Amy Goodman of "Democracy Now!"
headlines WPVM radio benefit

Asheville - Broadcast journalist Amy Goodman -- host of Pacifica Radio's award-winning news show, "Democracy Now!" -- headlines a benefit for the Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) and its nonprofit radio station, WPVM 103.5 FM, "The Progressive Voice of the Mountains," at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3 at UNC-Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium.

General admission is $10, with students and MAIN subscribers admitted for $5.

Goodman will discuss the growing need for independent media as corporate journalism has increasingly abdicated its investigative "watchdog" role of holding government and corporate power accountable to the people they govern. Her talk is part of a nationwide tour for her best-selling book, "The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media that Love Them."

The evening includes an excerpt from the documentary film, "Independent Media in a Time of War," which examines the failure of corporate journalism to challenge the government's case for pre-emptive war in the run-up to the attack on Iraq.

"Amy Goodman is one of the most important journalists working in the United States today," said Wally Bowen, executive director of MAIN and WPVM. "Through her daily news show, 'Democracy Now!,' she is able to ask the hard questions that our nation and democracy require from true 'watchdog' journalism," Bowen said.

Goodman's journalism awards include the Robert F. Kennedy Prize for International Reporting, the Alfred I. Dupont-Columbia Silver Baton, the Radio/Television News Directors Award, and the George Polk Award, plus awards from the Associated Press, United Press International and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Copies of Goodman's book will be on sale at Lipinsky Auditorium. A book signing will be held in the auditorium lobby after the talk. Proceeds from the event will go to support WPVM and its mission of being an independent, grassroots, progressive voice for Western North Carolina.

--END--

The Mountain Area Information Network is a nonprofit Internet Service Provider and community network serving 14 western North Carolina counties. MAIN provides a full range of services including Internet access and web hosting. Through its home page at www.main.nc.us, MAIN also presents important local information through its calendar, news and spotlight sections, and community service projects such as the Latino Digital Literacy Project and low-power FM radio station 103.5 WPVM. MAIN also supports WNC's nonprofit community through discounted service rates and free publicity.

WPVM 103.5 FM, "The Progressive Voice of the Mountains", is a low-power FM radio station licensed to the Mountain Area Information Network. WPVM began broadcasting in October of 2003, programming a mix of local and national news, information and music. A complete programming schedule is available at http://www.wpvm.org.