Draft:The Media and Democracy Project

In July, 2023, MAD petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny the broadcast license renewal application of FOX affiliate WTXF-TV in Philadelphia. The petition argued that the owners of WTXF failed to meet the minimum standards of character and the obligation to operate in the public interest required by the Communications Act of 1934, to an extent "so egregious as to shock the conscience." The petition cited as evidence the judicial record of the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which found that WTXF knowingly and repeatedly aired false narratives about the 2020 presidential election.{{cite news| url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/tv/fox-29-petition-deny-license-fcc-dominion-20230707.html| publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer| title=Petition seeks to deny renewal of Fox 29′s broadcast license| first=Nick| last=Vadala| date=July 7, 2023}}{{cite web| website=Wetmachine| url=https://wetmachine.com/tales-of-the-sausage-factory/my-insanely-long-field-guide-to-the-fox29-philadelphia-wtfx-tv-license-renewal-challenge/| title=My Insanely Long Field Guide to the Fox29 Philadelphia (WTFX-TV) License Renewal Challenge| first=Harold| last=Feld| date=August 29, 2023}} Comments supporting the petition were filed by founding president of Fox Broadcasting Jamie Kellner;{{cite web| url=https://thedesk.net/2023/08/jamie-kellner-wtxf-license-renewal-fox/| title=First Fox president joins fight against local station's license renewal| website=TheDesk| first=Matthew| last=Keys| date=August 22, 2023}} former Fox commentator Bill Kristol; former FCC chair Alfred Sikes, a Republican; and former FCC commissioner Ervin Duggan, a Democrat.{{cite web| url=https://thedesk.net/2023/07/fox-bill-kristol-ervin-duggan-wtxf-license/| website=TheDesk| first=Matthew| last=Keys| title=Former FCC official joins fight against WTXF license renewal| date=July 31, 2023}}{{cite web| url=https://newsdirect.com/news/former-republican-fcc-chair-joins-growing-chorus-calling-for-hearing-into-license-renewal-application-for-fox-philadelphia-327152382| website=NewsDirect| title=License Renewal Application for Fox Philadelphia| date=August 21, 2023| author=Raynor Ave.}} Fox characterized the petition as a frivolous assault on its First Amendment rights.{{cite web| url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/08/petition-to-deny-fox-tv-license-over-false-election-info-gains-steam-at-fcc/| title=Fox TV license renewal may be in jeopardy as FCC invites public response| first=Jon| last=Brodkin| date=August 24, 2023| publisher=ars technica}} The FCC denied the petition in January, 2025.{{cite web| url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-57A1.pdf| title=MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER| author=the Acting Chief, Media Bureau| date=January 16, 2025| website=Federal Communications Commission}}{{cite web| url=https://thedesk.net/2025/01/fcc-approves-wtxf-broadcast-license-renewal/| title=FCC tosses petition that challenged licensed of Fox-owned WTXF| first=Matthew| last=Keys| date=January 16, 2025| website=The Desk}} MAD has appealed the denial.{{cite web| url=https://progressive.org/latest/standing-up-to-fox-news-daigon-20250224/| title=Standing Up to Fox News| first=Glenn| last=Daigon| date=February 24, 2025| publisher=The Progressive Magazine}}

During both the 2022{{cite web| url=https://www.salon.com/2022/10/23/media-isnt-doing-nearly-enough-to-defend-democracy--but-its-not-too-late-to-change/| title=Media isn't doing nearly enough to defend democracy — but it's not too late to change| first=Brian| last=Hansbury| date=October 23, 2022| website=salon}} and 2024{{cite web |url=https://margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/heres-an-urgently-needed-pre-election?utm_source=publication-search| first=Margaret| last=Sullivan| title=Here's an urgently needed, pre-election reform plan for the media| date=August 14, 2024}} U.S. election campaigns, MAD was concerned that some Republican candidates were ignoring norms essential for democracy to function, such as willingness to accept election results, win or lose. MAD was also concerned that typical "he said, she said" reporting failed to communicate the gravity of threats to American democracy. MAD issued guidelines for pro-democracy reporting practices, including:

• celebrating poll workers, voters, and the election process;
• prioritizing coverage of issues that affect voters above election forecasts and poll results;
• writing accurate, informative headlines;
• holding politicians accountable for their positions and behavior, which includes calling out obvious lies and bigotry and exposing candidates who foment political violence.

