• Verizon vs. Humans

    Josh Levy
    November 21, 2012

    Last summer, Verizon — joined by smaller cellphone carrier MetroPCS — sued the Federal Communications Commission for adopting some Net Neutrality rules.  The companies even claimed the constitutional right to censor everyone’s online speech. But with the court case moving forward, more and more people are countering this dangerous argument.

  • Don't Believe the Spin. Dark Money Won.

    Timothy Karr
    November 20, 2012

    Before Nov. 6 is written into history, we need to challenge assumptions now circulating among Washington’s pundit class.

    First, the Obama victory didn’t signal the demise of big-money politics. It didn’t spell the end of the Super PAC. And the election wasn’t a train wreck for political advertising — even after groups paid billions for spots in support of losing candidates.

  • Why Is the Obama FCC Plotting a Massive Giveaway to Rupert Murdoch?

    Craig Aaron
    November 19, 2012

    What if I told you the Obama administration's first major post-election policy move was a big, fat gift for Rupert Murdoch?

    You might ask: The same Rupert Murdoch who owns Fox News?

    The same Rupert Murdoch who scandalized England with phone-hacking, influence peddling and bribery?

  • Rep. Pingree Signs the Declaration of Internet Freedom

    Josh Levy
    November 19, 2012

    The Declaration of Internet Freedom, which was launched earlier this year by a diverse coalition of open Internet advocates, has been signed by more than 2,000 organizations and companies. And the names keep rolling in.

    This week, yet another member of Congress — Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine — joined Reps. Anna Eshoo, Darrell Issa and Jared Polis and Sen. Ron Wyden in adding her support.

  • A Change for the Worse

    Joel Kelsey
    November 16, 2012

    In 2007, then-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin rammed through controversial rules that would have allowed further media consolidation of newspapers and broadcast television stations. The change met significant opposition from the public and Congress, and was eventually overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

  • Three Days of Supreme Awesomeness

    Kate McKenney
    November 16, 2012

    When my mom and dad visited Boston for their first National Conference for Media Reform, they were in shock. They thought that I just helped put on this tiny event that maybe 100 activists attended. They didn’t expect the thousands of people in attendance — or the sheer energy of the experience.

    The Boston conference was great, but we at Free Press are not content to rest on our laurels. We’re planning something even better for our next conference, which will be held in April in Denver.

  • Who’s Paying for the News on Time’s Website?

    Josh Stearns
    November 16, 2012

    More and more news organizations use links to recommendations to keep people on their sites. Recommendations like these would seem to add value for the audience. But are these links being used to embed fake news and pay-for-play content?

  • In Your FaceTime, AT&T

    Josh Levy
    November 14, 2012
    In a major about-face, AT&T has decided to give more iPhone users access to mobile FaceTime without forcing them to upgrade to more expensive plans. But our work isn’t over yet. If we keep pushing, we can get AT&T to open up FaceTime to everyone.

  • Why I Won't Stop Tracking Journalist Arrests

    Josh Stearns
    November 14, 2012

    One year ago today I published a blog post entitled “Why I'm Tracking Journalist Arrests at Occupy Protests.” The next day, police raided New York City’s Zuccotti Park, where they arrested 12 journalists and blocked many others from documenting the raid.

  • Sinclair Hijacks the Airwaves for Political Gain

    Timothy Karr
    November 12, 2012

    Lost in the media frenzy of last Tuesday’s elections was one broadcaster’s 11th-hour attempt to bias voters against President Barack Obama.

    Just hours before Americans went to the polls on Tuesday, Sinclair Broadcast Group — which owns more than 70 TV stations nationwide — forced newscasters in battleground states to air a “special” that attacked President Obama’s positions on health care, jobs and foreign policy.

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