On the Hill: HTTP and Partners Advocate to Save Local Newsrooms and Protect Community Voices
On Monday, February 9, HTTP brought journalists, advocates, and community voices to Capitol Hill with one clear message: local news is not a luxury — it is infrastructure for democracy.
At a moment when media consolidation threatens to hollow out community reporting, HTTP along with National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ); Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA); The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians–Communications Workers of America (NABET-CWA); National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC); Hispanic Federation; MMTC- Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council; OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates; LGBTTech; and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC hosted a “Save Local Newsrooms: Community-Centered Media” Summit and Advocacy Day to elevate the real-world consequences of weakening media ownership safeguards.
Joined by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and veteran reporters from across the country, we met directly with lawmakers and congressional staff to share firsthand accounts of how consolidation impacts communities — particularly Hispanic and underserved communities.
The day began with a summit gathering at the National Press Club with HTTP Executive Director, JudeAnne Heath and journalist Nick Valencia providing opening remarks. Attendees then heard an insightful panel discussion put together by the NAHJ focused on the connection between media ownership and journalism’s responsibility to support a healthy democracy. The panel was moderated by Daniella Diaz, a reporter with NOTUS and the panelists included Joe Torres with the Free Press; Deena Shetler from the office of FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez; Karina Cuevas, with PBS and NAHJ; and Jerry Zremski Lecturer at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merril College of Journalism.
The conversation included solutions for journalists, policy makers, and community leaders to promote a more equitable media landscape.
Attendees then got an important advocacy training by Julieta Lopez, VP for Federal Advocacy & Network Mobilization, Hispanic Federation. This training prepared all on the how-to’s of advocacy and member visits in order to maximise impact and civic engagement.
The Stakes: More Than a Merger
From filings, letters, comments, and more advocacy groups have been asking Congress and the FCC to uphold the 39% broadcast media ownership cap. Broadcast stations that are locally owned and remain operated by the community with voices that reflect the people and community they serve are vital to protect civic participation, emergency coverage and so much more that other media services aren't obliged to provide to the public.
Prior to a Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation committee hearing, advocacy groups and journalists met with decision makers to ensure that media ownership serves the public interest. The threat of further consolidation raises urgent questions about newsroom staffing, public safety coverage, civic engagement, and accountability journalism.
As reporters explained in meetings across the Hill, consolidation often means:
Fewer reporters in local communities
Combined newsrooms across markets
Reduced investigative capacity
Less coverage of school boards, city councils, and public safety
Fewer culturally competent voices reflecting diverse communities
When local reporters disappear, so does trusted information — and misinformation fills the gap.
Journalists Speak: Advocacy Grounded in Lived Experience
The power of the day came from journalists sharing their lived experiences directly with lawmakers.
Hugo Balta, Executive Editor of The Fulcrum and Publisher of Latino News Network reflected:
“My biggest takeaway is that advocacy works when it’s personal, persistent, and grounded in the real-world impact media consolidation has on marginalized communities.”
Rebecca Aguilar, Veteran Latina Broadcast Journalists and Former President of the Society of Professional Journalists shared that congressional staff heard firsthand how consolidation could negatively affect both the public and the press, supported by concrete examples that made the risks unmistakable.
Feliciano Garcia, Principal at Manteca Media and former Newsroom Producer emphasized how lifting the 39% national ownership cap would affect public safety, civic engagement, and accountability at the hyperlocal level, while also posing broader national consequences for journalism as a democratic pillar.
Across meetings, journalists pushed back on the argument that consolidation is necessary to compete with streaming platforms. Streaming platforms and social media cannot replace reliable, timely, community-rooted local reporting. As one Hill discussion made clear, more “hours” of news do not mean more journalism, especially if newsroom staff are reduced.
The Policy Context: Media Ownership in the Digital Age
Our advocacy comes amid heightened congressional scrutiny of media ownership rules. During the recent Senate hearing, “We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age,” witnesses debated whether the FCC should loosen the long-standing 39% national ownership cap.
Senator Maria Cantwell warned that changes to the cap risk reducing diversity of local voices without solving structural economic problems in journalism.
Meanwhile, testimony highlighted how previous mergers have resulted in employment reductions and newsroom consolidation, even when corporate profits surged.
The core question remains: Does consolidation increase the number of local reporters and editors, or reduce them?
If the answer is reduction, communities pay the price.
What We Are Asking of Policy Makers:
Congress has both the tools and the responsibility to protect local journalism. On the Hill, HTTP and journalists advocated for:
Upholding the 39% national ownership cap
Strengthening oversight of TV-station mergers
Protecting and investing in local media
Expanding media-diversity and ownership opportunities
These are not abstract policy preferences. They are guardrails that protect community access to trusted information.
Why This Matters for Hispanic Communities
For Hispanic communities, local news is often the primary source of culturally relevant public-interest information, from emergency alerts to school board decisions to public health updates.
When newsrooms shrink, communities of color are often the first to lose coverage and representation. Fewer bilingual reporters. Fewer community-focused stories. Less accountability reporting on issues that directly impact working families.
Local journalism is civic infrastructure. Weakening ownership safeguards without ensuring public-interest protections risks silencing voices that already fight to be heard.
Advocacy Works — But It Must Continue
The day was energizing. Lawmakers listened. Staff asked thoughtful questions. Real stories resonated.
But the fight to preserve community-centered media is far from over.
HTTP will continue working with lawmakers, journalists, and coalition partners to ensure that media policy centers the public interest — not just corporate efficiencies.
Because democracy depends on informed communities.
And informed communities depend on local newsrooms.
