Welcome to the January 2024 edition of the Free Press Update, our newsletter recapping as much of our work from the last month as we can fit into one email. Let’s get into it:

Things We're Actually Looking Forward to in 2024

Happy New Year? There’s no denying it: These are troubling times. At Free Press, we share fears of expanding global conflict and what’s in store for this election year. And yet we also feel optimistic about what we can accomplish as we work to build the foundation of a just media system and the true multiracial democracy this country needs.

Our co-CEO, Craig Aaron, shared a few of the things we’re actually looking forward to in 2024 — check out the blog:

Speak Out NOW to Restore Net Neutrality!

This new year could bring a new era of internet freedom: We have our best chance in years to reinstate the Net Neutrality rules and restore the FCC’s Title II authority — which will give it the power to stop ISP abuses.

But we have to act fast: There are just days left in the public-comment phase of the FCC’s rulemaking process. Will you join us in urging the agency to swiftly reinstate Net Neutrality and Title II?

The Latest in Free Press' Work to Strengthen Local Journalism

Winning the just and equitable local news and civic information that communities need to thrive requires building strong relationships, shifting resources and addressing media narratives and practices that perpetuate harm.

In 2023, Free Press achieved a lot of progress on these fronts. We built powerful coalitions, slowed the momentum of harmful bills, held media companies accountable, and shared knowledge at a variety of conferences and gatherings. Read about just a few of the activities the News Voices, journalism-policy and Media 2070 teams at Free Press engaged in at the end of 2023:

Tell Big Tech Companies: Protect Your Users and Our Democracy in 2024

Three years ago this month, online deceit and hate speech culminated in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. And social-media companies are doing less than ever before to stop the spread of the “Big Lie” and other election-related disinformation.

Free Press Action recently released our latest report on this very topic: Big Tech Backslide: How Social-Media Rollbacks Endanger Democracy Ahead of the 2024 Elections. The report explores how companies like Meta, Twitter and YouTube have ditched crucial policies they had adopted prior to the November 2020 vote that had helped protect user safety and the integrity of our elections.

Join us in demanding better: Big Tech companies must restore safeguards to combat disinformation and protect our democracy before it’s too late.

A View from the Field

Check out the latest updates from the field as Free Press and Free Press Action staffers work alongside our amazing allies and activists to create a more just and equitable media system. Below are just a few snippets from our latest View from the Field blog — you can read the entire post here!

• Co-CEO Jessica J. González testified before the California Senate Judiciary Committee about the need for trustworthy journalism that serves community needs. Jessica also spoke out against the flawed California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA). According to Free Press Action’s research, the CJPA would reward massive media conglomerates and hedge funds that have destroyed local news while investing very little in locally focused outlets.
• Internet Campaign Director Heather Franklin spoke to UMass Amherst students, including members of the Responsible Technology Coalition, about the FCC’s proceeding to reinstate the Net Neutrality rules and the agency’s authority under Title II of the Communications Act. Restoring Title II would give the FCC the power to protect against sensitive data breaches, hidden fees, privacy violations and countless other shady behaviors from companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.
• Free Press Action staffers Amanda Beckham, Nora Benavidez, Rose Lang-Maso, Jenna Ruddock and Matt Wood joined partners in the Disinfo Defense League for meetings with members of Congress and Federal Trade Commission leaders in Washington, D.C.

Thank you for reading! The info here represents only a small fraction of what Free Press and Free Press Action are doing every day to fight for your rights to connect and communicate. With so many urgent fights on the horizon as we kick off 2024, will you consider making a gift today? We rely on contributions from grassroots donors like you because we don't take a cent from business, government or political parties.

Thank you for everything you do to help power our movement,

All of us at Free Press and Free Press Action
freepress.net