CitizenReporter.org with Bicyclemark
Dispatches from podcast journalist bicyclemark.

In less than one month I will be in Siberia, at the University of Tomsk where I will be guest lecturing for a few days. After that I will set off to several parts of Siberia and eventually if all goes well, on to Mongolia.  The following podcast, instead of the usual interview style program I do, is simply me testing out the old binaural microphones while walking around my house explaining the trip as well as my recent guest lecture at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Its odd to think that 6 years ago when this podcast got started, this style was quite common.

Direct download: ctrp330_100316.mp3
Category: Music and Talking -- posted at: 8:17 PM

<img class="alignright" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 12px;" title="Olympic" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100213/capt.olyoc21702130323.vancouver_olympics_opening_ceremonies_olyoc217.jpg?x=333&amp;y=345&amp;q=85&amp;sig=EyUfB404yKdfbEgWgXlSeA--" alt="" width="165" height="171" />It took an economic meltdown, but Iceland is now taking steps that will transform the country into a place where journalism and publishing in general will more protected than anywhere else in the world. How would it work? Who is behind this new law? Where in the process of making it happen are we? All this and more is addressed in this program with help from my guest Smári McCarthy of the <a href="http://immi.is" target="_blank">Icelandic Digital Freedoms Society.</a>

Direct download: ctrp329_100304.mp3
Category: podjournalism -- posted at: 8:19 PM

In keeping with the tradition started by Howard Zinn. The following podcast is from an event held here in Amsterdam on February 16th, 2010. Voices of a People's History of the US features those voices that we normally don't get to hear from in the history books. Speeches by rebels, revolutionaries, agitators, organizers, enemies of the state and more. Music to go along with it.

Special thanks to Jim, Cecilia, Shailoh, and Alice who read in this particular recording. As well as Pete, Carly, Tess, and Sarah who read in the first half that is not featured in this recording.

videos of the event available on youtube.com

Direct download: ctrp328_100224.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 8:09 PM
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During his presidency GW Bush spoke openly about a return to building nuclear powerplants in the US. Now, president Obama says he's going forward with those plans, calling Nuclear Power a clean solution for America. However despite the pro-nuclear policies of both presidents, projects are costing double and triple their original budget, designs and plans are full of problems and delays, and the question of how to handle extremely dangerous nuclear waste still has no answer.

My guest on this program is Kate Sheppard, a journalist who rights about politics and the environment for Mother Jones Magazine in Washington, DC. She joins me to talk about whats happening with the Obama administration's nuclear plans and who is benefiting from all this. Her article "Obama's Nuclear Giveaway" is available now on motherjones.com.

Direct download: ctrp327_100217.mp3
Category: podjournalism -- posted at: 7:19 PM

Bre Pettis envisions a future where people don't just go out and buy things when something is needed or breaks. He envisions a future where people will once again make things themselves, at home.  During one of our legendary breakfast sessions during the 26C3 in Berlin on the last day of 2009, we talked about his vision and his company - Makerbot Industries.

Direct download: ctrp326_100204.mp3
Category: podjournalism -- posted at: 7:38 PM

Ballot initiatives are not the only battle ground in the struggle for equal rights in the United States. One year after California voters passed a proposition banning gay marriage, a court battle has begun to overturn that ban and prove that gay and lesbian couples have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples do.

My guest is communications consultant, videoblogger, world citizen Jeffrey Taylor who joins me on the program from San Francisco. In this podcast he helps explain what this trial means, what both sides are doing in court, what could happen depending on the outcome, and all other aspects of the trial. We also get into the difference between fighting a battle for equal rights through the ballot box versus doing it in the courts and in the legislature.
Direct download: ctrp325_100120.mp3
Category: podjournalism -- posted at: 7:13 PM

Presenting a new program from citizenreporter.org, The Citizen Reporter Weekly News Review, which aims to go over global news stories with the help of guests in different corners of the planet.  This week being our first attempt at it, my guests are Bente Kalsnes in Norway and Atul Chitnis in Bangalore.

We cover:

The Earthquake in Haiti
Google and China
Laws against Homosexuality in Uganda
Ukrainian Elections
Fast Food tax in Romania
Copyright law changes in India
Public data portals online in Scandinavia, UK, US and beyond.
Direct download: crnr1_100116.mp3
Category: Other Media -- posted at: 1:19 PM

Tim Pritlove has been involved in podcasting since the early days. Like so many early adopters, he has stayed committed to his goal of having is own program which he can bring the way he wants to his audience. But how does he do it? How does he make it as a full time podcaster at a time where many have given up or been forced to give up the idea.
Sitting in his recording studio we discuss how he does what he does, as well as why and how he see's the future for both personal media creators and himself specifically.

To hear Tim's work, you can listen (in German) to Chaos Radio Express or simply type his name into the search box in itunes.

Direct download: ctrp324_100101.mp3
Category: interview -- posted at: 7:01 PM

John Aravosis is annoyed. For him and millions of Obama supporters who believed in the campaign that swept the current president into office, there is a great feeling of disgust with what has happened over the past year.  What happened? On issue after issue, causes that were very clearly indentified as goals once Obama got into office, the white house has backed down.  As John breaks it down, they don't even back down, they simply do not fight, despite having said they would.  
I spent several days with John as I manage to do almost once a year for the last few years and he is always one of my most favorite interviews. In this recording we get into why those that most supported Obama are now very upset with his actions. From DOMA, to Health Care, to Foreign Policy, the list of issues that they've done an about-face on continues to grow. And with each of these broken promises, the anger and the speaking out gets louder.

americablog.com
gay.americablog.com
Direct download: ctrp323_091222.mp3
Category: interview -- posted at: 1:37 AM

The story is not unique to Newark, all over the United States there are cities that are struggling. But what it unique is how citizens of Newark respond. Led by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a man who loves his gadgets and social networking, groups of volunteers from all walks of life ride the streets of the city in packs of caravans, looking around to see what is going on, who needs help, and what doesn't look right.  In cooperation with the police and department of public safety, the objective is to stem the violence, reduce crime, and show residents that people do care.  As the mayor himself said to me, it is also a chance for people from different backgrounds, races, religion, geographic locations, you name it - to meet each other and engage in this community activity together.

In this podcast I take you along on a night patrol with pack #2. Along the way you'll hear stories, some serious, some not so serious, but each from a different volunteer with a unique connection to the city of Newark.  You will also hear from Cory himself, as he prepares us all before we hit the streets, and later on when he and I had a chance to talk about this initiative and how it has been received by the city.
Direct download: ctrp322_091208.mp3
Category: podjournalism -- posted at: 12:47 AM