Free Press (advocacy group): Difference between revisions
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|id = 0805078193 }}</ref> Its board chair is former [[National Organization for Women]] head [[Kim Gandy]]. |
|id = 0805078193 }}</ref> Its board chair is former [[National Organization for Women]] head [[Kim Gandy]]. |
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Through public education, organizing, research and advocacy, Free Press advocates for [[net neutrality]], diverse media ownership, a sustainable future for public media and universal access to communications. With its membership of more than 500,000 activists, Free Press is the largest media reform organization in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kang|first=Kang|title=Net Neutrality's Quiet Crusader: Free Press's Ben Scott Faces Down Titans, Regulators in Battle Over Internet Control|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/27/AR2008032703618.html|accessdate=24 May 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=Friday, March 28, 2008}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Free Press Basics|url=http://www.freepress.net/about_us|accessdate=3 May 2011}}</ref> |
Through public education, organizing, research and advocacy, Free Press advocates for [[net neutrality]], diverse media ownership, a sustainable future for public media and universal access to communications. With its membership of more than 500,000 activists, Free Press is the largest media reform organization in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kang|first=Kang|title=Net Neutrality's Quiet Crusader: Free Press's Ben Scott Faces Down Titans, Regulators in Battle Over Internet Control|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/27/AR2008032703618.html|accessdate=24 May 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=Friday, March 28, 2008}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Free Press Basics|url=http://www.freepress.net/about_us|accessdate=3 May 2011}}</ref> [[John Fund]] of [[The Wall Street Journal]] has described the group as a liberal organization.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fund|first=John|title=The Net Neutrality Coup: The campaign to regulate the Internet was funded by a who's who of left-liberal foundations|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703886904576031512110086694.html?mod=rss_opinion_main|accessdate=26 May 2011|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=21 December 2010}}</ref> |
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==Creation== |
==Creation== |
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Revision as of 14:34, 26 May 2011
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (May 2011) |
| Example logo | |
| Type | Lobbying |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
Key people | Robert W. McChesney Josh Silver (nonprofit director) |
Employees | Approx. 50 |
| Website | www.freepress.net |
Free Press is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to reform the media in the United States. It was founded by Monthly Review editor Robert W. McChesney, The Nation contributor John Nichols, and Josh Silver, who previously campaigned for public funding of elections in Arizona.[1] Its board chair is former National Organization for Women head Kim Gandy.
Through public education, organizing, research and advocacy, Free Press advocates for net neutrality, diverse media ownership, a sustainable future for public media and universal access to communications. With its membership of more than 500,000 activists, Free Press is the largest media reform organization in the United States.[2] [3] John Fund of The Wall Street Journal has described the group as a liberal organization.[4]
Creation
The Free Press was launched in late 2002 by media scholar Robert W. McChesney, The Nation contributor John Nichols and Josh Silver, current CEO of the Democracy Fund, a Political Action Committee created to address corporate influence in politics. Today, Free Press claims to be the largest media reform organization in the United States, with nearly half-a-million activists and members and a full-time staff of more than 30 based in offices in Washington, D.C., and Florence, MA[5]
The Media Reform Movement
In this context "media reform" "refers to a broad-based social movement that aims to improve existing telecommunications laws, regulations, and policy in order to bring about a more democratic media system." Free Press contributes to the "media reform movement" which generally "addresses the effects of a for-profit media system that increasingly fails to fulfill the communications needs of democratic society."[6] The current movement in media reform really began to take shape in the latter half of 2003 coinciding with controversial orders passed by the FCC.[7]
Activities and staff
Free Press' campaigns include SavetheInternet.com and SavetheNews.org. Free Press is also the organizer of the National Conference for Media Reform. Free Press employs a full-time staff of more than 30 in two office locations.
Offices
- Florence, MA - This office is the headquarters of Free Press and is the center of their grassroots lobbying campaigns.
- Washington DC - This office operates as the center of Free Press’ direct lobbying campaigns.
