Free Press (organization)
Encyclopedia
Free Press is a nonpartisan
, nonprofit, national organization working to reform the media in the United States.
It was founded in 2002 by media scholar Robert W. McChesney
, The Nation
contributor John Nichols
, and Josh Silver, current CEO of the Democracy Fund, a foundation challenging the influence of corporations over government policymaking. Craig Aaron is Free Press' current president and CEO. Its board chair is former National Organization for Women
head Kim Gandy
.
Today Free Press is the largest media reform organization in the United States
., with nearly half a million activists and members and a full-time staff of 40 based in offices in Washington, D.C., and Florence, MA.
Through public education, organizing, research and advocacy, Free Press promotes diverse and independent media ownership, a sustainable future for public media, and universal access to communications. Its campaigns include SavetheInternet.com and SavetheNews.org. Free Press is also the organizer of the National Conference for Media Reform
, the nation's biggest conference devoted to media, technology and democracy.
"Media reform" refers to a broad-based social movement that aims to improve public policy to bring about a more democratic media system. Free Press is the principal organizer of 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." The movement really began to take shape in the latter half of 2003, galvanized by controversial orders passed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
Olga M. Davidson
Kim Gandy
Maxie C. Jackson III
Robert W. McChesney
Liza Pike
Josh Silver
Loris Ann Taylor
to better protect the public interest. Here are short descriptions of Free Press' main areas of focus:
Media Consolidation
Free Press opposes against the practice of large media corporations gaining further market share by taking over local media outlets. Its campaign SavetheNews.org provides up-to-date information on developments, research and efforts to stop media consolidation. The site gives visitors a chance to donate or get involved in the cause.
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. Free Press believes in the need for strong independent media outlets and advocates for policies to support noncommercial media.
The Future of the Internet
Free Press advocates on issues affecting the future of the Internet. Current campaigns focus on Net Neutrality and universal access to fast, open and accessible Internet service. Its campaign SaveTheInternet.com works to protect Net Neutrality and free speech online.
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 public interest. To highlight these issues and to address the journalism crisis, Free Press has released a report, Saving The News: Toward a National Journalism Strategy and launched SaveTheNews.org .
Civil Rights & Media Justice
Free Press argues that little of what is seen and heard in the media is actually produced by diverse communities. The result is often stereotypical coverage and reports lacking in vital information and viewpoints. Free Press works to promote public policies that foster greater media diversity. Free Press also advocates for universal access to the "free and open Internet" and the end of the digital divide. Media companies should be held accountable, Free Press argues, for serving their communities.
Building a Media Reform Movement
Free Press fights for media that inform and educate the American public, that reflect diversity in the United States, and that serve the information needs of local communities.
, Massachusetts
. Activists, policymakers, media makers, educators and journalists attended the conference. There were roughly 300 speakers and performers and an estimated 2,500 people in attendance. Previous conferences were held in Madison, Wis. (2003), St. Louis (2005), Memphis, Tenn. (2007), and Minneapolis (2008).
, a conservative news talk show host and one of the Free Press' most vocal 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." Beck also claims that Free Press uses the issue of Net Neutrality to further its political agenda and cites the hiring of former Free Press Media Director Jen Howard as the spokesperson for Julius Genachowski
, the FCC chair, as evidence of its growing influence.
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, nonprofit, national organization working to reform the media in the United States.
It was founded in 2002 by media scholar Robert W. McChesney
Robert W. McChesney
Robert Waterman McChesney is an American professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication. His work concentrates on the history and political economy of communication, emphasizing the role media play in democratic...
, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
contributor John Nichols
John Nichols (journalist)
John Nichols is an American journalist and author. He is a political correspondent for The Nation and associate editor of The Capital Times. Books authored or co-authored by Nichols include: The Genius of Impeachment and The Death and Life of American Journalism.- Biography :Nichols holds a...
, and Josh Silver, current CEO of the Democracy Fund, a foundation challenging the influence of corporations over government policymaking. Craig Aaron is Free Press' current president and CEO. Its board chair is former National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
head Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy is an American feminist and was the president of the National Organization for Women from 2001 until 2009. In 2009 Gandy was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government...
.
Today Free Press is the largest media reform organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
., with nearly half a million activists and members and a full-time staff of 40 based in offices in Washington, D.C., and Florence, MA.
Through public education, organizing, research and advocacy, Free Press promotes diverse and independent media ownership, a sustainable future for public media, and universal access to communications. Its campaigns include SavetheInternet.com and SavetheNews.org. Free Press is also the organizer of the National Conference for Media Reform
National Conference for Media Reform
The National Conference for Media Reform is the largest conference devoted to media, technology and democracy in the United States...
, the nation's biggest conference devoted to media, technology and democracy.
"Media reform" refers to a broad-based social movement that aims to improve public policy to bring about a more democratic media system. Free Press is the principal organizer of 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." The movement really began to take shape in the latter half of 2003, galvanized by controversial orders passed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC).
