Free Press

This organization is doing the really important work that we need in this time. Where would we be without free press?

Appreciate of the work and advocacy Free Press engages in on behalf of us all. We are surrounded by media and technology, and yet don’t realize the biases, limitations, inequities and other issues inherent in these platforms. Thank you, Free Press, for the work you do!

Free Press is an organization of intelligent, diverse, and passionate activists working tirelessly to ensure accountability, accessibility and transparency for the people. All types of people. I can always trust my donated dollars are well spent for impact.

Free Press has been an inspiring nonprofit organization. I’ve learned that my voice can make a difference and that change can create conversations and break barriers. It has impacted my positive outlook on social challenges.

Equal access to technology is so very crucial for everyone no matter your social economic status. when my children were in the 5 th grade we couldn't afford a computer at home and we were made to feel shame for that and my boys were singled out by their teacher. It is so wonderful to have an organization passionate enough to fight for equality.

The people who work here are amazing! They work extremely hard every day to make great things happen.

I can’t say enough great things about Free Press! Whenever I need solid operational, equity or strategic advice, they are my go-to. What I love most is how they truly understand the challenges nonprofits face and they provide thoughtful, practical solutions that really make a difference.

Their team is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also approachable and easy to work with. They take the time to listen, dig deep into the details, and offer advice that is both mission-driven and grounded in reality. Whether it’s helping me fine-tune an operational process or offering strategic insights on how to grow and make a bigger impact, they’re always spot on.

Free Press has helped me navigate some unique challenges, and I always walk away feeling more confident and clear about the next steps. If you’re looking for an organization that truly cares and is brilliant at what they do, I highly recommend Free Press.

I have so much respect for Free Press' work to protect press freedom and hold media corporations accountable for their impact on democracy and public discourse!

As Free Press’s Board Chairman, I confess that I am not an unbiased observer when I sing their praises. But my deep respect for this organization has only grown in the two-plus decades I’ve been involved with them. Free Press’s activists defend our democracy every day by fighting for a better media system, one that serves everyone. Whether it's democratizing broadband or local journalism or social media, their tireless advocacy for social justice deserves our support!

Free Press lucha por nuestros derechos a conectarnos y comunicarnos, especialmente se preocupa por las comunidades necesitadas y vulnerables ante los medios. Gracias por publicar los resultados de la encuesta nacional sobre las opiniones de los hispanohablantes. Es importante apoyar a las iniciativas para ampliar el acceso a noticias cívicas de alta calidad en español y en otros idiomas.

With the continuing loss of both national and local newspapers,I appreciate the work that Free Press is doing to increase and improve local news.

I have been a donor to Free Press for the past few years. As bad as it can be having only DSL for several years prior to getting high speed internet, I feel sorry for those who only have that, but even more so for those who have no internet access at all. I appreciate all that Free Press is doing to pursue affordable internet access for all. In today’s world, it is as important as it was providing electricity to all many years ago.

Free Press does impactful work that benefits the people of the United States by working to reinforce first amendment rights as well as fighting hate speech and disinformation. I know that this org is staffed by a diverse group of people that are passionate about what they do.

I am a donor to Free Press since 2004, with monthly contributions to both Free Press (c3) and the sister organization Free Press Action (c4). I am also a co-founder of the organization and serve in a staff capacity as COO/CFO. I am so proud to mentor a next generation of leaders, while continuing to hone and sharpen our strategic approach to ensuring the future of the internet, the future of journalism, democracy and digital civil rights and media reparations (our four pillars of work).

They are always moving forward with their goal and never give up.

Impactful organization with a solid professional team.

Free Press's work provides guardrails for today's social media platforms. They're out there applying pressure where it's needed and doing great work to lower the level of abuse and toxicity on these platforms. They are holding them accountable when few are.

I have known Free Press for 10 years, and they have always been one of my favorite nonprofits. I regularly consult their website, social media, and emails to deeply understand and engage in protecting our digital rights. Free Press has a healthy work culture with a smart and dedicated team that leads impactful change - making a big difference for online safety, free expression, and community involvement in shaping our media landscape for the better.

Free press in an amazing group that fights the important fights. The advocacy free press provides is unparalleled.

Smart thoughtful and committed, in it for the long haul!

I support Free Press because it's the most effective group working at the intersection of media, tech and democracy. They match insider knowledge in DC with organizing out in the real world and let me know when my voice can actually make a difference in the decisions being made about the media by Congress and the FCC. Plus they don't take any corporate money so I know I can trust their takes and analysis.

In this day of media conglomerates broadcasting "local" news that is anything but local and disappearing newspapers, it is so reassuring to know that Free Press is representing me in the battle to keep the lines of communication open and neutral. Free Press's campaign to expand internet access benefits all of us by resulting in a more responsible, informed society. I might not keep up on the details of communication issues, such as the hearings to confirm an FCC chair, but I'm confident that Free Press can not only give me the latest information on those issues but also show me what's being done to rectify the situation and expose those who are trying to prevent progress.

From its inception, Free Press has led, and been at the forefront of, critically important fights: for a media ecosystem that truly serves communities and the people that shape them; net neutrality, and a free and open internet; online privacy rights and protection from unwarranted surveillance; combatting online disinformation and misinformation, and SO MUCH MORE. Their roots in media and technology policy are deep (just ask anyone on Capitol Hill) and staff retention is strong. Bottom line: When you donate to Free Press, you can be sure that your contribution will be strategically allocated toward innovative campaigning and organizing. I'm forever grateful for their work!

Free Press is a phenomenal organization that has a social justice lens in communications. They have a number of projects on disrupting injustice, especially Media2070. There is a continued need for Free Press’ work.

Free Press makes good use of my donations. It is fiscally responsible, independent from corporate and government influence, and working on real policy change to help build a media system that supports democracy.

A great organization, that is working for the public. I’ve worked with their employees in various capacities and they’ve always been reliable and dedicated to their work.

Donating to Free Press is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. It's a great feeling to know that the money I spent is going to a good cause. There are a lot of places one could donate to and I highly recommend Free Press. Not only was it nice to receive recognition of my donation, it was nice to be appreciated for the donation I gave.

