming Together To Ponder Pulling Apart (PDF), Article, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2006

Thanks to "Philadelphia Inquirer" journalist Paul Nussbaum for this balanced and nuanced account of our first secession convention on November 4, 2006. Free Vermont!

Media Education Summit - Hundreds Gather At Media Discussion (PDF), Article, Burlington Free Press, October 2006

Burlington Free Press reporter Adam Silverman managed to make it over to the Action Coalition for Media Education (ACME) Summit in Burlington during Columbus Day October 6-8, 2006 week-end. With more than 300 folks in attendance, the event proved a milestone in bringing media education to Vermont and the nation.

MemeFILMS Summer Camp Arms Teens Against Substance Abuse (PDF), Article, Charlotte Citizen, August 2006

Thanks to "Charlotte Citizen" journalist Rachel Gill for reporting on our media education and video production efforts as part of the "Express Yourself" summer 2006 improv camp at CVU high school. Any time we can work with young, creative and talented teens is most welcome!

Kids Wage Film War On Smoking (PDF), Article, Swanton Messenger, May 2006

Thanks to reporter Leon Thompson for capturing the MemeFILMS mojo so well here. "Anytime we can put tobacco in its place is a good day", says my Meme colleague, professional videographer James Valastro. Couldn't have said it better myself. Find out more at the MEME Films web site.

Breaking Down Stereotypes (PDF), Article, Vermont Guardian, April 2006

Read a survey of our MEDIA work with American and Jordanian high school students in the May issue of the Vermont Guardian.

Teen Harmony (PDF), Article, Vermont Guardian, April 2006

The Media Education and Democracy in Action (MEDIA) Youth Leadership Exchange Program represents Project Harmony’s first program in the Middle East.

High School Students Learn How Big Media Markets Tobacco and Alcohol To Kids (PDF), Article, Burlington Free Press, April 2006

Women's Libation (PDF), Article, Hartford Courant, March 2006

Making Media That Matters In Minutes! (PDF), Article, Summer 2005

How do you create "media that matters in minutes," digital video projects with classrooms and communities that speak to specific needs in your community? Read about the MemeFILMS answer to this question and our step-by-step approach in this article, published in "Community Media Review" magazine. And find out more at MEME Films.

Inside the Industry Alchol Marketing Machine (PDF), Article, Feb 2006

Thanks to the "Providence Journal" for this news article covering a day I spent in Rhode Island meeting and talking with high school students in psychology, history, social studies, and film classes about the ways in which the alcohol industry uses multimedia marketing strategies to influence youth attitudes and behaviors towards unhealthy alcohol consumption. Other media-related keynote topics can be found here.

The Ad and the Ego (PDF), Film Study Guide, Oct 2005

I wrote the study guide for the film 'The Ad and the Ego', my single most favorite teaching resource that highlights advertising's impact on our culture. Witty, slick, sexy, shameless and in your face, Harold Boihem's brilliant film explores the early 21st century phenomenon called Consumer Man. This 60 minute documentary features interviews with Jean Kilbourne, Sut Jhally, Stuart Ewen and others, intercut with some of the funniest and most provocative ad clips you'll ever see. The film can be ordered here.

Selling the Soldier Out (PDF), Film Study Guide, Oct 2005

A study guide to the Meme Films DVD of the same name. The DVD is available for purchase here.

Making Sense Of Our 21st Century Media Culture (PDF), A New Hampshire Public Radio Talk, delivered on July 3, 2005

This audio CD, featuring Rob's frank and funny 50 minute talk delivered as part of the Monadnock Summer Lyceum Series, explores the 7 central ingredients comprising our hyper-mediated 21st century media culture, and highlights how independent media education is a vital part of the solution to our media-related cultural dilemmas. A useful teaching resource!

Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War (PDF), Film Study Guide

As ACME board president and a curriculum designer, I collaborated with independent film director Robert Greenwald's production team to produce a comprehensive study guide for the first U.S. film that took a critical look at the run-up to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq: Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War. The film is even more important now, as many of the distortions spun by the Bush administration have resulted in serious consequences for both US foreign policy and the nature of our fragile republic. I hope you will use the film and this study guide to delve deep with your classrooms and communities."

All That I Can Be (PDF), Film Study Guide

'All That I Can Be' is a 20 minute student-produced documentary, created through the Educational Video Center's YO TV program, that follows the lives of two young men from New York City neighborhoods who decide to enlist in the U.S. military. Along the way, the film raises provocative questions about recruiting, militarism, and the limited economic opportunities that push many of our young people towards a career in the military. Neither pro-war or anti-war, the film manages to take a nuanced and sophisticated look at the relationship between media, youth, war, and recruiting. I wrote the study guide in collaboration with EVC. Order the film here.

Media and a Meaningful Life (PDF), Champlain View, Spring 2005

Thanks to Lee Ann Cox for helping me coax out my personal philosophy on life, music, teaching, media, work, and the importance of always keeping a well-sharpened sledge maul around the house. And thanks to Champlain College for publishing this essay in their quarterly "Champlain View" magazine.

The Making Of A Media-Literate Mind (PDF), Mothering, Dec 2004

I've tried to lay out a comprehensive introductory approach to media education in this article - including some thoughts on public health, parenting, media reform, and independent media production - in a way that is accessible and fun for the lay person. Thanks to Mothering magazine for first publishing this article in their Nov/Dec 2004 issue.