Support Immediate Legislation to Block Media Mergers and Break Up Monopolies

I am writing to urge you to support immediate legislation that would block large media mergers and break up existing monopolies that threaten independent journalism and public discourse. The proposed Paramount acquisition of Warner Brothers represents exactly the kind of media consolidation that concentrates power in too few hands and undermines the diversity of voices our democracy requires. When a handful of corporations control major news outlets like CBS and CNN, they gain dangerous influence over what information reaches the public. This consolidation creates an environment where editorial independence becomes impossible and political pressure can silence critical reporting. Independent media platforms exist precisely because creators need alternatives to corporate gatekeepers who can dictate content, control intellectual property, and suppress voices that challenge powerful interests. Media monopolies harm constituents in concrete ways. They reduce competition, limit employment opportunities for journalists, and create information deserts where only approved narratives survive. When corporations consolidate, they eliminate redundancies by cutting staff and closing bureaus, leaving communities without local coverage and reducing the marketplace of ideas to whatever serves corporate interests. I am asking you to introduce or co-sponsor legislation at both the state and federal level that would immediately halt pending media mergers and establish stricter antitrust enforcement in the communications sector. This legislation should include provisions to break up existing media conglomerates that have already achieved monopolistic control over news distribution and content creation. The urgency cannot be overstated. Each merger that proceeds makes the problem exponentially worse and harder to reverse. Constituents deserve access to diverse, independent sources of information that cannot be controlled by political forces or corporate interests. Strong antitrust action protects not just media diversity but the fundamental democratic principle that citizens need access to unfiltered information to make informed decisions about their government.

First sent on February 27 by States ask for townhalls