I have so many impactful stories to share about Free Press that it's tough to know where to start. Their people -- from their Co-CEOs, to the development staff, to the program staff -- are some of the most caring, kind, and authentic partners with whom I have ever worked. To boot, Free Press walks the walk when it comes to racial justice and living into transformational, regenerative ways of being together in deep ways I have yet to come across in other nonprofits.
I was introduced to Free Press through their News Voices work as a program officer at a foundation that used to support civic health through local journalism investments. It wasn't long before I started helping handing out Free Press flyers on the street for upcoming events and began sharing their community engagement resource guides with anyone and everyone who I thought might benefit from their work. It wasn't enough that they brought a wild and crazy idea to seize the opportunity of the sale of FCC Spectrum to create a new nonprofit to channel public dollars to support local journalism into reality, creating the NJ Civic Information Consortium. As they did this, we worked together strategically to support emerging news leaders in communities to help launch community media projects that have completely changed the state's news ecosystem for the better. Their Media 2070 Project is even more ambitious and necessary work to repair the harms media has caused in communities.
Today, I consider myself a lifelong champion and supporter of their work. If you are considering supporting them or working with them, I hope you do. Your partnership will help create just and equitable futures.

Free Press's team is incredibly dedicated to the issues they fight for, and remarkably effective at what they do. They've been at the forefront of the fight against disinformation and racism in the media and for Net Neutrality, ending the digital divide and more. They're well known in the halls of Congress, helping to get actual legislation passed, and in the boardrooms of Facebook and other Big Tech companies. Strong organization and great coalition partner.

Free Press is an amazing organization completely dedicated to media justice and the protection of our democracy. They do incredible work to help ensure EVERYONE has access to fair and just information and to communication services that are so critical to all of us.

I had a chance to interview at FP and left completely impressed and in love with the staff and the mission. Even though I didn't get the job, it would be amazing to work for such great people doing such progressive work!

I've known about Free Press for years, since its earliest days fighting media consolidation and supporting Net Neutrality, and have watched it blossom into an organization dedicated to creating a more just and equitable media system. Never have I seen a more thoughtful and hard-working staff, who not only work for the organization but for everyone involved in social justice movements. There's an ethos of inclusion at Free Press that's central to its success, and in the deep trust it has garnered across the advocacy world.

Free Press is one of my organization's closest allies. They are an institution that embodies low-ego, high impact with a staff that are dedicated, strategic and very collaborative. They're the leading media reform organization in the nation and deserve all the support they can get.

Free Press is an incredible organization with amazing people. They take on some of the most salient issues of our time, whether in journalism, tech, net neutrality and so many other things. They deserve all of our support.

Media Reform can seem like a huge complicated issue - you want to influence what you see, improve the media coming to you and your family - but how to get involved and make your voice heard? The answer is Free Press, I have donated to them for years and years, attended their conferences, and enjoyed watching them win the long haul legal cases to create/recreate a more free press. Your money will make a difference, and after you donate, get involved with the wonderful folks of Free Press.

My name is Prina Jackson & I've been hearing about Free Press for years now. I use to get emails in my inbox but it stopped years back. I didn't remember until I got an email recently & I was so happy to see them still hanging in because I know it's been rough. I donated like I always wanted to & it felt good having the money to do so. Keep up the good work I am with you.

Thank You!

I am proud to continue as a member of the Free Press Board. Free Press is an organization that makes a difference—solid, concrete progress—when it comes to media, the internet, broadband adoption, journalism, and freedom of the press. Essential work.

Free Press does the work to uncover and expose the frequent and always insidious attempts by corporations in control of our media (and government) to silence and suppress the public's voice. Free Press alerts the public to these dangerous threats to our Constitutional right to freedom of the press and freedom of speech so we are informed and can take ACTION. I depend on Free Press to keep me informed and help me be an advocate for press freedoms, equitable internet access, and putting a brake on corporate control of our media.

I am happy to contribute to an organization that works in favor of the people, and they aren't afraid to show this up front. Free Press, truly helps to enrich lives and give a voice to those who are unable to individually. I will be a donor for life.

Great organization doing great work! I’m proud to be a donor and will continue to support their mission.

I support because this is a truthful and necessary voice of and for our people!

Free Press is doing vital work to make information and media a tool to strengthen our democracy instead of undermine it.

Also, as a donor, clear and informative emails can be make-or-break in terms of whether I support an organization, and Free Press does a great job.

Communications policy is complicated, opaque, and significant for every aspect of our society. I trust Free Press to stay on top of what's going on and make solid decisions about how best to intervene in support of democracy. In so doing, they work in collaboration, build coalitions, and provide regular reports on their activity. That's why I support them.

These guys do great work!
They do an excellent job of breaking down complex issues and helping me stay informed. In this time of turmoil, we need as many clear voices as we can get. Free Press is an important source for me.

Free Press has been an amazing collaborator with our Philadelphia based non-profit over the years. The staff team has deep expertise, they strive for respect of community and local knowledge, and they are focused on making meaningful impacts. They also go beyond the work of a lot of current online organizing, and get out in the field to work directly with communities.

*Free Press* says it all. The First Amendment is under attack by the Trump WH. Defense of the amendment and the free press is vital to the continuation of democracy.

Free Press fights for Net Neutrality and that's why I support. Without a free and fair internet, the voice of the individual can not be heard for the noise of the rich and powerful.

I support “Free Press” because they are fighting to preserve our rights to a free press and to restore the an open internet that the Trump administration has taken from us.

FreePress.net is a bulwark against those who would destroy the only industry protected from government and corporate oppression by the Constitution. They investigate and hold accountable those who weaken safety nets to protect the environment, the people's health, and equal protection under the law, among others. They are vital to "promote the general welfare" as reflected in the Constitution. Currently, they are committed warriors in defense of Net Neutrality, so that control of this taxpayer supported creation remains open to ALL with no control by corporate infrastructure overlords.

The only true guardian of our freedom and democracy is a well-informed public. Free Press belongs to the core organizations necessary to maintain our democracy and freedom. Please support them!

