This special Alternative Media interview features the comments of dedicated Web visionary, Keith McManus, who hosts his own site of links to alternative media resources, entitled, "Viking's Guide to Alternative Media on the World Wide Web." Below, Keith provides us with thoughtful and insightful commentary on the Internet vis-a-vis commercialization, censorship, freedom of expression, participatory education, and meaningful discourse.

Tell us the good stuff up front: Can you summarize your thoughts about the Internet and alternative media?

Keith: I think it is important to keep the Internet relatively free of commercialization and for-profit activities. I think everyone has to promote the Internet for its educational and participatory qualities. We must also be vigorous about any impending attempts at censorship -- I think the popularity of the Internet is based on its freedom of speech and expression. The popularity of the Internet has taken off because people are free to read and view whatever they want -- I think they are sick of being told how they should think. In other words, the Internet has filled a need in society for expression and meaningful discourse. And this is where the idea of "alternative media" comes in. The Internet fills a need in society by providing what is neglected in the wider society -- access to alternative media. By keeping the Internet open as an alternative medium of communication and we also keep our options open for thinking about the future.

What is your background, or more precisely how did you come to have the radical perspective that you do?

Keith: My "radical" perspective has been shaped by both my education and by my experience in the world of politics. I grew up and attended university in Canada. Canadians have always had a "certain genius" for the study of media. Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan, Arthur Kroker and many other Canadians have shaped the study of media around the world. Attending school for eight years and obtaining a Master's degree in Canadian politics, I could not but help being influenced by these pivotal thinkers. Moreover, as Canada has long been in the cultural and enviromental shadow of America, Canadians have long been able -- to some degree -- to discern the relationship between cultural influence and power. America's power is not just projected militarily, but also culturally. And this connection inevitably leads to a study of the relationship between power and propaganda, as well as politics and the media.

But perhaps my "radical" perspective was first influenced by the writings of Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman. Long before I decided to specialize in Canadian politics, I took a profound interest in Latin American issues. And reading Chomsky while Reagan was in the White House was certainly an eye-opener. I was simply struck by the divergence between American propaganda on Latin America and what I was reading in the works of Chomsky, Edward Herman etc. concerning American policy toward Latin America. These authors basically pointed out that there was a great deal of collusion between policy-makers and the media in shaping public attitudes towards American foreign policy. Attitudes that were essentially shaped by the "Big Lie." Such discoveries essentially led me to inquire as to the state of bias or fairness in the media in my own country, i.e., Canada.

What do you think is the most important use of the Internet? What is the best way to get that message across?

Keith: The most important use of the Internet is its participatory and educational component. It provides a free medium of communication that is denied in other forms of media. It is one of the few mediums that has not fallen prey to corporate monopoly. Anyone can take part in the "wired" world. Anyone can participate in "newsgroups," people are free to visit any site they can "pull off" the "web." Choice is no longer limited to geographical, cultural, or financial constraints. The proliferation of "free" content providers offers anyone with the use of a modem to read and view whatever they want. The Internet's offer of anonymity -- for both the provider and the user -- also offers a certain freedom of expression that is denied elsewhere.

However, that does not mean that a certain vigilance should not be maintained. There are plenty of moves a foot to shackle the Internet -- to turn into yet another mindless, profit-spinning commodity. To prevent this "creeping fetishism" from taking root, the educational component of the Internet should be continually expressed and promoted. People should be continually encouraged to participate within the Internet community -- to offer their ideas and express their views -- no matter how outlandish. I think participation leads to a certain sense of "ownership." And people will want to maintain -- to strengthen -- those elements that attracted them to the Internet in the first place. There is little doubt that the explosion of the World Wide Web and the proliferation of "home pages" has been a boon to the potential of the Internet. Participants in the Internet community will not simply step aside and let the corporate media monopolies take over. And as long as everyone is encouraged to "have their say," to participate, then there will always be space for people who wish to utilize the educational component of the Internet -- to learn from it and contribute to it.

