The Media Light
Fred D. Jackson
August 12, 2004

Jesus said in his sermon on the mountain: "Ye are the light of the world that cannot be hidden."

For this speech I have drawn from the principle of that speech, by Jesus, to support my beliefs that the media should be allowed converse with inmates, and report on their issues and concerns.  Indeed, the media is a light, which will never be hidden.  

My talking points will include the following:

· Media access gives the public a real look inside our prisons. (A "macro" view - the big picture - of what's happening in the prisons.)

· Media access affords the prisoner's a chance to be seen and heard. (A "micro" view - what individual prisoners have to say about themselves and their circumstances - while incarcerated.)

· Media plays a role in a prisoner's redemption. (The effects of the good work of a prisoner can be spread throughout the nation by the media.)

· "Let the media light shine" - a summary of what is at stake by eliminating media access to prisoners in California State prisons. Also, the end of my presentation will include a discussion about the inherent bias against prisoners, particularly in television news coverage, caused by prisoners not being allowed one-on-one TV interviews.