In this edition of NHMC at Work:
- D.C. Policy Shop Update
- Save the Date for the 19th Annual NHMC Impact Awards Gala!
- Don’t Miss Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria and America Ferrera on NBC Next Month!
- Congressional Members Eshoo and Serrano Honored at 6th Annual NHMC Washington, D.C. Impact Awards DC
- NHMC Policy Fellowship Program Submissions
- NHMC Releases 2015 Accomplishments
D.C. Policy Shop Update
Net Neutrality Goes to Court
The DC Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the lawsuit launched over the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Open Internet rules on Friday, December 4. In the proceeding,
NHMC filed an amicus brief in support of the FCC on behalf of several other civil rights, racial justice and public interest groups petitioning the court to affirm the FCC’s rules.
The FCC’s Open Internet rules took effect in June, classifying Internet access service as a common carrier service, allowing the FCC to prevent Internet fast lanes for the rich and slow lanes for the rest, among other things.
NHMC’s amicus brief was signed by
NHMC, 18MillionRising.org, Presente.org, the Center for Media Justice, Common Cause and the Media Action Grassroots Network, filing as a coalition called the Open Internet Civil Rights Coalition (OICRC). The brief was prepared by noted attorney, Andrew Jay Schwartzman, of Washington, D.C., who represented the amici. The OICRC’s amicus brief is available
here.
Within the brief, OICRC details the importance of an Open Internet – particularly with regard to mobile broadband-for communities of color. OICRC notes that FCC’s Open Internet rules foster economic growth, as well as artistic, social, and political expression, amongst traditionally underserved communities.
The Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) interviewed
NHMC‘s Policy Associate Andy Lomeli about the details on the case shortly before the oral argument. That interview can be found
here.
Scurato Testifies Before Congress
NHMC’s Vice President of Policy, Michael Scurato, concluded his Congressional testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on Thursday, December 3. The hearing was a continuation of the September 25 “Broadcast Ownership in the 21st Century” event, which was originally cut short.
Scurato noted the ways in which increased media consolidation hurts the Latino community, as Latinos and other minority groups continue to suffer from disproportionately low rates of media ownership.
During his testimony, Scurato expressed NHMC’s support of reinstating the “minority tax certificate,” which provided a tax incentive to station owners who sold properties to people of color until the late 1990s. He called for tightening and enforcing FCC media ownership limits and improving data collection and analysis concerning broadcast station ownership.
Save the Date for the
19th Annual NHMC Impact Awards Gala!
Join NHMC at the 19th Annual Impact Awards Gala on February 26, 2016 to kick off its 30th anniversary celebration. This year NHMC will celebrate 30 years of working towards a media that is fair and inclusive of Latinos, and towards universal, affordable, and open access to communications.
Don’t Miss Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria and America Ferrera on NBC Next Month!
Premiering Thursday, January 7, 10:00 p.m. on NBC, Jennifer Lopez stars in Shades of Blue as Harlee Santos, a charismatic single mother and resourceful detective at the heart of a tight-knit crew of Brooklyn detectives, led by enigmatic Lt. Matt Wozniak (Ray Liotta, Goodfellas, Field of Dreams) who often leads the team to step outside the limitations of the law in order to effectively protect their precinct and their own.
Monday, January 4, 8:30 p.m. on NBC, Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives) stars in this new comedy, Telenovela, about Ana Sofia, a sizzling TV superstar, and her lively family of cast and crew, all competing to steal the spotlight. When the cameras turn off, the drama turns up, as Ana battles pesky network execs, drunken script writers, narcissistic co-stars and an unfortunately familiar new onscreen love interest.
Premiering Monday, January 4, 8:00 p.m. on NBC, America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) and Ben Feldman (Mad Men, A to Z) star in the hilarious workplacecomedy Superstore (from the producer of The Office) about a unique family of employees at a super-sized megastore. Superstore centers around Amy (Ferrera), the store’s most stalwart employee as well as the glue holding the place together, and newly hired Jonah (Feldman), a naive dreamer determined to prove work doesn’t have to be boring.
Congressional Members Eshoo and Serrano Honored at 6th Annual NHMC Washington, D.C. Impact Awards
On
November 18,
NHMC recognized
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA 18) and
Congressman Jose E. Serrano(D-NY 15) for their outstanding public service at the 6th Annual
NHMC Washington, D.C. Impact Awards Reception, held at the National Association of Broadcasters’ headquarters. Also honored was
Joseph Torres, Senior External Affairs Director of Free Press, for outstanding advocacy
work.
In rousing acceptance speeches, honorees spoke to the need for a democratic media through which Latinos can share their stories. Other speakers included former Impact Award honorees, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners
Mignon Clyburn and
Jessica Rosenworcel.
At the annual event, NHMC honors public servants, community leaders, and media professionals and entities, whose achievements, generosity of spirit, and courage under fire have greatly benefited the welfare of the nation in the areas of media and telecommunications. The National Association of Broadcasters, the Reception Sponsor, generously hosted the event for the fifth time.
Photographs from the 6th Annual NHMC Washington, D.C. Impact Awards Reception are available at www.flickr.com/nhmc.
NHMC Releases 2015 Accomplishments
The 2015 annual report highlights NHMC‘s accomplishments to make media fair and inclusive of Latinos, and expanding access to open communications systems.
Click here to read the report.
Missed or forgot about #GivingTuesday? It’s still not too late to make your year-end tax-deductible donation to NHMC today. Every gift makes a difference.
Make your donation and support
NHMC‘s struggle against hate speech and greater inclusion of Latinos in the media.
NHMC Policy Fellowship Program Submissions
Each semester
NHMC selects at least one student to participate in its Policy Fellowship Program. Fellows are guided through legal and policy research, analysis, writing and public speaking. They build skills while enhancing
NHMC‘s advocacy before the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies.
Past fellows hail from distinguished schools such as UCLA, Berkeley, Georgetown, American and UNC. NHMC staff is dedicated to connecting them with future employers. Former NHMC fellows have gone on to judicial clerkships, the FCC, non-profit organizations, and law firms large and small.
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