Free Press has provided me with valuable information and insights of events her in the United States. I value their thoughts and opinions.

It's been so wonderful working with Alicia & the News Voices: North Carolina team! We are honored to support an organization doing such timely and necessary work.

I am so lucky to know and work with Alicia Bell and Free Press. Alicia's knowledge and love of our community has only strengthened our goals of making Charlotte a better place. Her writing and speaking skills are phenomenal and motivate me to continue my activism.

I have been so blessed to work alongside Alicia in Charlotte. Alicia is deeply rooted in local community, plugged in to the larger community, and is skilled and knowledgeable about organizing. Having FreePress working locally has been a huge benefit to our community, and I'm thankful that the organization and organizer are here.

Free Press isn’t just an organization that’s nice to have. It’s an organization we MUST have. It fights with energy, expertise, and excellence for media and an internet that nourish a real civic dialogue and help build democracy. Without media reform, there can be no real reform. Thank you, Free Press!

Free Press is the best! Ethical, engaging, interested in the communities it serves and in empowering the constituencies it works with to become more involved in civic affairs and more effective at identifying our needs and wants at both personal and community levels; at advocating for what is important to us and for spreading the word about what we think and feel.

Furthermore, Free Press is a family affair! Multiple family member engagement is always welcome at Free Press events and activities.

I really love Free Press. Its staff are awesome and its founder Craig Aaron is one of the most amazing people I know. It's wonderful to walk into a Free Press event and find Craig on site, interested in every aspect of what's going on and what people are getting out of the information and networking opportunities being shared.

Pound for pound, Free Press is perhaps the most effective organization in American tech policy. It is also the best-managed organization that I have ever been a part of.

Free Press is one of my most important contributions for the simple reason that without a free and open internet, without net neutrality, without freedom of speech, then all other causes are almost impossible to fight for. A citizen cannot get information or spread the word about ANYTHING if a company or a government is able to cut her off from the internet because they disagree with his opinion, don't want him to learn about certain issues or choose to make her pay extra for access. When it comes to saving the planet from climate change or fighting the spread of fascism, nothing is more fundamental than an open internet. That's why I support Free Press!

Free Press has been such a resource to our public library where I work and a nonprofit that I help coordinate. I attended a conference on storytelling and journalism, which has helped the library shape our media literacy efforts and connected us to local journalists. Additionally, Free Press has collaborated to bring a new lens on how to interact with media and offer a perspective on history learned. I can't thank Free Press enough for being a part of our community and for the collaborations that intersects our public sector.

I am glad to have partnered with Free Press as a community member and organizer! It has helped strengthen my work in making it holistic and realizing how important it is to engage media in a way that allows it to be a more of partnership instead of an us vs. them scenario.

I first got involved with Free Press for an initiative in my home state of New Jersey, which was the NJ Civic Information Consortium bill. It gave me an opportunity to not only present my views before our state assembly, but also encouraged my to meet with my state and national elected officials on other Free Press initiatives, such as Net Neutrality.

As I became even more involved, I participated in calling small businesses across the country (who petitioned the FCC on the importance of Net Neutrality) to contact their local Congresspersons.

I now am a member of a National team, that is working on combating other issues such as Hate Speech, Fake News / Propaganda.

I highly recommend that anyone, who wants to make a change for the better in America, get involved with Free Press. The people are great, and you can truly approach today's negative issues in a positive and productive manner.

I am rating and writing from the viewpoint of a volunteer. This is one of the best organizations to volunteer for. The staff is supportive, communicative, listens to ideas and concerns, and basically treats us as part of the team. Free Press is also really great about acknowledging volunteers' efforts.

The work Free Press is doing to protect a free media, the internet, and to expand the voices of communities is incredibly important if we are to have a democracy. They are making a difference.

Adding to this review as we near the end of the year because I feel that Alison Brzenchek, Campaign Organizer & Mellon/ACLS Public Fellow, deserves special notice. Alison has consistently supported, challenged, and included volunteers in her campaigns from start to finish. Largely because of Alison's passion, I am looking forward to participating in the new initiatives from Free Press and Alison that are building community and coalitions on the ground, on college campuses, and in the technology sector.

I've worked with Free Press as a volunteer and moderator on their text team, and as a volunteer on help desk. I appreciate how intersectional their net neutrality activism is, especially on the front of combating racial inequality. When I'm working with the organizers and other volunteers, I feel like I'm part of a team, and I feel like I'm making a difference.

Free Press helped save our community newspaper by connecting us with resources to strengthen our organization and gain visibility. They do great work and we will be forever grateful to them for helping improve the news ecosystem in New Jersey!

I learned everything I know about the importance of net neutrality from Free Press! The information they provide is unbiased and easy to digest, and helps me get the message out to my own network. Free Press in Florence also connected me to Free Press in Camden, NJ, where there is a great campaign to bring back community news to silenced communities.

As a board member, I am proud to say that Free Press is a first rate organization -- a pioneer in the field of public education and advocacy in media and communications policy. No other organization in the country working on these topics combines a commitment to public engagement and organizing with a sophisticated research and advocacy team at the federal level (and in some states too!). They connect the dots between the core principles of American democracy -- freedom of the press, an open marketplace of ideas, and civil rights & liberties -- with the laws and regulations that shape our media and communications system. From supporting more and better public journalism to digital divide, net neutrality, and universal access to communications -- Free Press is on top of the most important media and communications policy facing the nation. They are a go-to for public spirited citizens interested in the role of media and technology in democratic society.

Our local group of citizen activists held a public program entitled "Freedom of the Press in the Age of Fake News: Sinclair Broadcasting, the FCC and Citizen Action." Brandon Forester, a community organizer and activist for Free Press, graciously agreed to be a featured speaker. He generously donated his time and expertise to our group. His presentation, including slides and video clips, was informative, entertaining and engaging. Our members were impressed with how he explained some of the more "wonky" issues concerning FCC rules. He answered questions from the public with ease. His suggestions for planning and taking action were helpful. We have scheduled a demonstration against Sinclair Broadcasting as a program follow-up. Our audience members had nothing but praise for Brandon. Thank you, Brandon and Free Press, for being such a wonderful resource for enlightening the public about threats to our First Amendment rights, and about how to effectively advocate for those rights!

