Internet companies and public interest groups are fighting a bill that could legalize Internet censorship. The Stop Online Piracy Act would allow corporations to shut down websites they suspect of copyright infringment and freeze payments to content providers and advertisers — all without a court hearing. And while the nation focuses on federal cuts to public media institutions like NPR and PBS, a new report shows how a quiet effort to cut state funding is eliminating stations, programming and jobs.

Where commercial media are consolidating and slashing newsroom jobs, vibrant local journalism nonprofits are popping up across the country to fill the gaps. But they’ve hit one big bureaucratic snag with the IRS. And PBS talk-show host Tavis Smiley turned to the Media Mobilizing Project to help organize and document his series on poverty in America.

Over the last few weeks, more than 80 Free Press advocates from across the country met with legislators and their staffs to voice the public’s perspective on media issues like the AT&T-T-Mobile merger, Net Neutrality and community media.

Oscar will have plenty to be grouchy about if bills in Congress become law. Three bills are circulating that would cut or even entirely eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting. And what is it about a 78-year old widow that Fox News commentator Glenn Beck finds so terrifying?

NPR's decision to fire news analyst Juan Williams unleashed an attack on all federal funding for public media by a handful of politicians and commentators. But what the public really needs is to defend – not defund – public media. And members of the disability community in the Bay Area spoke out for Net Neutrality in a letter to the FCC.

Public media is the most trusted source of news in both the United States and in Great Britain. Any yet, public media institutions are fighting to keep public spaces alive for encountering culture, debate issues and share experiences. And the FCC is being urged to investigate local news stations that are airing paid advertising disguised as fake news segments.

A critical program that new noncommercial radio stations have historically relied upon to for expensive construction costs has been targeted by the Obama administration. And a special guest commentary by Nick Russo on why Congress needs to pass the Local Community Radio Act and put Low-Power FM stations in every community.

Free Press held a summit in Washington designed to deepen conversations about the future of journalism and the Internet. Among the many speakers were FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Jehmu Greene of the Women's Media Center.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced his proposal to adopt a broadband policy framework that will promote universal Internet access and protect Net Neutrality. And leaders in public and noncommercial media gathered at the FCC to tackle some challenging questions about new journalism business models and the future of community media.

Robert McChesney clears up long-held misconceptions about news production and discusses new ideas for a vibrant American media that supports good journalism. McChesney is author of several books on media and politics, professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and co-founder of Free Press.