Draft:Media and Democracy Project

  • Comment: All of the secondary, independent sources appear to be about one lawsuit they filed, which isn't enough to satisfy WP:NORG. Parts of this also still read too much like advocacy. For instance, there is no need to reproduce the findings of their research or their guidelines for media organisations unless these have been covered in depth by secondary sources. MCE89 (talk) 12:47, 29 June 2025 (UTC)


Media and Democracy Project
Formation2020; 5 years ago (2020)
Type501(c)4 social welfare organization
Location
Area served
United States
MethodAdvocacy
Websitehttps://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/

The Media and Democracy Project (MAD), a media-focused public interest group, advocates for news reporting that supports democracy. MAD believes that American democracy is under attack and that the media undermines democracy by misinforming voters and understating the threats to democracy.

MAD, a 501(c)(4) organization based in New York City, was founded in 2020. MAD describes itself as nonpartisan.[1] The Capital Research Center describes MAD as left-of-center.[2]

FCC petition

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In July, 2023, MAD petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny the broadcast license renewal application of FOX affiliate WTXF-TV in Philadelphia.[3][4][5] 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.[6][7] Comments supporting the petition were filed by founding president of Fox Broadcasting Jamie Kellner;[8] former Fox executive Preston Padden;[9][10] former FCC chair Alfred Sikes, a Republican;[11] and former FCC commissioner Ervin Duggan, a Democrat.[11][12] Fox characterized the petition as a frivolous assault on its First Amendment rights.[13] The FCC took the unusual step of requesting comments on the license renewal,[14][1] but eventually denied MAD's petition in January, 2025.[15][16] MAD has appealed the denial.[17]

Other activities

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MAD believes that American democracy is under attack and that the media undermines democracy by misinforming voters and understating the threats to democracy.[18] During the 2024 U.S. election campaign, MAD issued guidelines for pro-democracy reporting practices.[19] Also in 2024, MAD called on the New York Times to hire a public editor, a position the Times had previously eliminated. The public editor is an ombudsperson who helps the newspaper uphold high ethical standards.[20]

MAD makes available to the public a list of over 2,000 community-focused local news outlets across the U.S.[21][22]

MAD advocates for the PRESS Act.[23] MAD is a member of the Rebuild Local News coalition[24] and is a founding member of the Prison Journalism Project.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b Shields, Todd (August 23, 2023). "FCC Invites Comment on Request to Deny Fox TV License Renewal". Bloomberg.
  2. ^ "Media and Democracy Project". Influence Watch.
  3. ^ Patten, Dominic (July 6, 2023). "Fox Faces FCC License Threat Over False Election Claims & Jan. 6 Attack". DEADLINE.
  4. ^ Hearn, Ted (March 15, 2024). "Meet the NYC Doctor Urging the FCC To Revoke Fox Corp.'s TV License in Philadelphia". Policyband.
  5. ^ Burleigh, Nina (December 28, 2023). "Biden's Other Formidable Opponent in 2024". The New Republic.
  6. ^ Vadala, Nick (July 7, 2023). "Petition seeks to deny renewal of Fox 29′s broadcast license". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  7. ^ Feld, Harold (August 29, 2023). "My Insanely Long Field Guide to the Fox29 Philadelphia (WTFX-TV) License Renewal Challenge". Wetmachine.
  8. ^ Keys, Matthew (August 22, 2023). "First Fox president joins fight against local station's license renewal". TheDesk.
  9. ^ Fahri, Paul (August 9, 2023). "An architect of Fox's success picks a new target: Fox". The Washington Post.
  10. ^ Folkenflik, David (August 9, 2023). "A former Fox executive now argues Murdoch is unfit to own TV stations". NPR.
  11. ^ a b Hearn, Ted (June 13, 2024). "D.C. Memo: Foul Ball! MAD Balks at Phillies for Backing Murdochs in TV License Fight at FCC". policyband.
  12. ^ Keys, Matthew (July 31, 2023). "Former FCC official joins fight against WTXF license renewal". TheDesk.
  13. ^ Brodkin, Jon (August 24, 2023). "Fox TV license renewal may be in jeopardy as FCC invites public response". ars technica.
  14. ^ Nicolaou, Anna (November 16, 2023). "A Fox test case looms for US media regulators". Financial Times.
  15. ^ the Acting Chief, Media Bureau (January 16, 2025). "MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission.
  16. ^ Keys, Matthew (January 16, 2025). "FCC tosses petition that challenged licensed of Fox-owned WTXF". The Desk.
  17. ^ Daigon, Glenn (February 24, 2025). "Standing Up to Fox News". The Progressive Magazine.
  18. ^ "We're Demanding That Newsrooms Improve Their 2024 Election Coverage". The Media and Democracy Project.
  19. ^ Sullivan, Margaret (August 14, 2024). "Here's an urgently needed, pre-election reform plan for the media".
  20. ^ Blinder, Mike (June 22, 2024). "Margaret Sullivan on The Post turmoil and media's role in 2024 election". Editor & Publisher. Event occurs at 15:00.
  21. ^ DemLabs (March 29, 2024). "Media And Democracy Project: Mapping Your Local Journalist SuperHeroes". Medium.
  22. ^ Craven, Jess (June 16, 2023). "Substack Live with Qasim Rashid". Chop Wood, Carry Water.
  23. ^ "RE: PRESS Act Markup (S.2074)" (PDF). Freedom of the Press Foundation. June 4, 2024.
  24. ^ "COALITION: WHO WE REPRESENT". Rebuild Local News.
  25. ^ "Our Supporters". Prison Journalism Project.
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