I have volunteered with Free Press for about two months now supporting their fight for Net Neutrality. I am impressed with their ability to organize, their level of energy and their ability to connect and involve people on this issue. The staff is easy to work with and supportive of their volunteers.

I am a volunteer for Free Press' Team Internet (which fights to protect Net Neutrality). So, I can attest to their work with this cause.

This organization's group has shown to very effective in increasing the awareness of the cause, getting supporters to attend town halls/in-district events in their areas, and conveying the message for a free and open internet to congress members. This can be attributed to its inclusive, collaborative structure, and the fact that there are different tasks that volunteers can help with and they have the freedom to suggests better strategies to improve the outcome of the volunteers' efforts.

Free Press is a Washington, DC lobbying shop that lobbies for the corporations that directly and indirectly support it. It does not lobby for "civil rights" but rather for corporate interests - primarily those of large Internet monopolies such as Google, Netflix, and Facebook, which channel "dark money" to it through foundations and opaque 501(c)(4)s. It is a fake "public interest" group and should be stripped of its nonprofit status.

I've been volunteering through this nonprofit for the past several weeks. I've found them to be very effective and responsive to suggestions for changes to their outreach campaigns. Their system for texting to organizing community efforts is easy to use and allows for genuine interactions with the targeted market.

I used to support this organization with both my time and money until it became abundantly clear that they are in fact a highly partisan and politically driven organization that is really just anti-corporate and highly liberal.

I fully support freedom of press and of free speech. To their credit some of their work has been great, including most of their work on Net Neutrality, however it's clearly not for the reason of promoting freedom of information.

They showed their true colors to me in their efforts, that they openly brag about to get companies to drop support for the Republican National Convention, due to Donald Trump's "Hateful Rhetoric". That stance is a polar opposite to the ideals of free speech and free press. I am not a member of the RNC, nor a huge fan of Trump. But I will absolutely defend anyone's right to say unpopular things they believe.

Any organization that claims to support free speech and free press needs to support this freedom regardless of the personal likes or dislikes of some of its leaders. For this reason, I have ended my support and would give this group a very low rating.

A fair study of the mass media in the USA and many allied 'western democracies' documents and reveals there is little or no functional "freedom of the press" in any form of corporate owned news media. Even nominally public media like NPR and PBS broadcast the same talking points issued by the same government agencies and secretive think tanks distributed to all the common news 'talking heads' and text 'outlets' in the parlance. Any so called embedded journalist is also a controlled journalist. So the only independent news and information available is via small non-commercial publications, pod casts and web sites. Free Press is one of the organizations I value for supporting honest local, national and international news. Free Press also features political action drives to help fact based news inform public policy and promote the protections in the First Amendment for all citizens.

I discovered Free Press in it's earliest days and was thrilled to find a group of folks who care about public media. Since then, I have tried to support it financially whenever I could. I also do my part to speak out against media consolidation issues and anything else they bring to my attention. Better yet, I teach my college students about FP every semester and make them spend time on the website. Hopefully this educates them to the important issues that FP advocates for. And I hope I am modeling conscientious citizenship for them as well.

I began contributing to Free Press out of concern over net neutrality. This is a fundamental free speech issue these days, but I did not expect much success given the strength of the forces arrayed against net neutrality. Free Press actually won important battles. I continue to support them, because threats to net neutrality and free speech in general are not over. We need Free Press.

I initially became a Free Press monthly supporter because they were fighting for net neutrality. I will continue my support, and hope others will too, because corporations are eliminating the competition, giving us just what big business wants us to know

I've made sporadic donations to the Free Press for maybe five years now, and about a year ago I switched to making a (small) monthly donation. They have produced reports on a variety of topics which I consider important and valuable. They spend the extra time and energy to dig into these stories, and to keep people informed on issues such as net neutrality.

In the spectrum of media reform / media watchdog organizations, Free Press is tied with the Center for Media and Democracy for my top spot, and in terms of net neutrality, it is hands-down number one. I've been a donor for several years and will continue to support them as long as there are media-related policy issues that affect our lives. I rely on them to do the research and advocacy work that I don't have time to do myself, and they never fail to deliver.

I've supported Free Press for many years. They are are one of the very best and unfortunately very few organizations working to improve the quality of media in our beleaguered democracy. The 4th estate is being swallowed whole by huge multi-national corporations who use their immense financial clout to buy the FCC deregulation and Congressional legislation that permits them to keep growing. Free Press is helping to expose what's going on and stem that tide. This is a fight we must win...failure is not an option.

I give a small monthly donation to support their work, and they are excellent at keeping me informed about what they are doing and how I can support them in non-monetary ways as well. Free Press is working on crucial issues of our time, because these issues influence the ability to be able to have a functioning democracy. Also, I've attended their National Conference on Media Reform and found it to be an intellectually stimulating and motivating experience.

Excellent work, important issues, affecting change.

The Internet started surging ibto homes as I was growing up and I always saw it as a free system. A tool to share information and ideas. Now, moneyed interests are jeopardizing the freedom of that system for their own profits. Free Press is making a stand against that and I'm glad they are.

I trust Free Press to say what it does and do what it says. I have a lot of confidence in Free Press' efficiency, goals, and integrity. I particularly appreciate the accuracy and specifity of the messages they post. Lots of "good causes" deal with complex issues and generalize about them because they are too cumbersome to explain. Free Press always provides real facts about the subject at hand--even when the issues are complicated. When they ask for readers to make phone calls to the FCC or members of Congress, they provide all the information one needs. I am proud to say that Free Press, working with other groups, of course, was able to generate over 4 million comments from the public to the FCC in favor of maintaining Net Neutrality. Free Press' work is vital to our democracy and I support them all I can.

Free Press is one of organizations working on internet freedom, net neutrality and the like. The organization is one of the best at organizing folks to address this issue. I never delete their emails. . .Always read them and respond to their requests for action because I know they are making a difference.

