The hottest Media Policy Substack posts right now

Eight state attorneys general sued to block the Nexstar–TEGNA merger because it would concentrate local TV ownership and threaten local news and public access to diverse voices.
The combined company would gain huge local market power, driving up retransmission fees for pay-TV and streamers and reducing competition in many local markets.
Consolidation lets owners cut local news and push political influence, and states are increasingly using antitrust actions to challenge media power when federal enforcement backs off.

Print media thrive on private ownership, so anyone willing to pay can publish niche or offensive views, while broadcasters self-censor because they rely on government-owned airwaves and licenses.
Because the airwaves are scarce public property, regulators must ration access and enforce a vague "public interest" standard, which pushes broadcasters to avoid controversial content.
Turning frequencies into private property through auctions would let owners decide what to air, likely increasing diversity and allowing more controversial or niche speech on the airwaves.

The EU fined X for so‑called technical violations, but many see the penalty as a way to push the platform to censor content.
The EU uses "trusted flaggers" — NGOs and academics given special access to spot and report content. Critics say this creates a proxy censorship system like a "Ministry of Truth".
The dispute reveals a wider perception gap: Europeans may underestimate how committed the U.S. is to free speech. The fine could become a symbolic clash over free expression rather than just enforcement of technical rules.

Medium is changing its rules to limit AI-generated writing. Starting May 2024, stories mostly written by AI can't be part of the paid program.
Writers can still use AI tools to help their writing, but they need to put in their own effort to make changes and improvements.
Medium's goal is to support human storytelling and ensure that readers get authentic experiences, which means protecting writers from AI competition.

Public radio needs to address its decline in trust among listeners, as many feel it has become biased and focused too much on specific issues.
There have been missteps in covering important stories, such as dismissing the lab leak theory and overlooking the Hunter Biden laptop story.
If NPR wants continued support from taxpayers, leaders should be ready to answer some tough questions about their approach to news coverage.

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Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been criticized for their role in spreading false and harmful content, especially before major events like riots. They also face backlash for how they handle censorship.
Fox News has been accused of promoting biased narratives while ignoring responsible journalism. They often push misinformation but cry foul when tech companies fight back against harmful speech.
There is a call for stricter regulations on both tech companies and traditional media to ensure accountability. Countries like Germany have taken steps to combat hate speech online, suggesting the U.S. should do the same.