Authors Guild Condemns Administration's Attacks on Free Expression, Creates Legal Tracker
March 5, 2025
Authors Guild Calls on FCC Chair to Halt Media Intimidation
March 10, 2025
The Authors Guild has joined a powerful coalition of 18 organizations to call out what we see as alarming government overreach threatening press freedom. In a strongly-worded letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr delivered Friday, we expressed serious concerns about recent regulatory actions that appear designed to intimidate media organizations and influence editorial decisions.
Why The FCC’s Troubling Pattern Matters to Writers
Our coalition letter identifies several concerning trends under Chairman Carr’s leadership:
Attacking Fact-Checking Efforts
The FCC has questioned social media companies about their partnerships with organizations like NewsGuard, essentially pressuring private platforms about their editorial decisions—ironically while claiming to defend free speech.
Weaponizing “News Distortion” Investigations
Without substantial evidence, the Commission reinstated investigations into major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC), even demanding raw footage and transcripts from CBS’s 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Harris—all while the president pursues his own lawsuit against the network.
Misapplying Broadcast Rules
The FCC incorrectly claimed NBC violated Equal Opportunities rules during Vice President Harris’s Saturday Night Live appearance, fundamentally misunderstanding that these regulations only apply when candidates request and are denied equal access—not as a proactive obligation for broadcasters.
Threatening Local Journalism
In a particularly chilling move, the Commission threatened to investigate KCBS radio for simply reporting on ICE operations in San Jose—basic journalism that serves public awareness. As the letter states, “basic reporting of police presence and vehicle descriptions falls within protected speech.”
Targeting Diversity Initiatives
Despite the FCC’s own Equal Opportunity guidelines, the Commission launched a probe into Comcast’s diversity initiatives that appear to be in compliance with the very policies the FCC promotes.
Undermining Public Broadcasting
The FCC launched investigations into PBS and NPR member stations, alleging they improperly aired advertising in their underwriting announcements, despite no evidence of wrongdoing. This scrutiny coincides with calls to defund public broadcasting, threatening critical local news access at a time of dwindling information sources.
What We’re Asking For
Our coalition urges Chairman Carr to commit to four essential principles:
- Requiring clear evidence before launching investigations
- Reaffirming the FCC’s commitment to protecting editorial independence
- Ensuring oversight actions are based on objective criteria, not political considerations
- Maintaining appropriate boundaries between government regulation and newsroom decisions