I'm still not exactly what they do, besides network

Free Press was indispensable in providing information and support as we got our local media reform organization started.

Free Press has done an amazing job of helping to protect net neutrality, as well as the case for independent media sources of information. It provides a vital service of educating and organizing the public re a number of crucial citizen issues. It played an instrumental role in getting the FCC to implement strong net. I am very grateful to them for providing methods and tools to the public by which we make our voice heard in the debate s surrounding the Internet and independent media and journalism in general.

Question: Who funds Free Press and by how much?
Question: To rate a non-profit, should it not be part of that rating, to know where their money comes from?

This would help insure that the non-profit is not a front or astroturfing organization.

I am an independent US journalist. I've written at Huffington Post, Daily Kos, etc. Freedom of the press is a major focus of my journalism. (http://muckrack.com/mark-taylor-canfield/portfolio)

I have found Free Press to be a great resource for information regarding press freedom and media democracy. Recently I served as a member of a delegation on net neutrality that visited US Senator Maria Cantwell's office. The delegation was organized by Free Press.

NOTE: According to the Reporters Without Borders 2015 World Press Freedom Index report, the United States has dropped to 49th in the world in terms of freedom of the press. (http://rsf.org)
We can do much better than this!

Free Press is one group that is taking on the challenge of promoting media democracy and I must applaud them for providing journalists like me with important information and updates. They deserve your support!

For a few weeks, I was involved in Free Press via email list and didn't know truly what the organization was all about. I knew the cause that they were fighting, and I was definitely in support of them.

There was a conference call this past week for anyone who wanted to join, and I was blown away. The knowledge base, the consideration, and the overall professionalism of Free Press, makes me want to get even more involved. It seems like with so many people supporting the cause that a lot of people would go unnoticed, but I feel like Free Press is willing to give any person with passion a chance to change the fight.

Thank You!!!

I have been impressed with the professionalism and clarity of this organization. They helped communicate the truth about what ISPs were trying to do in a clear way. I appreciated that all of their emails that referenced news or research included links to the item sited. I attended a teleconference the other day that was professionally facilitated and provided excellent information about where the Free Press thinks the fight will go next.

Thank you Mary Alice, though I didn't get to comment yesterday it was good to see so many people from across America. It's a great thing that you/we have accomplished but I for one know this battle far from over.

No one spoke of how an open internet is a gateway for the little guy and entrepreneurship. Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook all started from nothing. Tax payers helped pay for its creation and we need to keep it for everyone.

As I listened the other thing that came to me is how accessible members Free Press were to me and I assume others. I've had conversations over the years through twitter, mainly with Tim Karr. He was friendly and not dismissive. It was refreshing.

Maybe in the future there can be an open discussion/comments and opinions from the callers/posters. I've done a few "Group Discussions" and it's surprising what you can learn from other's experiences.

I'm always in awe of those special persons that give their time to make our world better.

Thank you again.

Robert L. I

Free Press goes above and beyond to remain dedicated to educating and updating the connected public to the issues affecting communication and connectivity in our country. I was impressed that they offered a teleconference for the public to join and thought their speakers provided worthwhile perspectives and commentary.

I learned of Free Press from their campaign to uphold real Net Neutrality. I participated in a recent call and I was impressed by their honesty and commitment to fighting for the rights of average people. They are a very inclusive and down-to-earth group that are not afraid to take on the lobbyist groups in Washington. While most of us complain and suffer defeat after defeat, they take action and make their voices heard. They are truly worth our support.

- Daniel Canales
Houston, TX

I did not appreciate the severity of the threat to Internet freedom. I've always taken it for granted. Free Press made me very aware of what I might lose and continue to lose. In particular, because I realize how vital a role the Internet plays in places where there is very little freedom. We need this resource to be free of discrimination, tampering and censorship.

The work that Free Press is doing cannot be understated. In this world of corporate rule they are showing everyone that with determination we can make government work for us.

Very professional group. I really appreciated the conference call Free Press put together with other organizations fighting for Net Neutrality. So often we only interact with nonprofits through email and social media. It was nice to hear their voices and even be given an opportunity to comment and ask questions.

I've been following them with respect to the net neutrality debate. From what I have seen they do a lot of work in coordinating people into action. They recently had a phone conference open to the public in which they outlined their process in times ahead. Especially on how to fight congressional pushes to try to pass laws overriding FCC's recent decision.

Great group with dedicated member of management. Grassroots members are amazing, brave and loyal to the cause. The Internet is a place for all and no one, not even government should claim it as their own for their interest. The conference call today, open my eyes that with the right push and effort, we could turn the table and help to maintain the rights for free speech even in the cyberspace.

I have been on the board of around a dozen nonprofit organizations over the past 25 years. There is no doubt that Free Press is the best managed and organized group I have overseen. The waste factor is all but nonexistent. Every penny is spent like it has a manhole cover attached to it. Planning is taken seriously and strictly adhered to, allowing for necessary flexibility. Consequently the group has proven far more effective than scores of other groups that have equal or larger annual budgets. It is all about taking care of the work at hand and leaving the theatrics to others.

This group works very hard at trying to make sure we get news that is truthful and they are working very hard on net neutrality.

I was quite surprised that Free Press has such a small group of people who effectively take on national problems and concerns.
They are working hard to fight for internet freedom that is to the public interest, yet it is a shame that most of the public is still not aware of their efforts or not much at all. They should get whole a lot more support and attention for what they are doing.
Looking at the webpage, I am really impressed by their staff's experience and abilities. They must be a top organization with exciting mission to draw so many excellent young people to work there.

Free Press is doing some of the most important work in our day to make sure that the virtual public space of the internet remains free, democratic, and accessible to all. Their success is everyone's success. Great work!

I first discovered Free Press about 10 years ago when I was working to get women's voices and opinions more widely included in the mainstream media, and found the organization to be an ally in seeking increased diversity in the media. I also worked with them in urging the Federal Elections Commission to block the increasing consolidation of the media that was resulting in a concentration of opinions and limiting the expression of opposing views.