Board of Directors
Current members
Marcy Carsey
- Carsey is the Co-Founder of the Carsey Werner Company, a television production company responsible for shows such as The Cobsy Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun and That 70's Show[8]
Olga M. Davidson
- Davidson is a visiting associate professor in the Middle Eastern Studies program at Wellesley College and also serves as chair of the board at the Ilex Foundation.[8]
- Gandy is currently the vice president and general counsel at the Feminist Majority and the Feminist Majority Foundation. Previously served president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) from 2001-2009.[8]
Maxie C. Jackson III
- Jackson serves as president and chief executive officer for the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and previously served as senior director for program development at New York Public Radio.[8]
- McChesney co-founded Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund along with Josh Silver in 2002. He is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and author or editor of multiple books on media reform.[8] One of his books Tragedy and Farce, written with John Nichols, examins the currect political system and the role media plays in shapeing it.[9]
Liza Pike
- Pike is the founder of Resource Media's California office and also serves on the board of the Center for Media Change.[8]
- Silver co-founded Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund with Robert McChesney in 2002. He is also the CEO of Free Press, and president of the board of directors of the Free Press Action Fund.[8]
Loris Ann Taylor
- Taylor is executive director of Native Public Media, serves as a member of the Distribution and Interconnection Committee of the NPR board, and is active in the Aspen Institute's Communications and Society program.[8]
Outreach & Issues
Free Press also has an advocacy arm, the Free Press Action Fund, and both rely on the support of foundations and their members to help them tackle issues such as media ownership and the ongoing trend of media consolidation; gathering support for public and independent media outlets; fighting Net Neutrality; securing universal access to communications; maintaining high standards of journalism; encouraging diversity of media ownership. Here are short descriptions of how what the Free Press is doing to combat these issues.[10]
Media Consolidation
Free Press has advocated against the practice of large media corporations gaining large market share by taking over local media outlets. Their campaign SavetheNews.org provides up to date information on developments, research, and efforts to stop media consolidation as well as gives visitors a chance to donate or get involved in the cause.[11]
Public Media
Public media refers to publicly-funded media outlets like PBS and NPR, as well as local community media and PEG (public, education, government) media stations. The organization believes in the need for strong, independent media outlets and advocates for policies to empower noncommercial media. [12]
The Future of the Internet
Free Press advocates issues affecting the future of the internet including Net Neutrality, the National Broadband Policy and municipal broadband networks. Their campaign SaveTheInternet.com works to protect online expression and access to information. [13]
Quality Journalism
According to Free Press, the issue of quality journalism has never been more urgent. Free Press argues that we need media policies that promote quality news, spark innovation, protect journalists, and create a media system that serves the needs of our diverse democracy .To bring light to these issues, Free Press has released a report, Saving The News: Toward a National Journalism Strategy and launched SaveTheNews.org to develop and discuss to address the journalism crisis.[14]
Civil Rights & Media Justice
Free Press argues that the mainstream media lacks opinion, input, and production by diverse communities often resulting in stereotypical coverage and reports lacking vital information and viewpoints. Through education and policy they aim to encourage media diversity, advocate for the "free and open internet," close the digital divide, and allow the public to hold media companies accountable for serving their communities.
Building A Media Reform Movement
Free Press is working to create media that informs and educates the American public, reflects the diversity in the United States, and serves the information needs of local communities while giving the public an active role in shaping future media policies.
National Conference for Media Reform
Free Press organizes The National Conference for Media Reform, or NCMR. "The National Conference for Media Reform is the biggest and best conference devoted to media, technology and democracy." Their "purpose is to strategize, network, share skills, swap information and inspire one another during three days of workshops, panels, caucuses, keynote speeches, meetings and parties." [15] The 5th NCMR conference occurred from April 8 to April 10, 2011. The conference was held at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts, where there were many participants such as activists, policy makers, media makers, educators, journalists, etc. There were roughly 300 speakers and performers and there was an estimated 2,500 people in attendance. Participation in this event was available after paying a registration fee of $175. The past conferences include 2003 in Madison, Wis., 2005 in St. Louis, 2007 in Memphis, Tenn., and 2008 in Minneapolis.
S. Derek Turner
S. Derek Turner is the head of the research policy team in Washington D.C. The policy team is dedicated to monitoring and analyzing media policymaking to increase public awareness and participation. Tuner has written about a wide range of media and technology issues, and regularly speaks before Congress and the FCC.[16] His reports have examined the state of broadband competition in America, the role of the Universal Service Fund in the 21st century, and the lack of female and minority media ownership.[17]
Landmark Studies of Derek Turner
Down Payment on Our Digital Future: Stimulus Policies for the 21st-Century Economy
The report goes in-depth explaining that a broadband stimulus package must be carefully targeted and tied to public service principles that ensure that American taxpayers get a strong return on their investment. It focuses on a set of key public policy priorities including rural America, low-income users, global competitiveness, education and accountability. The report recommends among other things, that the stimulus funds only be used to build world class networks. These networks would need to be able to provide bandwidth speeds in excess of 100 megabits/second to consumers, both upstream and downstream. The new networks would significantly boost America's current global broadband ranking of 15 (22 in some studies). The report also offers a set of proposals to expand the debate on broadband stimulus and provide a foundation for further discussion.[18]
