Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial U.S. Judge Trevor Nunley ruled that consumers could suffer irreparable harm if Nexstar integrated Tegna's stations into its own operations ahead of an antitrust trial.

Great news -- the court ordered a preliminary injunction keeping TEGNA held separate from Nexstar until trial, barring a successful appeal.
www.npr.org/2026/04/17/n...

Tell Congress to restore public media funding! Will you send a letter to your Members of Congress today?

We're in federal court blocking the largest broadcast merger in U.S. history. But corporate consolidation is only half the problem.

Congress cut $1.1 billion from public media and hasn't restored a dime. The FY2027 appropriations process is moving now.

Take action with us:

As if we needed more evidence that consolidation is not good for news.

ICYMI—The 44th Annual Parker Lecture & Awards Luncheon will be held on September 10 in Washington, D.C.!

At a time when the times we face are scary and difficult, this is a chance to come together for community and reflection. We hope to see you there: uccmediajustice.org/save-the-dat...

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Seeking to Block $6.2 Billion Nexstar/Tegna Broadcasting Merger Merger would create a media giant covering 80% of U.S. television households OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, alongside a coalition of eight attorneys general, filed a lawsuit…

Great news! After UCC Media Justice @CWAUnion and @FreePress filed at the FCC, eight states sued to block the Nexstar/TEGNA merger! buff.ly/f9LTur7 Check out our analysis and filings at the FCC here: buff.ly/59tcCGY

All the presenters urged the faith community to educate ourselves, to press clergy and others to give sermons and advocate for laws and regulations to hold these technologies accountable, particularly in the U.S. which has so much influence.

As human beings, we are responsible moral agents accountable for decisions that affect life and death. We cannot permit the use of AI to avoid our individual and collective human responsibility.

Dr. Max Tegmark talked about learning from past efforts to regulate various services from restaurants to pharmacology and the importance of human control over AI.

This means recognizing: 1) the inherent bias in AI and algorithmic technology which is created using data that reflects the world's existing inequalities, and 2) the serious ecological consequences of its use.

Archbishop Emerita Dr Antje Jackelén pressed us to ask:
- Who benefits
- Who pays the price
- Who are the most vulnerable?

Some great takeaways: AI is a tool, but like all technology and all tools, we should be sure AI is deployed only to "uphold human dignity, justice, peace and integrity of creation." Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mtata

The risks of artificial general intelligence: how should faith communities respond? An online panel discussion entitled “The risks of artificial general intelligence: how should faith communities respond?” will be hosted by the World Council of Churches on 25 February.

I has the pleasure of listening in to the World Council of Churches webinar today considering the risks of artificial general intelligence: how should faith communities respond? www.oikoumene.org/events/the-r...

The U.S. lost a giant. I was pleased to have met Rev. Jackson and gratified that he recognized the importance of media justice. My condolences to the Jackson family and Rainbow PUSH.

Thanks @pallone.house.gov for this important letter highlighting the danger that the current @FCC is subverting the law for the benefit of two huge broadcast companies.

democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/sites/evo-su...

+ FCC currently has authority to block top-4 combos
+ If the FCC wants to change the policy, it can, BUT it has to **actually vote**
+ Given that there are many more big mergers with big policy questions pending -- including Nexstar/TEGNA which actually violates the law -- this is a BAD SIGN.

...it explicitly withheld judgement on whether a different version of the rule blocking top-4 combos would be OK
+ Faced w/ Sinclair's proposed top-4 combos, the Bureau didn't wait for FCC guidance. It relied on an FCC litigation decision not to pursue the issue further in court. That's Not OK!

A quick FCC law recap for those playing along at home:
+ A bureau cannot make new policy.
+ The last time the FCC took an official action on this it PROHIBITED combining two of the top four TV stations in a single market.
+ A court did overturn the FCC's rule, but ....

So this decision is bad for many reasons. Among the many bad things: 1) this was made by the Media Bureau, not the FCC, 2) it authorized combinations of top-4 TV stations in a single market. Not only is combining 2 of the top 4 TV stations in a market bad policy, the Bureau can't legally do that.

Thanks to Commissioner Gomez for sounding the alarm. Unfortunately it is hardly a surprise that the second Trump FCC is continuing efforts to deprive low-income people of connectivity.

Ethical journalism demands independence — especially from the industries it covers.

By teaming up with Securus on a "correctional telecom" event — a company that profits from prison phone + video calls — Broadband Breakfast is platforming industry interests while silencing those most affected.

I'm out this morning with @uccmediajustice.org to protest the @FCC ruling to increase rates for incarcerated people. #phonejustice

The Steep Cost of Data Centers
Soon after Microsoft opened a data center near La Esperanza in central Mexico last year, the town began suffering power outages. A doctor stitched up children by flashlight and turned away patients when equipment stopped working.
nytimes.com/2025/10/22/w...

New FCC regulations threaten law that bars companies from raising telephone and internet rates to incarcerated persons - United Church of Christ More than a decade of successful advocacy by the United Church of Christ’s Media Justice Ministry now faces a new threat—proposed Federal Communications

New FCC regulations threaten law that bars companies from raising telephone and internet rates to incarcerated persons

www.ucc.org/new-fcc-regu...

Column | The hidden way using a rewards card can cost you more Starbucks tracked my every purchase — then gave me fewer deals. It’s called surveillance pricing.

Startling and excellent article showing how a loss of privacy can cost you money every day.

The hidden way using a rewards card can cost you more

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

I'm here in Boston this morning for the appellate court argument on last year's #phonejustice decision at the @FCC.

This billionaire Trump ally and his son are building an unprecedented media empire Larry and David Ellison’s holdings span movies, TV networks, CBS and soon a stake in TikTok, in a paradigm-shifting portfolio with huge influence.

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

Weiss's Free Press has campaigned against what it calls “wokeism” in mainstream media, and Weiss, like the Ellisons, is a strong supporter of Israel, but her site has also been critical of Trump.

This billionaire Trump ally and his son are building an unprecedented media empire Larry and David Ellison’s holdings span movies, TV networks, CBS and soon a stake in TikTok, in a paradigm-shifting portfolio with huge influence.

Just what we need ...

David Ellison’s appointment of a opinion journalist Bari Weiss to helm the network of legacy broadcasters Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite has set the stage for a culture clash. ...

Picture of a radio broadcast microphone.

Today on the first day of the next phase of public media, from @uccmediajustice.org

The impact of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down and what you can do

uccmediajustice.org/public-media...

The Kimmel suspension is a much bigger deal than you know.

It's really about a growing alliance between Trump and the companies that own America's local TV stations - like Nexstar - to turn local TV into Trump propaganda.

1/ Let me tell you the short story. It's chilling.