In a year defined by sweeping changes in public media — from the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to the increasing fragility of local news — NFCB is proud to announce a new policy partnership with Free Press, one of the nation’s leading organizations advancing equitable media policy, protecting press freedom, and strengthening community-centered civic information systems.
To be clear: Free Press is not affiliated with “The Free Press,” the for-profit media outlet founded by Bari Weiss. These are two entirely separate entities with no overlap in mission, ideology, or structure. NFCB’s partnership is with Free Press and Free Press Action, the long-standing nonprofit organizations engaged in media justice, journalism policy, and movement-building.
Through this partnership, NFCB joins The Media Power Collaborative, a national organizing space where media workers, movement leaders, researchers, civic-media publishers, and community advocates gather to learn journalism policy, build coordinated strategies, and shape a future in which all people — especially those too often excluded from legacy media systems — have access to trustworthy, relevant information.
Please check out the Media Power Collective website here: https://mediapowercollab.org/
This partnership arrives at a pivotal time. As CPB’s operations wind down, we have come to recognize something essential:
CPB didn’t just fund us — it advocated for us.
For decades, CPB communicated with Congressional leaders and state policymakers about the value and needs of community radio. That advocacy infrastructure no longer exists, and NFCB alone cannot replace it. We do not have the in-house staff or capacity to replicate federal and state-level policy engagement — and we are not meant to do this work in isolation.
This is why we are thrilled to partner with Free Press and join a national coalition already engaging in strategic, coordinated policy work on behalf of local news and civic information.
About the Media Power Collaborative
The Media Power Collaborative is grounded in a core truth:
A healthy democracy depends on a healthy, community-centered media system.
The Collaborative brings together journalists, civic-media publishers, organizers, researchers, funders, and advocates to:
- Learn how journalism and media policy are shaped
- Analyze the rapidly evolving local-news landscape
- Build coalitions across movements and communities
- Identify shared priorities and strategies
- Develop equitable, community-first policy solutions
This shared vision is detailed in the Collaborative’s comprehensive Policy Agenda for Meeting Civic-Information Needs, which calls for robust public investments, strong editorial firewalls, equitable resource allocation, and long-term structural reforms that democratize media power.
Why This Matters for Community Radio
Community radio stations — especially those in rural, Tribal, immigrant, and low-income communities — are often the last remaining local-news providers in their regions. They serve as:
- emergency information hubs
- cultural homes
- trusted sources of hyperlocal news
- bridges between communities and civic institutions
Yet despite this essential role, community radio has historically been invisible in policy conversations, legislative debates, economic analyses, and philanthropic strategies. With CPB closing and media systems consolidating at record speed, small stations are at heightened risk of:
- loss of funding
- reduced reporting
- widening civic-information gaps
- increased misinformation and disinformation
- infrastructure vulnerabilities
Through this partnership, NFCB now has a seat at the policy table — with the support of a national coalition equipped to amplify our members’ realities and needs.
What Makes for Good Local Media Policy?
As part of this partnership, NFCB will share and rely on What Makes for Good Local Media Policy?, a new guide created to help policymakers, advocates, and media leaders evaluate legislative proposals in a rapidly changing landscape.
Key takeaways include:
1. Policy must start with the right diagnosis.
Local news is a public good, and the goal is not to “save journalism” but to strengthen democracy.
2. Corporate consolidation is undermining civic health.
A handful of conglomerates control most local news outlets, leading to weakened oversight and reduced community trust.
3. Underserved communities must be at the center.
Rural, BIPOC, Tribal, immigrant, and low-income communities face the greatest information gaps.
4. Build durable public infrastructure, not short-term patches.
Independent, publicly funded grant-making bodies are the strongest approach for long-term sustainability and editorial independence.
5. Use a community-first policy checklist:
- Are editorial protections strong?
- Does the proposal address community information needs?
- Does it diversify the media system and reduce corporate concentration?
- Does it avoid funneling resources to hedge funds or corporate broadcasters?
- Does it avoid unintended harm to small or nonprofit outlets?
These principles align directly with the Media Power Collaborative’s broader agenda and will guide our shared advocacy work.
What This Partnership Means in Practice
In practical terms, this includes:
State-Level Coordination
Free Press and the Media Power Collaborative will:
- notify NFCB when a state-level policy window opens that could affect community radio
- share early analysis about how emerging state legislation intersects with NFCB’s mission
- coordinate strategy when relevant coalitions form
- jointly identify which NFCB members to bring into state-level conversations
- stay in dialogue when NFCB identifies state issues the MPC may not yet have seen
This ensures that community radio is included from the start — not as an afterthought — in state media policy debates.
Federal-Level Engagement
While the MPC primarily focuses on state-based work, Free Press will:
- alert NFCB early if federal issues arise that fall within the MPC’s scope
- engage NFCB as a primary coalition partner in these moments
- coordinate policy positioning and strategy
- connect NFCB with additional national organizers and experts
(including an upcoming January conversation with Craig on public media advocacy)
On the federal level, NFCB will continue its work with Protect My Public Media.
Shared Framework
Both organizations will use the Media Power Collaborative Policy Agenda as a shared set of values and priorities when analyzing emerging proposals and legislative ideas.
How NFCB Members Can Engage
Members interested in learning more or participating in this work can explore the Media Power Collaborative’s offerings:
- Email updates on major state-level and national media policy developments
- Quarterly webinars and member meetings
- Resources for engaging in local policy efforts
- Opportunities to join state-level working groups where capacity allows
These touchpoints ensure that stations — especially those without policy staff — have access to timely information, policy education, and opportunities for meaningful engagement.
Moving Forward — Together
As we navigate a post-CPB reality, one truth has become clear:
NFCB cannot shoulder national advocacy alone.
Through this partnership with Free Press and our participation in the Media Power Collaborative, we are stepping into a coordinated movement dedicated to building a more equitable, democratic, community-centered media system — one where community radio is recognized, valued, and resourced.
We look forward to updating you and sharing opportunities to participate in this critical work.
Together, we can build the media system our democracy deserves — and ensure community radio remains a vibrant public good for generations to come.
