Michael I. Niman
Michael I. Niman
Associate Professor of Journalism (2002)
Ph.D. American Studies. University at Buffalo, 1991
Dr. Niman's Media Study Page
Dr. Niman's Research Tools Page
Scholarship, Research, Creative & Professional Activity
Book. People of the Rainbow: A Nomadic Utopia 2nd Edition. University of Tennessee Press, in press, 2011
Book. People of the Rainbow: A Nomadic Utopia. University of Tennessee Press, 1997, 1999, 2003 [Acquired by 409 academic libraries in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Africa, Europe and Middle East; cited by numerous books or academic journal articles]
Chapter You Can't Be NonViolent Without Violence: The Rainbow Family's Nonkilling Nomadic Utopia and its Survival of Persistent State Violence. In Nonkilling Societies, edited by Joam Evans Pim. Honolulu: Center for Global Nonkilling.
Chapter The Political Tsunami: Not All Death and Destruction is Natural. In Tsunami Communication: Interpersonal/Intercultural, Mass Media, and Philanthropic Responses; Historical, Technical, Ethical and Development Communication edited by Linda Fuller. Hampton Press. 2010.
Chapter. Die Zombie Newspapers Die. Project Censored 2010 Yearbook. Sonoma State University (CA), 7 Stories Press
Chapter. “Racism and New York’s Anti-Indian Casino Movement.” Shoot the Indian: Media, Misperception and Native Truth. AIPMI, 2007
Online Book. Getting a Grip: The Media and America in the 21st Century. Coldtype, annual editions 2003, 2004, 2005; compilation of weekly syndicated columns.
Film. Consulting Producer for New Jersey Pictures' Award Winning Documentary "We Love You" 2009.
Academic Article. “Unnatural Disasters: The Media Provides No Context or Depth in its Disaster Reporting.” The New York Sociologist, 2006
Academic Article. “Branding Cuba: La Vida Nike.” Democratic Communique 2002
Professional Articles. 22 topics, The Humanist, 2003-2010 including “Bottled Insanity: The Designer Water War, 2007”; “Sandinista Redux,” 2007; “Outlawing the Wind: Oil Republicans Attempt to Thwart Renewable Energy Development,” 2006
Encyclopedia Entry. Ararat, Encyclopedia of New York State, 2005
Book Reviews. Co-author, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 2003
Academic Presentation. Liberating Time and Space: The Rainbow Utopia. New York State Sociological Association Conference: Community Conflict and Control, 2008.
Invited Academic Presentation. Filming Utopia: The Challenges of Visual Ethnography, Wells College Social Science Colloquium. 2009
Academic Presentation. Investigating Racism from Afar: The Heather Ellis Case. New York State Sociological Association 2009.
Invited Academic Panel Participation. The Future of Capitalism. Bi-Annual Cross-Border Post Keynesian Conference 2009.
Academic Presentation. Dancing on a Razor's Edge: Buffalo, New York's Experiment With Progressive Commercial Media. Union for Democratic Communication International Conference. Vancouver 2007.
Academic Presentation. “The Rainbow TAZ: Actualizing Utopia, if But for a Moment or Two.” Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction international conference, 2007
Academic Presentation. “Graffiti: Mass Media for the Masses.” Wells College Engage Conflict symposium, 2007
Academic Presentation. “Emerging Racism in New York’s Anti-Casino Movement.” New York State Sociological Association, 2006
Academic Presentation. “Alternative Radio: The Buffalo Experiment.” Union for Democratic Communication International Conference. Boca Raton, Fla., 2006
Academic Presentation. “War Propaganda and the Language of Fascism.” Chautauqua Institute Hall of Philosophy, 2005
Academic Presentation. “We’re Number 31: The New Repression of the American Press.” Union for Democratic Communication International Conference. St. Louis, 2004
Academic Presentation. “The Struggle for a Free Press in Post 9-11 America.” Union for Democratic Communication International Conference. Penn State University, 2002
Radio. Primary Source/Interviewee for five hour Peace Talks Radio documentary about the Rainbow Family produced by KUNM in New Mexico and broadcast nationally (first hour) on NPR Stations.
Judge. Communication Yearbook, International Communication Association, 2007
Judge. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 2004, 2005
Award. Best Media Personality award by Buffalo Spree magazine (Re: ArtVoice column: “Week after week, he gets the town talking with direct, trenchant writing about the issues that matter most to our city and our planet”), 2007
Award. Project Censored #3 Top Censored Story of 2003. Also 1989 Project Censored Award Winner (#19).
Grant. Center for the Development of Human Services, Electronic Training Resources for Cultural Diversity, 2006, 2007
Professional Service, Volunteer Service & Affiliations
Host. Union for Democratic Communications International Conference. Buffalo State College 2009.
Editor. New York Sociologist, 2007 - Present
Contributor. Daily Censored Website. Project Censored, Sonoma State University, CA.
Columnist. ArtVoice weekly newspaper, Buffalo, 2001- Present
Columnist. Coldtype, Canada (online), 2005 - Present
Columnist/Media Critic. Buffalo Beat weekly newspaper, Buffalo, 2001
Professional Workshop. Media training, Western New York Peace Center, 2002, 2001
Media Expert. Interviewed on various Western New York radio, television on topics on journalism, advocacy, and consumerism 2001 - present
Manuscript Review. Communication Yearbook, International Communication Association, 2007
Manuscript Review. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 2004, 2005
Member, Steering Committee. Union for Democratic Communications, 2002- 9
Member, Advisory Board. Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, Washington DC, 2001-4
Member. Buffalo Association of Black Journalists 1998 - present
Co-Founder. Buffalo Coalition for Progressive Media 1997-2004
Member. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
Member. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
Member. Union for Democratic Communications
Member. Guatemala Scholars Network
Member. TV Turnoff Network
Member. National Writers Union
Member. National Communication Association
Member. American Civil Liberties Union
Member. Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Campus Service
Member. Campus-Wide Judiciary
Member. Student Health Advisory Committee
Member. Oversight Committee for International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor
Member. Review Committee for Provost’s Incentive Grants for Faculty Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity
Member. Committee for Diversity Foundations
Member. College Safe Zone Committee
Member. President’s Medal & Chancellor’s Award Committee
Member. President’s Council for Equity and Campus Diversity
Member. President’s Amistad Visit Committee
Adviser. Residential Life Diversity Suite
Judge. Engle Memorial Scholarship
Member. College Judicial Board
Project Adviser. Minority Student Affairs “Stories of Liberation” speaker series