Shooting the Messenger: Myth vs. Reality in U.S. Broadband Policy
This report exposes the myths and realities put forward to excuse the shortcomings of the U.S. broadband market. It covers the two fundamental problems in America’s broadband market — availability and competition. According to the report, 10 million households in the United States currently have no option for broadband access. Nearly 50 million that could subscribe choose not to either because prices are too high, or speeds are too slow and most can only choose between the local phone or cable provider. A common myth the report address is that America is only behind in broadband penetration because of its huge geographical area. The study the report references shows that 8 of the top 14 countries ahead of the United States in broadband penetration have more of the population living in rural areas. The report urges American policymakers to foster a truly competitive marketplace like that found in many European and Asian nations.[19]
Broadband Reality Check II
This report by Free Press, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America comes one year after the first report on the state of the U.S. high-speed Internet market. The report claims that cable and telephone companies have a duopoly consuming 98% of the available broadband market. At the time of the report, one-third of the households in the United States had no internet access and another third of the households with internet access only had dial-up. While the United States has seen success in more DSL providers providing 1 megabit/second connections, Japanese telecommunications companies are able to offer its citizens 100 megabits/second for the same price. At the time of publication, the United States ranks 21st in the U.N. rankings of "digital opportunity." This report updates the previous publication and details new empirical research in this area.[20]
Off the Dial: Female and Minority Radio Station Ownership in the United States
The study shows that media consolidation is one of the key factors keeping female and minority station ownership at low levels. It claims to be the first study to look at specifically female and minority ownership of full power radio stations in the United States. The results of the study show that only 4.7% of all full power broadcast radio stations have a woman as the CEO or president. It also shows that minorities only own 7.7% of the countries' radio stations. The information contained in the report is aimed at policymakers of the FCC and in Congress to help them make informed conclusions about the state of the broadcast marketplace and the impact of media consolidation on female and minority radio station ownership.[21]
Out of the Picture: Minority & Female TV Station Ownership in the United States
The report provides the first complete assessment and analysis of female and minority ownership of full-power commercial broadcast television stations. The study concludes that women only own 67 radio stations, or 4.97% in the United States. The study also finds that Minorities only own 44 stations, or 3.26% of all radio stations. Among television stations in the United States, the study finds that while over 10% of the nations Latino or Hispanic viewer ship is in the New York area, there are no stations owned by a Latino. The purpose of the report was aimed to provide the public, Congress and the FCC with a complete understanding of the state of female and minority television ownership, as well as the potential impacts of changes to media ownership rules.[22]
Criticism
The Free Press organization has faced numerous criticisms and attacks toward the group and its founder Robert W. McChesney. Glenn Beck, a conservative news talk show host and one of the Free press' biggest opponents, has accused the group of being a socialist/Marxist organization "whose goal it is to limit America's free press and freedom of speech."[23] Beck also claims that the Free Press organization uses the issue of Net neutrality to further their political agenda and cites the hiring of a Free press member as the assistant to Julius Genachowski, the FCC Chairperson, as evidence of their growing influence.[24]
See also
References
- ^ Eric Klinenberg (January 9, 2007), Fighting for Air, Metropolitan Books, ISBN 9780805078190, 0805078193
- ^ Kang, Kang (Friday, March 28, 2008). "Net Neutrality's Quiet Crusader: Free Press's Ben Scott Faces Down Titans, Regulators in Battle Over Internet Control". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Free Press Basics". Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ Fund, John (21 December 2010). "The Net Neutrality Coup: The campaign to regulate the Internet was funded by a who's who of left-liberal foundations". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund". Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ Brenna Wolf. "Media Reform" in: Robin Andersen, Jonathan Alan Gray, eds. Battleground: the Media, v.1. ABC-CLIO, 2008
- ^ Skinner, David (2005). Converging Media, Diverging Politics. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. p. 187. ISBN 0-7391-0827-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h freepress.com. "Boards of Directors". Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ^ McChesney, Robert (2005). Tragedy and Farce. New York, NY: The New Press. pp. 7, 125, 172. ISBN 1-59558-016-6.
- ^ "Free Press and The Free Press Action Fund: About Us". freepress.com. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ freepress.com. "Media Consolidation". Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ freepress.com. "Public Media". Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ Future of the Internet
- ^ Journalism
- ^ "Questions about NCMR".
- ^ "S. Derek Turner, Research Director". Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "Derek Turner Profile Bio". Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ Turner, S.D. (2008). "Payment on Our Digital Future: Stimulus Policies for the 21st-Century Economy" (PDF). Free Press: 3. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Turner, S.D. (2007). "Shooting the Messenger: Myth vs. Reality in U.S. Broadband Policy" (PDF). Free Press: 1. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Turner, D.S. (2006). "Broadband Reality Check II" (PDF). Free Press: 3. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Turner, S.D. (2007). "Off the Dial: Female and Minority Radio Station Ownership in the United States" (PDF): 4. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Turner, S.D. (2006). "Out of the Picture: Minority & Female TV Station Ownership in the United States" (PDF). Free Press: 2. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Beck vs. Free Press". Glenn Beck- Fox News. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "Glenn Beck". Glenn Beck. Retrieved 3 May 2011.