Media advocacy organization promoting diverse ownership, quality journalism, and universal connectivity.
It's never been more clear that local news and civic information are vital pillars of our democracy. Yet endless profit-chasing and consolidation at the heart of our commercial media system have led to massive layoffs of journalists, newsroom closures, and a loss of trusted local information. Bold policy change is needed to build a media system that centers the needs of communities and treats local news as a vital public good. At Free Press, we believe this can be achieved through intentional organizing and power building. That’s why we’re supporting civic media leaders across the country to develop statewide coalitions, advocate for policy proposals, and design campaigns to advance policies that will transform our media system from the ground up.
Through our work with the Media Power Collaborative, Free Press’s goal is to build locally-rooted, durable multi-stakeholder coalitions that can advocate for public policy that serves the public interest. We offer:
- Coalition-Building Support. We help communities identify aligned stakeholders, convene core groups, and build durable coalitions rooted in shared values.
- Workshops and resources: We host trainings and provide educational resources to help local partners build their capacity in order to better advocate for their and their community’s information needs. Topics include ally and power mapping, how to engage in policy efforts as a 501(c)3 organization, building narrative power, how to evaluate media policy that serves the public interest, and more.
- Policy Strategy and Analysis. We provide resources and policy guides to help local groups craft strong, forward-looking proposals that prioritize public interest over corporate interests.
- Connections to National and Local Campaigns. Through the MPC, we connect civic media leaders with peers nationwide, enabling shared learning and coordinated action.
- Legislative Navigation. We advise coalitions on identifying legislative champions, building grassroots momentum, and avoiding pitfalls that harm community-centered media.
Target Issues