MAD believes that President Trump seeks to rule as an autocrat, and although the press should not be partisan in a battle between Democrats and Republicans, it should take the side of democracy against autocracy.

MAD makes available to the public a list of over 2,000 community-focused news outlets across the U.S.{{cite web| url=https://medium.com/@Democracy_Labs/media-and-democracy-project-mapping-your-local-journalist-superheroes-f5a3f1e1cf45| website=Medium| title=Media And Democracy Project: Mapping Your Local Journalist SuperHeroes| author=DemLabs| date=March 29, 2024}} According to MAD, the directory celebrates “quality, community-focused journalism” that contributes to "a better informed citizenry, the bedrock of a strong democracy."{{cite web| url=https://www.amjamboafrica.com/amjambo-wins-award/| title=Amjambo wins award| date=Dec 21, 2023| website=Amjambo Africa}}

MAD recognized Amjambo Africa as a "Local Journalism Bright Spot". Amjambo Africa serves the immigrant community in Maine, publishing in English, French, Kinyarwanda, Portuguese, Swahili, Somali, and Spanish.

In January, 2025, MAD named editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes "Hero of the Month." She had resigned from the Washington Post after the newspaper rejected her cartoon showing Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos and other billionaires kneeling before President Trump.{{cite news| last=Mullin| first=Benjamin| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/business/media/washington-post-cartoonist-quits-after-jeff-bezos-cartoon-is-killed.html| title=Washington Post Cartoonist Quits After Jeff Bezos Cartoon Is Killed| date=January 3, 2025| work=New York Times}}{{Cite web | author=The Media and Democracy Project| date=2025-01-27|title=The Media and Democracy Project "Hero of the Month": Ann Telnaes| url=https://mediaanddemocracyproject.substack.com/p/ann-telnaes-the-media-and-democracy}}

MAD is a member of the Rebuild Local News coalition{{cite web| url=https://www.rebuildlocalnews.org/mission/who-we-represent/| title=COALITION: WHO WE REPRESENT| website=Rebuild Local News}} and is a founding member of the Prison Journalism Project.{{cite web| url=https://prisonjournalismproject.org/supporters| title=Our Supporters| website=Prison Journalism Project}}

MAD accuses the Trump administration of undermining freedom of the press, citing Donald Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS and President Trump’s refusal to allow the Associated Press to attend press briefings because the AP declined to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. {{cite web| url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/liberal-conservative-or-just-plain-truthful,255599| first=Robin| last=Blinder| title=Liberal, conservative or just plain truthful?| date=9 May 2025| publisher=Editor and Publisher}}{{cite web| url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/america-and-our-democracy-are-under-attack,255597| first=Jonathan| last=Reiss|

title=America and our democracy are under attack| date=9 May 2025| publisher=Editor and Publisher}}

MAD advocates for the PRESS Act, proposed federal legislation with bipartisan support that would make it illegal for the government to force journalists to disclose their sources or to seize journalists' materials that identify their sources. Supporters argue that the PRESS Act is needed so that sources who require anonymity can safely talk to journalists. Currently, journalists are occasionally fined or jailed for refusing to disclose their sources, even though laws in almost all states protect the confidentiality of journalists' sources to some extent.{{cite news| website=Tucson Sentinel| url=https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061024_press_act_op/us-senate-can-protect-our-democracy-by-passing-press-act/| first=Elise| last=Nakhnikian| title=U.S. Senate can protect our democracy by passing the PRESS Act}}{{cite web| website=Freedom of the Press Foundation| title=RE: PRESS Act Markup (S.2074)| url=https://media.freedom.press/media/documents/Coalition_Letter_in_support_of_PRESS_Act_-_June_4_2024_.pdf| date=June 4, 2024}}

In August, 2023, police in Marion, Kansas raided the office of the Marion County Record, seizing computers and cell phones. MAD cites this incident as evidence that stronger federal protection of journalists' confidential sources is necessary.{{Cite web |last=Snider |first=Mike |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Police conduct 'chilling' raid of Kansas newspaper, publisher's home seizing computers, phones |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/12/marion-kansas-newspaper-raid/70581793007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813093338/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/12/marion-kansas-newspaper-raid/70581793007/ |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/ website of The Media and Democracy Project]
• [https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-directory The Media and Democracy Project's local journalism directory]
• [https://thedemlabs.org/2024/03/29/media-and-democracy-project-local-journalist-map/ MAD's local journalism directory shown as a map]