Blog | Free Press

What's So Funny About the FCC's Failures?
Craig Aaron
December 13, 2012
On Thursday night at the Washington Hilton, communications lawyers, media industry lobbyists, tech policy wonks and a few beat reporters will gather for the FCC Chairman's Dinner — an annual night of backslapping and inside jokes where the head of the Federal Communications Commission gives a "funny" speech zinging his colleagues and critics.
News Flash for the FCC
Josh Stearns
December 12, 2012
When it comes to media consolidation, the Federal Communications Commission is feeling the heat from all sides. Today activists took to the streets outside the FCC headquarters to deliver more than 200,000 signatures from people all over the U.S. who are calling on the agency to halt its rush to gut media ownership protections.
Fox Gets an F on a Diversity Report Card
Joseph Torres
December 6, 2012
The National Latino Media Council reported last week that ABC, CBS and NBC have made some progress in improving the representation of Latinos working on their entertainment programming. But the group couldn’t give Fox a passing grade this year.
FCC Spin vs. Fact
Josh Stearns
December 5, 2012
Last month an L.A. Times article suggested that there was little opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to gut longstanding media ownership rules. This is flat-out wrong.
Bill Moyers Interviews Free Press President Craig Aaron About the FCC's Big Media Giveaway
Amy Kroin
December 4, 2012
The Federal Communications Commission has been gearing up to deliver a holiday present to News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, who’s been jonesing to buy the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. The current ownership rules stand in his way, so FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has been operating behind closed doors to gut these rules and pave the way for Murdoch — and likeminded media moguls — to own the daily newspaper, two TV stations and up to eight radio stations in the same market. Click here to read Bill Moyers' interview with Craig Aaron about these rule changes.
Free Press Joins with Civil Rights Leaders to Oppose FCC’s Giveaway to Big Media
Craig Aaron
November 29, 2012
The chorus of opposition to the FCC’s secretive plan to gut media ownership limits is growing louder. On Wednesday, civil rights organizations, unions and public interest groups came together to show they are united against the FCC’s scheme.
Five Things You Should Know About the FCC’s Big Media Giveaway
Josh Stearns
November 28, 2012
The Federal Communications Commission is charging ahead with its plan to let Rupert Murdoch gobble up more media outlets. And we've just learned that the FCC may try to hold a secret vote to allow more media consolidation in the U.S. — possibly within the next two weeks.

Murdoch has set his sights on the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune — the major papers in the nation's second- and third-largest cities (where, incidentally, he already owns several TV stations).
Why Did Wireless Networks Fail After Hurricane Sandy?
Matt Wood
Alexandra Martines
November 21, 2012
After Hurricane Sandy tore through the country, thousands of people were left without access to communications networks — right when they needed them most.
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?
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.

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