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Welcome to Free Speech TV's bi-weekly newsletter, with news and updates on our programming and tips and information for how to make the most of Free Speech TV, your 24/7 progressive television news platform. This newsletter is for May13-26, 2011.

See the Changes on the FSTV Website

We're still working to make our website more useful, intuitive and informative for our viewers, and if you haven't visited recently (or ever), head on over and catch the changes Our new player is now streaming video 24/7 so that our TV channel can now be viewed on the Web in real time by people all over the world. We have also added daily Reuters news photos on the home page to augment our daily headlines, commentary and opinion from our media partners on the Free Speech Blog, the Progressive Action Calendar so you and your organization can post your events and find out about others, and our growing list of videos on demand. You never have to miss an episode or program on FSTV now.

FSTV Welcomes New Board Member Tracy Van Slyke

Free Speech TV welcomes journalist, communications professional and media producer Tracy Van Slyke to the FSTV board of directors. Van Slyke is the former publisher of In These Times and former director of The Media Consortium, a network of the leading progressive, independent media outlets in the country. She has studied and written extensively on the future of independent media and communications, including commissioning and co-editing the groundbreaking report, "The Big Thaw: Charting a New Future for Journalism" (2009), co-authoring the report, "Investing in Impact," with the Center for Social Media (2010), and most recently, producing the report "From Prediction to Practice: A Year of Journalism Innovation, Collaboration and Expansion: (2011). "I am honored to join the board of Free Speech TV, an organization that exemplifies the best in progressive and independent media," says Van Slyke. "Free Speech TV has always been an important voice for those shunned by corporate media. Over the last year, with Don Rojas at the helm and the rest of the excellent Free Speech team, I've watched it evolve into a high-impact, multi-platform media organization that provides coverage that we don't get anywhere else on our televisions or online." But there's more to do to make sure that Free Speech continues to evolve for a 21st century media environment, expands its audience, and provides the critical news and perspectives that this country needs. I'm excited to join at such an important moment for this wonderful organization." Van Slyke is also co-author of Beyond the Echo Chamber: Reshaping Politics Through Networked Progressive Media. During her tenure at The Media Consortium, she developed and implemented cutting edge programs to foster collaboration among media organizations, support innovation in new editorial and business models, and build the impact of the progressive media on the public debate. "We are delighted to have Tracy join the Free Speech TV family and we look forward to her input on our Board of Directors", said Don Rojas, FSTV's executive director.

New Al Jazeera Show. The Stream, Debuts on FSTV

A new Al Jazeera English program begins Monday, May 16, on FSTV. The Stream will play in prime time at 8:30 pm EST Monday - Fridays on DIRECTTV 348 and DISH Network 9415. This is not a show simply about the hottest viral videos or trending stories on the internet. #8millionBeliebers and #TeamSheen will not figure on The Stream. The goal is to connect with unique, less-covered online communities around the world and share their stories and viewpoints on the news of the day. A key part of The Stream's mission is to help its viewers discover the newest online tools and advice to develop and share their information through these fast-changing networks, so watch for this exciting new program debuted next week on FSTV.