Our board member Marti Pascale Weston was in Atlanta last week for @cwaunion.bsky.social’s 2026 National Conference, participating in a Human Rights Interactive Activist Mall.

Less than two weeks. We cannot wait! @ruha9.bsky.social delivers the Parker Lecture, and Richard Prince receives the Parker Award. September 10 in D.C., or you can join us virtually! Get your tickets and be a part of our annual celebration for media justice: buff.ly/2cbGM31

In 1972, @princeeditor.bsky.social and six other Black journalists filed the first discrimination complaint against a major American newspaper. He never stopped. Three decades of “Journal-isms” later, we’re honored to give him the Parker Award. Get your tickets: buff.ly/8kVKPRo

The Washington Post's Metro 7 - journal-isms.com

Thirty years ago, they fought for a fair chance. Today, there’s still work to be done. An edited version of a story that appeared in the September 2002 edition of the National Association of Black…

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We join @unitedchurch.bsky.social in mourning the passing of Rev. Derek Terry, Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition. Rev. Terry was a fearless voice for LGBTQ+ inclusion, racial justice, and a more welcoming church.

A joint UCC-ONA statement on the passing of Rev. Derek Terry - United Church of Christ

The following is a joint statement from United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, and the Open and

ucc.org

A prison phone company wants to gut the rate caps Congress set under the Martha Wright-Reed Act. We filed with @publicknowledge.bsky.social and others to stop it. Families of incarcerated people should not be subsidizing the cost of running a jail through their phone bills.

LETTER: Opposition to NCIC Petition for Waiver

We filed an opposition at the FCC to block a prison phone company from gutting the rate caps Congress set under the Martha Wright-Reed Act.

uccmediajustice.org

Labor Day is a call to honor those who organized for justice and to keep working for economic security for all. Labor Sunday recognizes workers’ advocacy for dignity and safety. Find new UCC hymns and resources at ucc.org/fillthejar. #LaborDay #LaborSunday #UCC

UCC marks Labor Day observance with new liturgical resources - United Church of Christ

Labor Day will be celebrated on Monday, September 7 this year, not only to gratefully recognize the sacrifices of those who organized for justice in our

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We join @unitedchurch.bsky.social in mourning the death on Monday of the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund (or “BBZ” as she was known to so many). We will all miss both her inspirational leadership and her warm, engaging and welcoming personality. Learn more about her legacy:

Remembering the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund

The United Church of Christ’s Media Justice Ministry joins the rest of our denomination in mourning the death on Monday of the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund, (or “BBZ” as she was known to so many).

uccmediajustice.org

Congress set the 39% TV ownership cap. The FCC just threw it out anyway. We’ve been fighting this at the FCC and in court, and we’re not stopping. Our 2026 Parker Award recipient @princeeditor.bsky.social has the story:

FCC Vote on Ownership Called Bad for Diversity - journal-isms.com

Kansas City Call Fails to Publish, Could Shut Down

journal-isms.com

Credit to Disney for standing up to the Administration’s censoring, bullying tactics.

Congress let the Affordable Connectivity Program expire and millions lost broadband access. Access to telemedicine goes with it. An important new brief from our friends at the Benton Institute on bridging the gap:

Bridging the Broadband Health Gap

Funding for federal programs supporting broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion has tightened over the last year. With the Affordable Connectivity Program winding down in April 2024, the…

benton.org

Voting rights are a justice issue. @unitedchurch.bsky.social General Minister and President Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson writes about how the SAVE America Act and Executive Order 14399 threaten to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters ahead of the midterms. buff.ly/n27pgNa

Voting Rights are a Justice Issue

In the United States the fight for voting rights has been historically framed as a civil right. Civil rights are personal rights guaranteed and protected

ucc.org

Will we see you at #ParkerLecture2026? @ruha9.bsky.social, a MacArthur Fellow who changed the way we understand how technology encodes racial inequality, will deliver this year’s Parker Lecture on September 10 in D.C. Join us: buff.ly/EooDeCf

In 1972, @princeeditor.bsky.social was one of the Metro Seven who challenged racial discrimination at the Washington Post. He went on to create “Journal-isms” and spend three decades holding the industry accountable. He’ll receive the Parker Award on September 10. Get your tickets: buff.ly/EooDeCf

Veteran Journalist Richard Prince: DEI Backlash is No Accident - National Press Foundation

As a member of the Washington Post Metro Seven in 1972, Richard Prince helped elevate equity and diversity in newsrooms. He's never stopped.

nationalpress.org

AI systems are learning to lie and cheat. These are the systems companies want to use for hiring, lending, & healthcare decisions. When automated tools that repeat social biases label some people as “too risky” because of who they are, it is a spiritual as well as a legal problem.