Current members
Marcy Carsey- Carsey is the co-founder of the Carsey Werner Company, a television production company responsible for shows such as The Cosby Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun and That 70's Show
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.
Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy is an American feminist and was the president of the National Organization for Women from 2001 until 2009. In 2009 Gandy was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government...
- Gandy is currently the vice president and general counsel at the Feminist Majority and the Feminist Majority Foundation. She previously served as president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) from 2001-2009.
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.
Robert W. McChesney
Robert W. McChesney
Robert Waterman McChesney is an American professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication. His work concentrates on the history and political economy of communication, emphasizing the role media play in democratic...
- McChesney co-founded Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund along with John Nichols and Josh Silver in 2002. He is a professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and author or editor of 13 on media and democracy.
Liza Pike
- Pike is the founder of Resource Media's California office and also serves on the board of the Center for Media Change.
Josh Silver
- Silver co-founded Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund with Robert McChesney and John Nichols in 2002. He served as CEO and president of Free Press and president of the board of directors of the Free Press Action Fund until 2011. Craig Aaron succeeded him as CEO and president.
Loris Ann Taylor
- Taylor is executive director of Native Public Media. She 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.
Outreach and issues
Free Press also has an advocacy arm, the Free Press Action Fund. Both rely on the support of individuals, foundations and public charities to address issues including media ownership and the ongoing trend of media consolidation; the need to support public and independent media outlets; the fight to preserve Net Neutrality; the need for universal access to communications; the importance of maintaining high standards of journalism; and diversity of media ownership. Free Press frequently challenges the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to better protect the public interest. Here are short descriptions of Free Press' main areas of focus:
Media Consolidation
Free Press opposes against the practice of large media corporations gaining further market share by taking over local media outlets. Its campaign SavetheNews.org provides up-to-date information on developments, research and efforts to stop media consolidation. The site gives visitors a chance to donate or get involved in the cause.
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. Free Press believes in the need for strong independent media outlets and advocates for policies to support noncommercial media.
The Future of the Internet
Free Press advocates on issues affecting the future of the Internet. Current campaigns focus on Net Neutrality and universal access to fast, open and accessible Internet service. Its campaign SaveTheInternet.com works to protect Net Neutrality and free speech online.
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 public interest. To highlight these issues and to address the journalism crisis, Free Press has released a report, Saving The News: Toward a National Journalism Strategy and launched SaveTheNews.org .
Civil Rights & Media Justice
Free Press argues that little of what is seen and heard in the media is actually produced by diverse communities. The result is often stereotypical coverage and reports lacking in vital information and viewpoints. Free Press works to promote public policies that foster greater media diversity. Free Press also advocates for universal access to the "free and open Internet" and the end of the digital divide. Media companies should be held accountable, Free Press argues, for serving their communities.
Building a Media Reform Movement
Free Press fights for media that inform and educate the American public, that reflect diversity in the United States, and that serve the information needs of local communities.
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." Its "purpose is to strategize, network, share skills, swap information and inspire during three days of workshops, panels, caucuses, keynote speeches, meetings and parties." The fifth NCMR conference was held on April 8-10, 2011, at the Seaport World Trade Center in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Activists, policymakers, media makers, educators and journalists attended the conference. There were roughly 300 speakers and performers and an estimated 2,500 people in attendance. Previous conferences were held in Madison, Wis. (2003), St. Louis (2005), Memphis, Tenn. (2007), and Minneapolis (2008).
Funding
Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund are supported by individuals, foundations and public charities. They do not accept funds from businesses, government or political parties.Criticism
Free Press has been the target of numerous attacks toward the group and one of its founders, Robert W. McChesney. Glenn BeckGlenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, a conservative news talk show host and one of the Free Press' most vocal 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." Beck also claims that Free Press uses the issue of Net Neutrality to further its political agenda and cites the hiring of former Free Press Media Director Jen Howard as the spokesperson for Julius Genachowski
Julius Genachowski
Julius Genachowski is an American lawyer and businessman. He became Federal Communications Commission Chairman on June 29, 2009.-Education:Genachowski grew up in Great Neck, New York. He attended yeshiva and studied in Israel...
, the FCC chair, as evidence of its growing influence.
See also
- Media democracyMedia democracyMedia democracy is a set of ideas advocating reforming the mass media, strengthening public service broadcasting, and developing and participating in alternative media and citizen journalism. The stated purpose for doing so is to create a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of...
, Media reformMedia reformMedia reform refers to proposed attempts to reform mass media towards an agenda which is more in tune with public needs and away from a perceived bias toward corporate biases...
, Media activismMedia activismMedia activism is activism that uses media and communication technologies for social movement, and/or tries to change policies relating to media and communication ....
, National Conference for Media ReformNational Conference for Media ReformThe National Conference for Media Reform is the largest conference devoted to media, technology and democracy in the United States...
, Net Neutrality