Join us now for a live press conference with Reps. Bowman and Clarke, who are urging the FCC to examine its history of racial inequity in media policy.

Friend,

Breaking news: Democratic House Reps. Jamaal Bowman (New York), Yvette Clarke (New York) and Brenda Lawrence (Michigan) have authored a letter calling on the FCC to investigate its history of racial inequity and examine how its policy choices and actions have harmed Black people and other communities of color. Free Press’ Media 2070 project¹ has released a similar letter, as well as a petition to the FCC.

Happening now: Join Free Press and Reps. Bowman and Clarke for a live press conference about the FCC’s role in perpetuating media racism.

The lawmakers and Media 2070 are encouraging the FCC to address its role in creating and perpetuating systemic inequities that exclude people of color from media-ownership opportunities. According to the agency’s own data,² people of color own and control just 6 percent of the nation’s full-power TV stations, 7 percent of commercial FM radio stations and 12 percent of commercial AM radio stations — despite making up more than 40 percent of the U.S. population.

Exclusion from media ownership curtails Black people’s ability to tell our own stories, and entrenches a mass media system largely defined by racist myths, misrepresentations and propaganda.

These dynamics set the conditions for state violence, discrimination and regressive policies — causing deep generational harm to Black lives.

Now is the time: The FCC must begin the process of repair.

Tune in now to hear from members of Congress and our Media 2070 team as we dream of a more just and equitable media system for all.

In solidarity,

Alicia and the rest of the Media 2070 team
media2070.org

P.S. There is so much we still do not know — or our nation has chosen to forget — when it comes to how the FCC has perpetuated racism in the media system or been indifferent to it. This is why we’re calling on the agency to investigate its history of racism and examine how its policy choices and actions have harmed Black people and other communities of color.

1. Media 2070: An Invitation to Dream Up Media Reparations

2. “Fourth Report on Ownership of Broadcast Stations,” Federal Communications Commission, February 2020