Media Burn Archive - Documentaries with a social justice lens

Latest Blog Posts

2/11/21: Digitizing Your Personal Videos Workshop

Blog, Events

From the 1980s to the 2010s, consumer-grade videotape and cameras were made available, and millions of people shot many hours of footage – from birthday celebrations to family vacations to their own home epics. This material is, in many homes, trapped on these old tapes, which now often reside in closets, basements, and storage bins, with no easy way to view them. In this workshop, Dan Erdman, video archivist at Media Burn, will show you how to best care for … Continue reading →
Rennie Davis (1941 – 2021)

Blog

Longtime political activist Rennie Davis died on Tuesday, February 2nd at his home in Colorado. He was best known for his role in as one of the “Chicago 7” co-conspirators charged with crossing state lines to incite a riot after the anti-war protests at the Democratic National Convention in 1968. All seven were acquitted from all charges by the Appellate Court. The cause of death was lymphoma, a condition that had been diagnosed only a few weeks before his death. In this … Continue reading →

New Videos

2/11/21: Virtual Talks with Video Activists: Franklin López

Events, Virtual Talks with Video Activists

February 11th: Join Media Burn and host Franklin López for a discussion of his work, moderated by Stephen Charbonneau. Continue reading →
In memory of Larry King (1933 – 2021)

Blog

As we all reflect on the loss of Larry King, Media Burn offers a highlight of behind-the-scenes King, in conversation with Bill Clinton. Continue reading →
1/28/21: Virtual Talks with Video Activists: The End of the Nightstick

Events, Virtual Talks with Video Activists

Jan 28: Join Media Burn and the original filmmakers for a screening of The End of the Nightstick, a 1993 film documenting police brutality in Chicago. Continue reading →
A 1992 conversation with Joe Biden

Blog

As Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated on January 20th, Media Burn is highlighting a 1992 interview with the former Senator. Continue reading →
Dying of Red Tape: AIDS and the Fight for Lives Worth Saving

Blog

Last November, we shared a slice of media history with you: The AIDS Connection, an all-night special broadcast intended to address misinformation surrounding the AIDS virus in 1987. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was a featured panelist. Now, we’re sharing another historic example of the fight against AIDS – venturing outside the experts on television to protestors in the streets. ACT UP and other activist groups called on Dr. Fauci to provide equal access … Continue reading →
Hot Video with Chicago Conspiracy

Blog, Chicago

Never-before-released video of the Chicago Eight now brought to the public eye after 50 years Aaron Sorkin’s recent film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, has revived interest in the historical events which took place in Chicago between 1968 and 1970. During the entire trial between September 1969 and February 1970, seven of the eight defendants (Bobby Seale had been removed from the trial and left Chicago) gathered as a complete group only twice. The following video is a … Continue reading →
Celebrating living legend Timuel Black on his 102nd Birthday

Black, Blog

This week, Chicago historian and activist Timuel Black celebrated his 102nd birthday. Among his long list of accomplishments, Black brought Martin Luther King, Jr. to speak at University of Chicago in 1956, he worked on a campaign to get Harold Washington elected as Chicago’s mayor, and he fought tirelessly to end segregation in Chicago’s public schools. As he told Chicago Magazine, the secret to a long life is “Play some good music, drink a little Merlot, get some sleep, and … Continue reading →
“Fast Eddie” heads to jail a second time

Blog

For decades, “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak has been a controversial Chicago political powerhouse. Known for being a key figure in the Council Wars as one of the “three Eddies” who led a coalition of white aldermen intent on blocking Mayor Harold Washington’s initiatives, he already went to prison in 2008 for bribery. Now, Vrdolyak, 83, is once again heading to prison on charges of tax evasion stemming from fraudulent legal fees charged to the City of Chicago in the 1990s. In … Continue reading →