• The Three Worst Ideas in the FCC’s Future of Media Report

    Josh Stearns
    June 9, 2011

    The Federal Communications Commission released its long-awaited report on the future of media, now re-titled "The Technology and Information Needs of Communities.” The document spans a whopping 450 pages and touches on nearly every aspect of American media. The scope and depth of the report is impressive and the FCC future of media team should be commended for their tireless work on it. 

    However, at first glance, there are some glaring problems in key parts of the report that suggest troubling trends for those who care about better news and information for American communities. While the report does highlight a number of promising policy ideas—many proposed by Free Press and our allies—almost all of them are outside the jurisdiction of the FCC. We’ll post more on these policies soon.

  • Live Chat: FCC and the Future of Media

    Josh Stearns
    June 8, 2011

    On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission released its long-awaited report on the future of media, titled "The Technology and Information Needs of Communities.” Below is an archive of a live blog discussion and some of the best tweets from the event. Stay tuned for more analysis of the 450 page report from Free Press and SaveTheNews.org.

  • Tethers, Rules and Consequences for Verizon

    Matt Wood
    June 8, 2011

    If you’ve been occasionally frustrated by your Internet service, you’re not alone. Service interruptions, slow download speeds, and climbing costs are common complaints.  But it could be worse.

  • Previewing the FCC Future of Media Report

    Josh Stearns
    June 7, 2011

    After more than a year of investigation, the Federal Communications Commission is set to release its report on the Future of Media this week. While there have been a number of “future of news” reports over the last few years, this one has potential to help reshape the media policy landscape that shapes everything we watch, read and hear. For too long, technology has outpaced media policy and the public interest is being left behind.

  • What color is the sky in Jim Cicconi's world?

    Dave Saldana
    June 2, 2011

    Is it the fiery orange of AT&T’s corporate logo, or the hot pink preferred by the object of his desire, T-Mobile? 

  • Disappearing Photographs

    Brian McDermott
    May 26, 2011

    Several years ago, I dressed up as a 1940s-era photojournalist for Halloween. I wore a fedora with a PRESS card, a fake mustache and a cheap suit while carrying around an antique twin-lens camera and an unlit cigar.

    When I saw my friends, they said, “Oh, you’re a journalist.” Strangers said, “Look, a photographer.” But no one registered that I was an anachronism: a vintage photojournalist. To this assortment of Wonder Women, zombies and cowboys, nothing had changed since those fast-talking, flashbulb days.

  • AT&T Wants to Give You an 80s Makeover

    Timothy Karr
    May 26, 2011

    If you were around in the 80s, you might be experiencing a horrible flashback right about now.

    No, it’s not because legwarmers and spandex are in style again. It’s because AT&T, that monopoly that once lorded over your rotary phone, has resurfaced with a scheme to rule your mobile phone as well.

  • Trusting Comcast to Fund Independent News?

    Josh Stearns
    May 24, 2011

    Nonprofit news outlets across the country can now apply to become a local news partner of Comcast/NBC. These new partnerships could mean a new funding stream for nonprofit local journalism, but they come with some serious caveats. After all, this is the same company that pulled funding from a small non-profit youth media group last week for tweeting a message that the company didn’t like. Just imagine what could happen if a Comcast-funded news outlet runs a story counter to the company’s bottom line.

  • What Will Gov. Perdue Do?

    Megan Tady
    May 20, 2011

    Update: Gov. Perdue refused to veto the bill, ignoring the voices of her constituents and thousands of others from across the nation who had urged her to stand up for real broadband competition and choice.

    North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue has until midnight to save community broadband in her state, and send a resounding message to the nation that telecom companies don’t dictate politics.

  • Watch What You Tweet: Comcast and Free Speech

    Josh Stearns
    May 20, 2011

    Last week, Comcast highlighted how broken our policymaking is when it hired a sitting FCC Commissioner to become one of its chief lobbyists, just months after she rubber-stamped their merger with NBC-Universal. This week, Comcast threatened to cut funding to a Seattle-based youth media nonprofit after the organization tweeted about Comcast’s new hire:

    “OMG! @FCC Commissioner Baker voted 2 approve Comcast/NBC merger & is now lving FCC for A JOB AT COMCAST?!?http://su.pr/1trT4z #mediajustice”

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