As a proud board member of the organization for several years, I believe that Free Press' effective nationwide campaigns have been indispensable in building public demand to keep the internet "free and open" and to expand public media and independent journalism. What an effective and important organization!

I am continually amazed at how innovative Free Press is. They are amazing organizers who know how to build popular support for change. The work they're doing right now to save Net Neutrality and protect free expression online is so important. I'm honored to support this organization.

I had the pleasure of working with Free Press extensively in the winter of 2013/14, leading a whole scale internal review around how they engaged their supporters in their work, and then an organizational transformation to become more effective at doing so.

They asked smart questions, did the work to find out what was working and what needed to change, and didn't shy away from the tough decisions required to renew their organization and focus on the future.

Free Press always has been and through this continual renewal will continue to reside at the forefront of global activism with their powerful online program, vision for true supporter engagement, and strongly collaborative and network oriented role they play in broader movements. Definitely a worthy organization and one I was proud to help support.

I have been donating to Free Press for over 10 years. They are a quality organization that does quality work for real impact. Free Press is organizing people for real change and helping craft policies for a media system that serves people not profits. They are the best.

I worked this past summer as a Policy Intern at the Free Press Washington, DC, office, under the direct supervision of Joe Torres. I can truly say that it was one of the most complete, enriching, nurturing, enlightening and enjoyable experiences of my entire life. From day one, we (the interns) were treated with a lot of respect and enthusiasm. The entire staff, even the ones in Florence, made us feel really welcomed! In terms of workload, there was always something new and interesting to do. From doing research and writing memos at the office, to holding signs in a demonstration in front of the FCC, to suiting up for meetings at the Hill. It was an eight week adventure! And it helped to reaffirm my desire for pursuing a career in where I can merge my legal and my communications background while doing public interest work. The only negative aspect of the entire experience was having to say good bye to such an amazing team. Working at Free Press was with no doubt an experience that I will always cherish, and will forever carry in my heart. Thanks!

I worked as a media action intern at Free Press in the Florence office this summer, helping to organize in-district meetings with Senators and other events around the issue of Net Neutrality. The training we got was better and more practical than many of my classes and I learned many excellent skills that I will use going forward. I felt that the work I did was meaningful and useful and it confirmed my plan to work in a mission-driven non-profit when I graduate. In addition, the staff at Free Press are smart, dedicated, and passionate about what they do and they treat each other with respect. I've worked in a lot of different places and Free Press is extremely high-functioning.

I was a summer intern for Free Press in the Florence office and was very satisfied by the warm welcome I got from all of the friendly staff. The work I was given all contributed to the overall goals of Free Press, I was given thorough training on both the issues we worked with and the tools we used and was afforded a lot of flexibility by my supervisors.

Instead of getting coffee for others, like in many unpaid corporate internships, I was given a small stipend and instead of fetching coffee, was given it free every morning with explicit instructions to NOT make it in the morning.

The work that Free Press does plays an integral part in protecting internet freedom. I had the chance to talk with people all around the country during my time with Free Press and heard both impressive and appalling stories about the lives of our supporters and the trials and tribulations of dealing with the corruption of the telecommunication industry. Free Press truly is a supporter-based organization is does a wonderful job at mobilizing and empowering their many supporters around the country. Whether its through a Senate Judiciary Field Hearing in Vermont, a panel with FCC Chairman Wheeler in New Mexico or a rally at a Presidential Fundraiser in Los Angeles, Free Press impressed me with its strong network of supporters around the country and ability to tap into this invaluable resource.

Freepress found a great way to include voices of all ages at the "save the internet," rally in Los Angeles on July 23, 2014. President Obama landed in the high school directly a cross from us and it was held in a park with high traffic and visibility. What an excellent experience...

It was a great experience working with Free Press to raise awareness among Hawai'i senators on the Net Neutrality issue.

Free Press made it easy for regular people like myself to get in touch with my Senator's senior political advisors. Free Press held a short telephone call to discuss the issue, scheduled a meeting date/time/location and gave me a link to a short, well-written overview of the issue which the political staff appreciated receiving. They also put me in touch with several other folks who care about the same issue so we could share our stories and assist each other when meeting with the political staff.

Both Senator's policy advisors said this was the first time they had directly encountered the Net Neutrality issue. So it raised their awareness and made it more likely they could advise the Senator appropriately about the nuances of the issue when it comes up for Congressional action.

This is how representative democracy is supposed to work!

I participated (mostly by listening) in a conference call in which the challenge to net neutrality was discussed and some of the things that can be done. While, I did know most of the information presented, I did pick up a few new pieces of knowledge. The moderator, Alice Crim, was well prepared and knew her 'stuff.' I believe that this organization is heading in the right direction and is true to its mission statement.
Without a free press and net neutrality, we might as well pack in this 'Great Experiment' known as the United States. The ideals on which this country was founded are under attack from all sides. An open, free and neutral internet is simply the best tool that we have for fighting to keep the dream alive. So, I am interested in seeing what else this organization can come up with to spread the word, especially to the to-date uninformed.

I very much appreciated the news I got from Free Press e-mails. It mattered even more to me when they gave me detailed information on a topic very important to me, and gave me the chance be part of a group talking to my Senator's staff on the topic.

The Free Press staff were extremely well organized and put together a good group of people to speak on various issues. I felt we made a strong impression on the Senator's staff, and am grateful for Free Press's expertise.

Free Press has been a constant source of support for the Democracy and Media Literacy course I teach at Andover High School in Andover, Massachusetts. The vast resources and presentations that Free Press has provided or directed me to are invaluable. Our course would not be the twelve year success that it is. Free Press has played an integral role in graduating hundreds of active, well-informed and engage citizens.

The Free Press 'Media Reform Daily' email is my cornerstone to understanding the media landscape in this country today. Technically informed and tuned to social justice, this organization deserves acclaim and support!

Free Press lives up to it's mission, "..powerful nationwide movement to change media and technology policies, promote the public interest and strengthen democracy." I live in the SF Bay Area and follow their research closely - a wonderful resource!

The work of Free Press is more important than ever. In a world of huge money in politics, media consolidation, and government spying, it's imperative to have an organization that advocates for diverse media and Internet freedom. And as the media landscape changes, I appreciate that Free Press sheds light on the safety of the journalists who are so necessary for our democracy. Thanks for all of your work, Free Press!

Free Press (@freepress) is a staple and go-to resource for current information. I respect their thoughtful perspective and willingness to share unbiased news, unaffected by corporate influence.

it was a terrific event, and i especially appreciated seeing the fcc represented. i wish it had been more widely advertised and that more people had attended, but the event itself was great. as a move to amend member and activist, i want to thank you for the wonderful plug!

Free Press was founded when people were just beginning to become aware of the consolidation of the corporate media landscape and the impact of the 1996 Telecomm Act. The FCC was poised to allow further consolidation. I had run a workshop on media ownership with Mark Crispin Miller and Michael Morgan two years earlier at the founding of the Cultural Environment Movement, which drew about 12 people. Free Press put out the call for its first conference, expecting maybe 200. I think it was closer to 1,200. It hit just the right notes and the right time, and people have responded. Obscure FCC rule changes were brought into the light. Some were turned around by popular resistance led by Free Press. They have maintained a vital leadership role in the movement to foster a more democratic media landscape and terrain for democracy to fight for survival against the onslaught of corporate power. It is not just a good organization; it is an essential one.

Two great speakers who completed each other nicely. I felt privileged to be able to get this live presentation in Boston. While there are a multitude of single issue worthy organizations, I feel Free Press has the right approach to deal at the root level with the problems American society is currently facing and that their efforts are likely to benefit all of the other causes.

I am only a new viewer of this resource so my knowledge is limited. However what interaction I have had has been insightful - enlightening - um. I truly appreciate the ability to access information that otherwise might not be available so readily. Thank you. Miss Justine Bruce@missjustine39

Concerning Free Press I have found them to be a useful tool as an independent journalist. Whenever I need to put together information I am working on for a story or piece I can always turn to Free Press for the R & D! I gladly and proudly endorse as well as support the efforts of FP, and you should too. All the best!

I recently spent a summer volunteering at Free Press as part of their Media Action Bootcamp. It was through this program that I was able to see (and contribute to) Free Press' efforts on a day to day basis.

As a masters student in Public Policy, I was initially skeptical of the role which non profits can have in changing public policy, but the dedicated and knowledgeable staff at FP worked tirelessly in their efforts to advance their policy goals and educate the public about the issues which are key to FP's mission.

Their strategy of inside/outside organizing really was effective (something which I initially doubted would be the case) and their entire staff was a pleasure to work with during my time there. I will certainly be supportive of FP going forward.

Since its inception, the Free Press organization has been a vital source of educating, training, and assistance for existing and upcoming citizen journalists nationwide, especially through its National Conference for Media Reform meetings. Our media organization—Global Voices for Justice—and I owe a great gratitude to this organization to helping us understand the nation and local issues regarding the workings of media, especially in the field of radio and video. Free Press organization has become the watchdog and whistle blower for the Right of people to have access to public airwaves, and if we all understood this idea, the nation as a whole would be in a much better situation. Definitely, its through the work of Free Press that the citizens’ concerns regarding communication devices—cell phone and Internet-- and media—radio, TV, and cable-- have gradually become an integral part of considerations leading to establishing policies that affects our lives.
Mansoor Sabbagh,
director of Global Voices for Justice

I'm an educator and graduate student and brought a student to the Boston conference. We really enjoyed the speakers and panels, especially one the DIY radio. I learned to solder wires and really enjoyed the feeling of media empowerment!

The innovative leaders at Free Press are incredible examples on how to transform the social justice space and build a pipeline for diverse leaders in this space. NCMR was a transformative experience and I'm so glad I was able to connect with like-minds in the media justice space. Thank you Free Press for your support.

As a recent graduate I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to the National Conference to Media Reform, while I'm no stranger to professional networking events and conferences, this event was by far the most engaging doorway into the world of modern media I've been privileged to enjoy. Whether covering appropriate language use, social media practices, the use of humor and satire or political regulation - Free Press sets a high standard and inspires others to do more. I wish more non-profits were so bold.

Free Press afforded me the opportunity to attend the 2011 National Conference on Media Reform. This opportunity reignited the activist in me and opened my eyes and ears.

Free Press is an invaluable organization to anyone working in the area of media literacy. I attended the National Conference for Media Reform in 2011 and what I learned there made it possible for me to work more effectively with my community college students. The conference was so rich - and addressed many areas of media reform. I know I have the next one on my calendar!

I first heard of free press on an announcement for their first National Conference on Media Reform in Madison WI in 2003. I attended, and have attended all of them since, including the most recent one in Boston last April, and I hope to attend the next one in Denver next year. All of these conferences have been spectacular with big name speakers as well as lots of interaction with other "civilians" from around the country and a great wealth of information on media reform issues. I have also have had help and support on local media reform issues from Free Press staffers, and interviews from Free Press luminaries for my community radio station show. This is an important and vitally needed organization - as cofounder Robert McChesney put it, journalism is in a deep, profound, existential crisis and that means that democracy itself is in an existential crisis. This organization is helping us do something constructive about these crises.

Free Press plays an integral role in connecting the public to the country’s most pressing media, technology and journalism-related issues. I have attended three Free Press Media Reform-based conferences and can confidently attest they were not only coordinated and executed with remarkable professionalism but were insightful, informative and invaluable to the media reform movement. Through innovative campaigns, newsletters, social media, creative videos and petitions, the organization exemplifies what a committed non-profit should. In a time when the media environment is plagued with increased concentration and fewer voices (and not to mention one that scarcely informs the public about these vital media policy issues), their passion for supporting diversity, inclusion and alternative sources of news should be commended, fostered and certainly praised. The work done by Free Press is imperative to ensuring our media system serves the public rather than the profit-margin– a mission necessary to sustaining a viable democracy. Whether you are an activist, a policy analyst, a scholar, a journalist, a technologist or simply a citizen who cares about media, Free Press is an organization you should become familiar with.

