Schnews In Graphic Detail

A collection of political graphics produced by Schnews 2000-2011
ISBN 978-09529748-9-5
£5

Reviewed by Tracey Dunn 10/8/2011

'A drop of truth in an ocean of bullshit'

In 1994 after the Criminal Justice Act was introduced which stopped people gathering in public places, a group of Brighton anti-capitalist activists decided to produce a weekly list of protests and parties in the south coast area. These activists were squatting the original Brighton Court House and had previously turned it into a squatter's estate agency to help house local people. Originally this list, which was read out in the local New Kensington pub, was a rant about anti-road protests, squatter's rights, travellers and party people.

It soon became a newsletter, which was a tool for environmental and social direct action exposing the truths at the heart of our screwed up world. It also put out the message that if things are wrong then go out and do something about it yourself. Schnews was always about resistance and campaigning. Whether it was GM food, migrants, Britain's brutal asylum system, climate change, Palestine, police repression, UK's global arms industry or the imminent collapse of civilisation. Schnews were 'in yer face'.

Their conscious cinema tour took Schnews on the road too, and their Schmovie 'Smash EDO - On The Verge', about trying to close down a Brighton bomb making factory, got the police trying to ban it from being screened. After this incident four times more activists demonstrated outside EDO than before.

Schnews talks about many separate issues and they said things that no other media dare. Schnews are grassroots radicals who dance to no one's tune, except maybe their mates at the many benefit gigs they put on in Brighton!

Over the years they have became more international. They now have twelve thousand email subscribers and thirty thousand web hits weekly. Books are regularly produced to pay for the newsletter, as all who work for the media collective are volunteers and it is donation funded.

Schnews in graphic detail covers a decades worth of subversive images and text including spoofs of mainstream adverts. They take a caustic hammer to themselves too, by taking the p*** out of the activists lifestyle. Schnews mock social centres with a spoof ad for a free-range kids day (decentralised, non-hierarchical cooperation and mutual aid special games for under eights). Or there's the 'Global Non Event - biggest ever mass direct inaction'.

They also have a 'Festival Eye' spoof supplement in the book called 'Jestival Eye', promoting festivals such as 'Big Wash Out', acts like Kings of Leon and Lily Allen performing all your favourite ringtones!

Check out some of the images on this website www.schnews.org.uk/satire. All of the images are free to use (creative commons) or contact them for high resolution copies at books@schnews.org.uk.

Copyleft means images can only be used for non-commercial purposes. If you buy the book you are supporting this independent media collective with their work. So after you've looked at the images with this article, maybe buy the publication to enable Schnews to keep on agitating and having a laugh doing it.

Warning disclaimer: Schnews do not in any way condone rioting!!

Relevant websites:
www.schnews.org.uk
www.squatter.org.uk
www.caat.org.uk
www.roughmusic.org

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by Tracey Dunn on 11th August, 2011 at 10:14
Great opportunity for voluntary groups etc: Apply for your free paint - from Crown Paints menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven… ha ha this free offer just appeared!! (See first image at top of this review)

Comment left by Tracey Dunn on 11th August, 2011 at 10:17
Ha Ha....Any organisation is eligible to apply for free Crown Paints. To apply, email contact details, a full explanation of why you deserve the free paint and your region to freepaint@mcmc.co.uk by August 19.