Free Press

Future of the internet: highlighted the importance of closing the digital divide and bringing affordable broadband service to millions of people lacking such service. Promoted awareness of the affordable connectivity program to help lower income people afford phone and internet access during the pandemic. Filed comments with the ftc for the proposed rulemaking about "junk fees" on telecommunications bills. Filed comments with the fcc to ensure urged the federal communications commission to adopt broad rules against digital discrimination by broadband-access providers, rules that congress required when it created and funded the $42.5-billion broadband equity, access and deployment (bead) program for rural broadband deployment, and the $14.25-billion affordable connectivity program (acp) to help make broadband more affordable for low-income families. Celebrated the federal communications commission plans to begin an agency proceeding to restore the fcc's authority under title ii of the communications act to oversee broadband providers and enforce the open-internet protections that were stripped away in 2017.

Future of journalism: through the media2070 project, documented how centuries of harm the u.s. media system has inflicted on the black community. Examined how historic and contemporary racial discrimination in all media and government policies have excluded black people and other communities of color from controlling the nation's communications infrastructure. Worked with a growing consortium of media-makers, scholars and activists to build support for the fight for reparations. Continued dissemination of "black in the newsroom", an award-winning documentary film featured in several festivals and public and private screenings across the u.s. debuted the black future newsstand, a custom-built art installation, at a series of public events in harlem and presented a travel sized version of the installation at the afrotech conference in austin. Debuted media2070's first-ever college course: "diagnosing the media system" at Colorado college. Through the news voices project, continued to build power with communities so people have a strong voice in how local news can be revived, strengthened and transformed. Urged prominent newspapers to transform coverage of the criminal-legal system and to craft more equitable reporting on public safety, policing and trauma and to better support its journalists of color. Convened a workshop series to highlight how coverage of crime and public safety can stigmatize, misrepresent and traumatize communities. Launched the reparative journalism project, which explores the journalism industry's history of harming black and indigenous communities and focuses on building new systems to repair harm. Published the roadmap for local news: an emergent approach to meeting civic information needs, which sets forth a visionary and actionable plan to ensure that every u.s. community has access to necessary civic news and information and which served as a catalyst for creation of a major philanthropic initiative that will invest $500 million in local journalism.

Democracy and digital civil rights: continued highlighting the role of social media companies in the perpetuation of hoaxes, disinformation, and hate speech and the impact to society and especially to marginalized communities, women, and people of color. Worked to combat hate, disinformation and conspiracy theories online while preserving freedom of speech and protecting marginalized communities when they speak out. Called on tech companies to institute election-integrity measures; enforce their rules equally regardless of a speaker's social or political status; enforce rules equally across all languages; and be far more transparent about their content-moderation policies. Urged social-media platforms to invest significant resources in combating online hate and disinformation in languages other than english. Convened a global coalition of digital-justice and human-rights leaders to call attention to how artificial intelligence disproportionately harms women, people of color, the lgbtqia+ community, ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged people from around the world. Issued an open letter urging the media and policymakers to include experts from affected communities in debates about ai. Celebrated a federal appeals court ruling that facebook can be sued for allegedly discriminating on the basis of race and sex in housing advertisements, in line with arguments Free Press and allies made in an amicus brief, that platforms are as accountable for online violations of civil-rights laws as they are when violations occur offline. Continued work through the stop toxic twitter coalition campaign. Issued major report: big tech backslide: that analyzes a year of platform-policy rollbacks, layoffs and reinstatements of dangerous and extremist accounts to show how the major social-media platforms are failing to safeguard elections and protect public safety.

Free Press works to preserve rights to Free expression, communication and privacy online and in person. Areas of focus include future of the internet; democracy and digital civil rights; and future of journalism. In 2022 Free Press conducted research, education, and also organized and mobilized to advocate for better media, open technology and a healthier democracy. Provided regular information via email, website, and webinars to 1.4 million constituents hailing from all 50 states, the district of columbia and puerto rico. Attracted over 300,000 overall website visits and virtual events attracted hundreds of participants. Interacted with over 120,000 social media followers and earned 1,500 Press hits. Created and disseminated resource materials including research reports, issue briefs, factsheets, and brochures. Provided training and support to dozens of local and regional media reform groups and to thousands of local media activists. Filed public comments, and participated in several federal communications commission proceedings and several federal court proceedings. Worked with dozens of organizations to plan and implement high profile educational events. Secured financial support from 1,358 donors. Total program expenditures are detailed in the three core program areas above: