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Online Activism Essential to Media Reform Movement
Posted on January 20, 2005
Do you know about our Just Media Project? Interested in taking action for the media reform movement?
Last week, 16,000 Free Press e-activists sent a letter to Congress and the Federal Communications Commission calling for an investigation into possible payola violations regarding the $240,000 paid by the Bush administration to pundit Armstrong Williams to promote its education policy. And the e-activsim worked!
Less than 24 hours after the petition drive started, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein urged an investigationand in one day, the number of complaints coming into the FCC went from a few to thousands. On Friday, Chairman Michael Powell responded to the public outcry, instructing the FCC Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into the payola allegations. The petitions also prompted members of Congress to contact Chairman Powell, asking for a full report.
The active participation made the difference, proving once again that online activism is still a powerful force to reckon with as we build the movement for media reform. As always, check Free Press for updates as the story unfurls.