We heard back from the FCC -- and it’s bad news. Act now.


Friend,

The FCC has rules that ban TV and radio stations from airing misinformation that threatens public health — but the agency is refusing to stop Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other right-wing personalities from spreading dangerous lies about the coronavirus.

So we're taking this fight to the stations themselves: Urge Fox News, iHeart Radio and others to stop the spread of misinformation about COVID-19.

We must do everything we can to stop misinformation from making the pandemic worse.

Thanks for standing up for trustworthy news and information—

Lucia


freepress.net

Fox News, iHeart Radio, and other TV and radio stations are airing lies about the coronavirus. Speak out today.

Friend — It’s unlawful for broadcasters to air misinformation that threatens public health and safety. And yet we just got word that the FCC is officially refusing to do its job1 and will not step in to stop the spread of potentially life-threatening COVID-19 misinformation circulating on right-wing media.

Rush Limbaugh compared the coronavirus to the common cold on the same day that the World Health Organization declared a pandemic — and President Trump continues to push an untested drug. But the FCC’s response to our emergency petition2 urging it to stop the spread of coronavirus misinformation over the public airwaves was:

Quote from the FCC letter: “[T]he Commission does not—and cannot and will not—act as a self-appointed, free-roving arbiter of truth in journalism.” —Thomas M. Johnson, Jr., FCC General Counsel, Letter from FCC to Free Press

Purposefully spreading misinformation isn't journalism. With the FCC refusing to stop lies about the coronavirus pandemic, we need you to turn up the pressure on TV and radio stations to stop the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 on the airwaves.

Take Action

We are all facing COVID-19 together — and, together, we must do everything we can to stop misinformation from making the pandemic worse.

With people around the world stuck at home and glued to their screens — desperate for the latest information about how to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe — the spread of hate and misinformation around COVID-19 on the airwaves poses a tremendous danger.

Tell Fox News, iHeart Radio and other TV and radio stations to immediately stop the spread of misinformation about coronavirus.

Hundreds of thousands of lives are on the line every time the president and his right-wing media cronies spout lies about COVID-19.

That’s why we need you to act now. With so much at stake, Free Press is throwing our full weight behind stopping COVID-19 lies. And with the FCC refusing to do its job, we must do everything we can to make TV and radio stations stop spreading lies about COVID-19. Please take action with us today.

Thank you for standing up for the truth, and for all of our neighbors’ safety — 

Lucia, Jessica, Candace and the rest of the Free Press team
freepress.net

P.S. Urge Fox News, iHeart Radio, and other TV and radio stations to crack down on COVID-19 misinformation today.

 


 

1. “Free Press Responds to Trump FCC's Politically Motivated Attack,” Free Press, April 6, 2020

2. “Free Press Calls on the FCC to Investigate the Widespread Broadcast of Disinformation About the COVID-19 Emergency,” Free Press, March 26, 2020



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