Citizen guardianship over public-interest information channels is essential to democratic debate and socially responsible media policy change. Independent, noncommercial and community media are struggling to survive while multi-billion dollar industries grow more powerful from the cables they run under the public roads and the licenses they use to broadcast on public airwaves, fighting off public obligations at every step. How can we create an environment where diverse media thrive? This is about how and what we communicate. Today's emerging information technologies have the potential to connect the world as never before. New media tools enable us to share solutions, strengthen cultures, and create new levels of accountability and transparency in governments and corporations, as well as, among social change organizations. THIS PROJECT could make local, regional national, and international media advocacy activities accessible to anyone interested in holding information gatekeepers in check. It would provide concerned citizens with 1) tools to feedback to broadcast, cable, satellite, radio and internet content decision-makers, 2) tools for messaging policy makers, and 3) motivation to transform individual viewers/receivers/"consumers" into participating media rights advocates by provide opportunities to get involved. THE PROJECT would also address a pressing need among media advocacy players in the U.S. Accessing information about partnerships, collaborations, new initiatives, etc. is klunky and time-consuming. Bridge-building between and among advocates across regions and issues is timely, if not urgent in today's media landscape. The widest gulf exists between grassroots and local media justice organizations and Washington D.C. Policy change efforts. The connection between scholarly research and community advocacy is developing, yet improving knowledge of and access to organizations would expedite productivity (and therefore, positive policy change). THIS PROJECT could minimally, be the gateway to more efficient networking, alliance and partnership initiatives and collaboration. Funders and/or investors would use the service to gain pertinent information about media issues or potential grantees. This mashup would help strengthen media movements, and ultimately be the e-support of efforts that preserve the free expression of diverse perspectives.

Despite the threats of global climate change, widespread resource depletion, and nuclear proliferation the sole measure of most things in the global capitalist system is whether or not they make a profit. Furthermore, the peoples of the world seem to be facing a crisis of hope---perhaps rightly so. What if there were a secondary "economy" that measured not profitability but the potential to create hope for the future? It seems impossible but the Hope Meter Project could accomplish this with a simple Stumble Upon mashup.

• It would have many secondary benefits as well:
• It would serve as a space for global debate on issues that face the world.
• It would create a support network for those experiencing existential crisis (a New York Times article on the growth of "ecopsychology" recently highlighted this need)
• It would serve as a hub for organizing around various issues.
• It could also prove useful for schools organizing debate teams.
• One could refer to a product/site's hope ranking as evidence of its social currency.
• The idea itself could be the first of a whole new kind of collaborative tagging.