Here’s why AI agents lie and cheat to reach their goals

The misbehavior is called reward hacking. This is what you need to know.

technologyreview.com

We joined @cdt.org and others in urging the FCC not to require phone customers to hand over government IDs just to get service. This proposal would endanger domestic violence survivors, people experiencing homelessness, and anyone who relies on prepaid phone plans. Read the letter:

Letter to FCC on KYC Requirements

Chair Carr's FCC is using the equal time rule to go after broadcasters whose on-air talent criticizes the President.

uccmediajustice.org

@unitedchurch.bsky.social's Our Faith Our Vote campaign is live for 2026! Voter registration tools, issue education, election engagement toolkit for congregations. For people of faith, public policy is how we love our neighbor. Vote with love.

Our Faith Our Vote

United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all. We are the United Church of Christ. Keep up with how God

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Today marks 14 years since the deadly Oak Creek shooting in Wisconsin — the worst act of hate violence ever committed against a Sikh house of worship in the United States. We #RememberOakCreek by honoring those who were killed and standing with the Sikh community in grief and solidarity.

Remember Oak Creek

Ten years ago, on August 5, 2012, a white nationalist entered a Sikh gurdwara. Our story can show America how to stand in solidarity, bravery, and love.

rememberoakcreek.org

BIG NEWS: We're proud to announce the Rev. Dr. D. Amina B. Butts as our inaugural Media Justice Fellow!

We joined @democracyforward.org, @publicknowledge.bsky.social, @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social, @newsguild.org, & Locals 41 & 51 of the NABET-@cwaunion.bsky.social to tell the FCC: you can’t use broadcast licenses to punish a network for its editorial decisions. That violates the First Amendment.

Public Interest and Labor Organizations Challenge FCC’s Unprecedented Effort to Target ABC Stations Over Broadcast Content

Washington, D.C. — A coalition of labor unions, media advocates, and public interest organizations today filed a brief urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to end its unprecedented early...

democracyforward.org

@princeeditor.bsky.social has spent decades forcing the news industry to confront the conversations about race and media it keeps avoiding. That’s why he’s receiving this year’s Parker Award. Get your tickets today: buff.ly/LItVkE8

Why Journos Should Learn About Race and Health - journal-isms.com

Sometimes We Don't Know What We Don't Know

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Virginia’s data center footprint has doubled over the past five years. Residents are dealing with noise, pollution, and rising energy costs. The AI boom has real costs for real communities. Who benefits and who pays matters.

In the data center capital of the world, residents ask who the AI boom is helping

The data center footprint in Loudoun County has more than doubled in the last five years, covering over 53 million square feet.

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This year’s Parker Lecture brings together @ruha9.bsky.social, whose writing on race and AI has shaped the national conversation, and @princeeditor.bsky.social, who has been tracking diversity in American media through Journal-isms for decades. Join us on 9/10 in D.C. or virtually: buff.ly/LItVkE8

AI legislation without civil rights protections isn’t innovation. We joined @civilrightsorg.bsky.social and 29 organizations to tell the House Democratic AI Commission: mandatory bias testing, disparate impact liability, and no preemption of state AI laws.

Civil Rights Letter to House Democratic AI Commission

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73% of Americans want to prevent AI discrimination. 66% want mandatory bias testing before AI makes decisions about jobs, housing, and loans. This isn't partisan.

New Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Policies Preventing AI Discrimination and Bias

Survey of 1,000 adults nationwide finds that the vast majority support policy protections against AI bias and discrimination.

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This is what media consolidation costs: $1.1 billion a year in extra borrowing costs for communities that lost their local news. No reporters at city hall means more corruption and higher taxes. More from Rebuild Local News:

Local News Shortage Leads to $1.1 Billion in Extra Borrowing Costs for Local Governments and Taxpayers

Building on a landmark municipal bond market study, new analysis puts a price tag on the costs of news deserts to local governments.

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Georgia Power is forcing families to sell their homes to build transmission lines for AI data centers. One family calls it theft. When a billion-dollar utility can take your land for the AI industry, who does technology serve?

Georgia family says they're forced to sell home to help power AI data centers: "It's theft"

Georgia Power says building a new transmission line will require acquiring more than 300 parcels of land, including residential properties.

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More than 200 economists and 16 Nobel laureates warn that AI could drive job displacement larger than the Industrial Revolution. We've been saying AI needs public accountability. The economists agree.

Nearly 200 Economists and Tech Leaders Warn of A.I. Threats

A letter calls for policymakers to do more to understand and respond to potential disruptions from artificial intelligence.

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On July 15, a federal judge issued a mixed ruling in National Digital Inclusion Alliance v. Trump, the case we supported with an amicus brief joined by 22 organizations.

A win for digital equity, a loss for racial justice

On July 15, a federal judge issued a mixed ruling in National Digital Inclusion Alliance v. Trump, the case we supported with an amicus brief joined by 22 organizations.

uccmediajustice.org

A must-read: @unitedchurch.bsky.social General Minister and President Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson on why the church must resist Christian Nationalism and the global anti-gender movement. Christian identity should be synonymous with justice and love.

Journey For Justice

Church is complex. The same word used for the place where Christians worship, is used for a local congregation, for a denomination and for the universal

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Today's announcement from the #FCC about relaxing the National TV Ownership cap is a blatant grab at more untrammeled power for the FCC.