Let's say that someone is just starting to come out of their "mainstream media haze" -- what program of disinformation detoxification would you recommend for beginners?

Keith: Read, read, read -- but don't limit your choices of reading material to one perspective. And look around you. People have to think critically. They have to stop taking things at face value. If you see what appears to be a contradiction -- don't ignore it or dismiss it -- delve deeper. Seek out other opinions. Employ logic -- its amazing how much garbage in the mass media can be dismissed ouright by using the simple tools of logic. If it doesen't seem to add up -- it probably doesn't. But having said that, I do have a simple (some might say facetious) trick for beginners coming out of their "media haze." When reading the mainstream, believe the opposite, you will probably come closer to the truth that way.

Describe some of your experiences or thoughts on being a student of the media? Ditto for being involved in politics.

Keith: It is often quite depressing or frustrating when one takes a progressive approach to politics or the media. One continually runs into a wall of ignorance or indifference. Elections are particularly hard to deal with. Apathy and alienation run supreme. That's not to say that such conditions are not warranted, only that it is hard to remain optimistic when one runs into such collective moods. Moreover, the media treats politics in general, and elections more specifically, as exercises in consumption. Which is the best brand to buy? Parties are defined as consumer preferences. Choices are made on a whim, often defined by the appearance of the candidate or the particular spin given to an issue. Meaningful political and social discourse is discouraged. Voters are defined as consumers and not citizens. And because of the apathy that most citizens now carry with them to the polls, there is no attempt made by the voter to elevate social discourse -- to ask the politicans tough questions. And so the politicians and the media pander to the most base instincts and trot out meaningless cliches all the while narrowing the base of choice on the issues. At times, it seems as though a "professional propagandist" as myself spends most of his time banging his head against the wall.

And yet, to surrender and capitulate to the current state of affairs is to renounce any hope in the future. One must take it one step at a time. If that means talking and promoting alternatives to one individual at a time, so be it. There are worse alternatives. Moreover, we in Canada do have some electoral choice - not much, but some. There are five "Official Parties" in Parliament, and though at least four of them are simply tools of their corporate masters, I have at least had the opportunity of working for one party that has its base in the labour movement and has a constituency with public-oriented "social movements". And that party just rescued itself from electoral oblivion less than a month ago. The New Democratic Party -- of which I am a member -- more than doubled its representation in the recent election. And also experienced a major breakthrough in a region (Atlantic Canada) where it had never experienced success before. And this was all accomplished not only in the face of media indifference, but outright scorn and dismissal of the party as a spent force. So the power of the media is not always monolithic.

Moreover, there are other avenues of expression outside the realm of the mass media. Every issue I produce as editor of the Manitoba New Democrat is read by at least 8,000 readers, and every copy left behind can be potentially read by some one else. Everyone counts. And of course there is the Internet. As one can see by the vast amount of links I have on my web site alone, nevermind all the other sites out there on the web, there is plenty of alternative media to peruse. As I mentioned earlier, the Internet has a great educational and participatory component. And as long as we can keep the "net" free from the cluthes of the corporate mass media, people will have access to alternative information. So one has to take a positive approach to the media and politics despite all the limitations to free expression and intelligent discourse. At least, that is my opinion based on my personal experience working in politics and the media.

What do you read for fun? leisure? inspiration?

Keith: To answer all three -- primarily history, philosophy and sociology. I tend to the same materials whether I am reading for pleasure or necessity. But I do have a lighter side. I love music and travel and enjoy many outdoor sports. And just to lighten the mood on my web site, I have a large section devoted simply to what I have classified as "Radical lyrics on the web." Bruce Cockburn is a particular favorite of mine, and just to show that I am not immune to "mass media" events, I just recently attended a U2 concert in my home town with 45,000 other spectators. And of course I love to "surf the net" for fun, leisure, and inspiration.

Thanks for talking to us, Keith, and for sharing your thoughts with Alternative Media buffs.

Keith: My pleasure. Thanks for inviting me to contribute.