| I don’t usually do this, but my co-CEO Jessica sent this message to our team here at Free Press this week, and I wanted to share it with you. As one of our supporters, you are a vital part of our community, and I want you to know how everyone at Free Press is doing, what we’ve been working on, and how we’re all preparing for the week (and weeks) ahead.
I also just want to take a minute to thank you again. You literally fuel our work and support and inspire the amazing, dedicated people on our team.
Thanks and please read on for more about what’s up next.
—Craig ---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jessica González
Date: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Subject: WOW -- you all are remarkable
To: Craig Aaron Good morning! We’re doing remarkable work even in these trying and unprecedented times. We’ve been nimble, and we’ve evolved our priorities and tactics to meet the moment. I can’t express enough how much I appreciate what I’m seeing.
This moment is hard, but what you’re doing is making a difference! We’re building a strong case for the results we want to see now, and in the long term: for every single person in the United States to have the connections and the information they need, with a focus on connecting poor people and people of color, and in shutting down disinformation and bigotry. It’s amazing to see this all come together.
This coming week, we’ll be mobilizing and focusing our work around a few big areas: Pushing for a $100-billion broadband stimulus to ensure that all U.S. residents can connect to internet and phone services. Advocating for a $5-billion journalism stimulus to support local journalists. Continuing our massive fight against disinformation and hate on TV, radio and social media. Let’s also take a moment to celebrate the phenomenal work that happened in the last few weeks: Our News Voices team hosted virtual community conversations in both English and Spanish where people asked questions and shared what information they need to stay safe and healthy. And we launched an information phone-tree pilot project in English and Spanish to reach people who can’t get online or aren’t likely to engage in digital spaces. Our policy team had hundreds of interactions with staffers on Capitol Hill and allies to align folks around our broadband-stimulus plan to help close the digital divide. We joined a big-tent effort with over 830 organizations calling for an end to utility shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We launched an effort with our Change the Terms partners to get social-media companies to stop spreading hate and disinformation about the pandemic. We’re building support for a broadband stimulus to keep people connected during these unprecedented times and teamed up with our ally MediaJustice on a webinar on the Lifeline program and stopping predatory prison-phone rates. We released a letter with 45 media and social-justice organizations calling for a journalism stimulus, and had dozens of meetings with staff on Capitol Hill to move that idea along. We made a lot of news and generated a lot of action on our petition calling on the FCC to issue guidance to broadcasters who are sharing false information about the coronavirus … plus we dealt with a few trolls in the process. We launched a public-pressure campaign to ask all TV and radio stations to stop spreading disinformation and hate about the virus. We and people around us are hurting or worried or need groceries or hugs or walks or need us to help them learn or otherwise need our attention in some way. I urge you to use the time you need to deal with what this difficult moment is raising for you. Let’s focus on what can bring results to improve the lives of others, and to let go of other things.
I am sending love and warm vibes to all of you.
Besos y abrazos,
—Jessica
Jessica J. González (she/her)
Co-CEO
Free Press & Free Press Action Fund
freepress.net
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