FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez: Attacks on First Amendment can’t become ‘new normal’

“We really want people to be informed about what's happening in their communities and nationwide so that they can be active participants in our government,” she told MPB in an interview. “We are a government of the people, for the people — but for them to be able to do that, they need to be aware of what's happening.” 

Gomez is the lone Democrat on the commission and talked about her range of fears — from stonewalling outlets like the Associated Press, to threatening broadcasters over news coverage, to funding challenges for public media. 

“There’s clearly an attack on public media because of alleged bias in how public media reports the news,” Gomez said. 

All of these issues, Gomez said, work to further a goal of limiting the diversity of sources Americans can choose from on the air, leaving audiences with fewer ways to look at the news. 

With public media, for example, the consequences go beyond just limiting perspectives and reporting styles. 

“Not only do they provide us with hyperlocal news, news about civic engagement, news about community activities,” she said, “but also, from a public safety perspective, it is local media that provides us emergency alerts.” 

Thursday’s talk with the commissioner was hosted by Ole Miss’s Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation. Its executive director, Steve Herman, said it’s confirmation bias and insulation that contribute to the challenges Gomez spoke about. 

“You should be taking in information from a diversity of sources, not only from those that are seen as agreeing with your political point of view, but also, there's some excellent broadcasters around the world,” Herman told MPB. 

There’s still work to be done, Gomez said. And it can be done — when late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off the air over his comments on the death of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, she said the FCC was flooded with emails and written letters.

That, she said, is exactly how to fight for the First Amendment.

“Everyone needs to push back: the corporate parents of these broadcasters, everyday citizens, lawmakers,” Gomez said. “Everyone needs to push back against this administration's attacks on the First Amendment because we can't let it become the new normal.”