Free Press Statement on Citadel-Cumulus Merger

In response to the Federal Communications Commission's approval of the Citadel-Cumulus merger, Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright made the following statement:

“While Free Press is pleased that the FCC will require divestiture of radio stations that violate the media ownership rules, no one should pretend that is a genuine public interest benefit of the merger. Merely following the rules is not the same thing as increasing competition or improving service to local audiences.

“We welcome Cumulus's commitment to divest stations in excess of the local radio caps to minority buyers, a step that could help to increase diversity in radio ownership. Unfortunately, Cumulus has not presented any concrete plans for doing so, and we worry that, now that it has won merger approval, this commendable gesture may remain just that -- a gesture.”

Internet Speech Cases Turn on Procedural Grounds as the Supreme Court Articulates Strong First Amendment Protections for Content Moderation

While the Court remanded these cases for more fact-finding by the lower courts, it noted laws that prevent platforms from deciding which speech it will or will not host are “unlikely to withstand First Amendment scrutiny.”
California Bill That Would Support Local Journalism Jobs Passes the State Senate

As the bill moves to the state Assembly, lawmakers must ensure that resulting revenues prioritize community-centered and noncommercial outlets.
Supreme Court Ruling on Social Media Affirms the First Amendment and the Government’s Responsibility to Protect the Public from the Harms of Online Misinformation

The case arose out of the Biden administration’s efforts to call on social-media platforms to remove lies about the COVID-19 pandemic and the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Internet Speech Cases Turn on Procedural Grounds as the Supreme Court Articulates Strong First Amendment Protections for Content Moderation

California Bill That Would Support Local Journalism Jobs Passes the State Senate

Supreme Court Ruling on Social Media Affirms the First Amendment and the Government’s Responsibility to Protect the Public from the Harms of Online Misinformation