I’m done with Free Press
I find myself at odds with the organization Free Press, which is a weird place for me to be. I’ve long been a media reform advocate (I believe media reform should be everyone’s cause above and beyond any other cause because a consolidated media strangles democracy and the public’s right to know). and I’ve also been a major advocate for preserving an open Internet via net neutrality. However, I’m really annoyed by the tactics Free Press has employed regarding the Verizon/Google policy proposal. In an attempt to get people fired up Free Press has been distorting the proposal and using hyperbolic language. Yesterday’s delivery of a “petition signed by 300,000 opponents of the Verizon/Google deal” was also dishonest. Free Press started collecting signatures for that petition when the inaccurate New York Times article came out, not after the policy proposal was released. So, technically, because what was reported in the Times and what was actually released by the two corporations ended up being different Free Press delivered a petition signed by people who were upset with what the Times reported.
My other big issue with Free Press is they are distorting this as a done deal. It is not a “done deal.” It is a policy proposal. It is a suggestion by these two corporations as to how the FCC could proceed. Instead of getting people fired up and focusing on Congress and the FCC who will eventually make the regulations they are attacking Google. You’ll also note they aren’t even really putting much of an effort into putting pressure on Verizon. It hugely benefits Josh Silver and his organization if it can make Google a Big Bad.
I support network neutrality. I have serious reservations about multiple aspects of the Verizon/Google policy proposal. However, as someone who has been to all but one National Conference on Media Reform and has donated money to the Free Press Action Fund, I can’t endorse these tactics and distortions. I’m done with Free Press.
