Firebrand Journalist and Activist Debuts
“GRIT TV with Laura Flanders"

Premieres May 12, 8 pm Eastern
On Free Speech TV Dish Network Ch. 9415
and Firedoglake.com

New York, NY — In partnership with Free Speech TV, Laura Flanders Limited is pleased to announce the national premiere of “GRIT TV with Laura Flanders.” The innovative program melds satellite television and online video formats in a new twist on the news discussion broadcast. The hour-long, multi-platform show airs weeknights on satellite TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415) and via the Internet at www.firedoglake.com.

“’GRIT TV’ brings participatory democracy onto your computer screen and into your living room,” said Laura Flanders. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between audience and advocates.” Flanders continued. “Viewers will learn how so many Americans can—and are—changing this country for the better. We will paint a picture of our country as it really is, examine the choices that brought us here, and—unlike other news programming— provide avenues for viewers to take action.”

Through partnerships with several nonprofit organizations, (including the Drum Major Institute in New York), “GRIT TV” will address critical contemporary issues in a consistent and close-up way. “GRIT TV” will explore topics that receive short shrift in the mainstream corporate media. Flanders’s interviewees will include acknowledged “experts” and “expert” audience members: the 18 to 34 year-old cohort; legislators, workers, entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and journalists (from the grassroots to the netroots and back.) Phil Donahue will join Flanders live on the first episode, with Katrina vanden Heuvel and Jane Hamsher. Future guests include Susan Griffin, Walter Mosely, Anthony Romero, May Chen and Tom Morello.

“Free Speech TV is proud to sponsor and support ‘GRIT TV,’” said Denis Moynihan, CEO of Free Speech TV, the nation’s first progressive television channel. “Laura Flanders’ effort is a first in new media, taking full advantage of the types of communication that are now available to the public – and for the public. By offering audiences real opportunities to participate, the program will both reflect the diversity of our society and provide perspectives that are under-represented by mainstream media.” Free Speech TV reaches over 25 million homes in the US.

“We are thrilled to be the online home of “GRIT TV with Laura Flanders” said Jane Hamsher, webmaster of the progressive blog Firedoglake.com. “I see the program’s interactive, multi-platform approach as the next wave in broadcast journalism. It won’t be long before we see mainstream news channels emulating Flanders’ model.”

Viewers can watch the first installment of “GRIT TV with Laura Flanders” on Free Speech TV (DISH Network, Channel 9415) www.freespeech.org on Monday, May 12, 8:00-9:00pm ET, or streaming online at www.firedoglake.com. For more information, please visit www.grittv.org.