Media Policy and the Next Presidency: The Time is Now

MEDIA POLICY AND THE NEXT PRESIDENCY: THE TIME IS NOW
[SOURCE: Grantmakers in Film & Electronic Media, AUTHOR: Laura Efurd, ZeroDivide]
[Commentary] With technology and new media playing the most significant role in an election to date, one wonders what kind of impact this will have on the next Administration’s media and technology policies. Efurd asked several media advocates for their suggestions on how to prepare for advancing a media/technology agenda in the next Administration.

Here's highlights:
1) Success with the next administration requires laying the groundwork now by engaging in the electoral process;
2) Having the hard data and strong research on hand is necessary to support pro-active policy proposals;
3) Thousands of jobs in federal agencies will change hands in the transition to a new administration;
4) Net Neutrality, broadband access, and media diversity and fairness should be made a part of a 100-day policy agenda of any new administration; and
5) Foster infrastructure to increase ties between national, regional and local actors.

Here's what funders can do:

• Support educational and informational activities related to media and technology policy issues throughout the electoral process, such as education forums;
• Fund research to gather more robust data on broadband access, media ownership, and the digital divide. Also, make foundation-supported research available to the new administration;
• Support efforts to place educational materials, policy experts, and lists of potential appointment candidates in front of key people in the new administration;
• Help build an infrastructure between national, regional and local advocates to work together to advance an agenda. This could include activities such as a national media policy institute in D.C. for local advocates to learn about and participate in advocacy at the federal level;
• Invest in social media technology so that policy advocates can take full advantage of the innovative new ways to engage and mobilize supporters; and
• Provide operating support for the day-to-day work of local, regional and national media and technology non-profits. This support must take place both in preparation for, and throughout the course of, a new administration.

http://gfem.org/node/288