Free Press is Great. a lot of exciting programs and interesting people.

I was given a scholarship to attend the National Conference on Media Reform. The wonderful opportunity afforded me allowed for an exponential increase in my knowledge and a chance to connect with like minded people. The work done by Free Press is ever more essential in a world of media consolidation, new communications tools arising each moment and no common ground from which to view everything. Free Press is the advocacy organization needed to keep "we the people" informed and engaged in what is truly a fight for freedom.

Hey, these guys help us all out by fighting for online rights. Seriously, we're all under attack by bad actors, like the very day I write this, in Congress, regarding SOPA. It could kill any site with user generated content, like user review sites.

I have been donating on a monthly basis to Free Press for quite some time now. I view this organization as essential to the maintenance of our "free" society. I am a lawyer representing indigent defendants in criminal appeals. In my work, I see the steady chipping away of constitutional rights by our courts in one result-oriented opinion after another. But the attack is not limited to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th Amendments, those you most often see tested in criminal appeals -- the 1st Amendment is under steady attack as well. In my opinion, Free Press does a top notch job of exposing the behind-the-scenes machinations of the corporate media and protecting our rights to free, unadulterated information. If I could afford more in my monthly donation, I would give more.

I depend on Free Press to keep me abreast of the Congressional idiots marching to the tunes of their corporate masters. Free Press is my only real source of media truth. I particularly appreciate Free Press for letting me know which Obama- appointed idiots are gaming the system nationally and when the public needs to fight back. Media matters seem to get little attention from the corrupted, consolidated press corps except for Free Press. So I'm grateful for their vigilance.

Free Press is the only charity I give to every month. The press is the only industry mentioned in The Constitution. Our press is in trouble, and that means our country is in trouble. Free Press fights for my right to know the truth.

I refer to this the Free Press website all the time as an example of top-notch e-activism. Brilliant videos and scorching resources.

With the corporate take over of our media over the last many years our education and democracy have suffered. It is groups like Free Press that fight the good fight to protect us from people with names like Rush or Hannity or Rupert.

I have watched the news from media in the US being eroded methodically by special interests over the past 30-40 years. It has become little more than "sound bites" and distraction rather than information . As a result I turned more and more to PBS stations to get real information - and have been appalled by so-called "conservatives" who want to silence any voices that do not agree with them. I don't like everything I see on PBS either, but that doesn't mean it is valueless. As those efforts to supress progressed, free press has been a bastion of support for those of us who don't want to lose what appears to be our last balanced voice in the media. It is a group we can count on to do their best to keep our internet access free and open as well.

Free Press is great! I support them in any way I can.

I believe the revival of a strong, honest, and independent media is the most critical ingredient to the future of American democracy. After I attended my first of the FreePress national conferences (the best conference of a broad variety that I have attended over the years), I decided that FreePress was at the forefront of that revival, and has since been my Number One charity.

I've been a supporter of freepress.net since 2005. Among other things, they have been at the forefront of efforts to keep Public Broadcasting from being killed by the Republicans. Imperfect as it is, Public Broadcasting offers the only semblance of actual journalism available on broadcast television. It is vital that real news be disseminated to the public rather than the corporate drivel and propaganda on the networks and cable "news" channels. That's one reason I support freepress.net

I have attended two of the National Media Reform Conferences sponsored by Free Press and I have been deeply impressed by the level of expertise and commitment they bring to the crucial, but underappreciated task of spotlighting the shortcomings of our nation's media system.

This is an issue with political, economic, and technological dimensions and Free Press helps people understand all three of these areas.

No other group takes as broad a view of this issue as does Free Press

I've been a monthy recurring donor to Free Press for several years. I get their email alerts, and I often respond to their calls to contact media organizations and individuals about various shortcomings and travesties. I attended the NCMR in Minneapolis two or three years ago and was very impressed with the many media activists in attendance and the quality of the seminars and presentations. I live far away from any city and Free Press helps me keep up with the issues of the media as well as do what I can to help democracy survive by supporting a free press.

I support FreePress because they are powerful advocates for preserving independent news sources and keeping the internet open. I'm a "broadband activist", working to bring high-speed internet access to underserved rural communities in Western Massachusetts, so I especially appreciate FreePress's efforts to prevent major corporations from controlling internet access. I also find the information they provide by email to be very valuable.

Free Press is inclusive of all peoples including Native Americans. Media reform is not only complex but a huge challenge for Indian Country where our voice on the media and digital divides are often not heard. Free Press provides a critically important role by representing the interests of some of the most vulnerable and un-served populations in the United States on Communications and Telecommunications issues.

Free Press has been a leader in the movement to keep our democracy vibrant through ensuring that the means of distributing information (i.e. media, internet, TV, etc.) remain democratic. They have been especially prominent in the fight to maintain the internet as a free space for the flowering of creative and political potential. I have been a monthly donor to Free Press for two years and I am continually impressed with the enormous amount of advocacy work they do on such a tight budget. Without any hesitation, I recommend them to volunteers and donors as a place where what you do and give makes a huge difference.

Free Press has provided a strong voice in support of the actual fair and balanced news that comes from non-commercial, locally owned, public media. The system of PBS and NPR and their locally-controlled member stations has benefited from the research and advocacy work of Free Press.

I'm subscribed to several non-profit action email newsletters which keep me abreast of issues relevant to me, and FreePress is one of them.

They tirelessly fight to keep freedom of expression alive, be it by petitioning to prevent illegal mergers to investigating corruption to contesting legislation that will impose on our liberties.

Best of all, they deliver easy-to-understand, easy to get involved email digests that are concise and socially righteous, and their online petitions make it simple to make your voice heard with a click.

Free Press is an excellent organization of committed media reformers, policy analysts, communications specialists and activists. Each person that I have met and collaborated with at Free Press has a unique passion for changing the media reform landscape in America. Their campaigns are sharp, concise, educational and entertaining. They have invigorated a base in America through their hard work and conscientious coalition building to engage Americans in the media policy making process.