Help Fix Media Now!
We’ve noticed an increase in media coverage on the lack of local news and journalism outlets. Let’s hope the increased attention to the crisis of local news and democracy equates to more solutions and money for local journalism.
It’s that time again! Our first March MAD Monday is tomorrow, 3/18. Please vote now to help us highlight an exceptional local news outlet:
Local News Bright Spot Award Nominees for March
You can help protect journalists and their sources!
The PRESS Act bill passed the House and is now in the Senate. The Press Act, if passed in both houses, will protect journalists from government surveillance. The bill needs our support to get it over the finish line. The PRESS Act (S 2074/HR 4250) would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their sources and, even more importantly, prevent the government from forcing tech companies to provide journalists phone, social media, or email records. The bill easily passed the House in January but few senators have co-sponsored it, so far, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has not acted. We should all contact our senators and urge them to co-sponsor S 2074 The PRESS Act. The ACLU has noted, “By preventing the government from compelling the disclosure of sources, or spying on journalists as a work-around, this legislation will ensure that journalists across the country have the confidentiality they need to do their jobs.”
Here is a link to the bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2074
Here is a link to the ACLU post about the bill.
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-cheers-house-passage-of-the-press-act
Here is a link to contact Senators:
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
What we are listening to now:
You may all remember Greg Sargent’s great column – ”The Plum Line” – in the Washington Post. Sargent recently left WaPo and happily, he’s landed at The New Republic, where he’s turned his essential column and reporting into a podcast, called “The Daily Blast” – which has become an essential resource for MAD.
Here’s the TNR “The Daily Blast” page with all recent episodes available:
https://newrepublic.com/authors/the-daily-blast
And here’s a must-listen recent episode with Mark Jacobs, on “How the Media Whitewashes the Trump-MAGA Threat—Revealed by an Insider”:
https://newrepublic.com/article/179751/media-whitewashes-trump-maga-threat
Follow Greg Sargent on Twitter, here: https://twitter.com/GregTSargent
Follow Mark Jacob on Twitter, here: https://twitter.com/MarkJacob16
Want to become a media activist? Join us at our next meeting TOMORROW, Monday, March 18, at 7 pm ET. Sign up here.
Help us fight for more pro-democracy media and a better-informed America.
ACTION #1 Please call your Senators and ask them to support or co-sponsor the PRESS Act:
- A U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can connect you directly with the Senate office. (202) 224-3121
- Or, contact them directly using the directory: https://www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm
ACTION #2 Ask your Representative to support HR 4756 Community News and Small Business Support Act
DONATE
Upcoming Events (all meetings are via Zoom)
3/18 Monday 7:00p ET Our Media and Democracy Project bi-weekly “MAD Mondays” general Meeting – newcomers are always welcome. We will discuss different ways you can help #FixMediaNow Sign up here
Thank you for all you do! Please share this Newsletter.
In community,
Noelle, Brian, Jonathan, Holley, Cecily, Carolyn, Milo and the entire Media and Democracy Project
If you would like to speak at one of our meetings or have any feedback.
Email: Noelle@MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org
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Website: MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org
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We would be grateful for your support in our fight with Fox at the FCC! Donate to MAD via GiveButter: https://givebutter.com/fight-fox
