named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Industry Advocacy
Unites media industry stakeholders to advocate collectively, providing a unified voice on First Amendment issues before lawmakers and courts
Legislative Advocacy
Monitors and responds to proposed federal, state, and local legislation that threatens First Amendment rights; issues position statements and tracks 75–100 bills per session
Litigation Support
Files legal challenges and submits amicus briefs in courts nationwide to oppose unconstitutional laws; active in Supreme Court and lower court cases involving free expression
Public Education and Reports
Produces research reports on censorship and free speech issues, such as “Only A Game” and “Sense and Censorship,” to inform policymakers and the public
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Free Expression Defense & Advocacy 5 activities
- Conducting public education on censorship and free speechProduces reports and resource materials and conducts outreach to inform policymakers, journalists, and the public about First Amendment issues and the dangers of censorship.
- Defending First Amendment rights through litigationEngages in direct litigation and files lawsuits to challenge laws and regulations that restrict the First Amendment rights of media producers and distributors, including book, film, and video game industries. Examples include lawsuits against Arkansas Act 372, Texas HB 900, and Arizona's H.B. 2515.
- Filing amicus briefs in support of First Amendment rightsFiles amicus briefs in federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court and appellate courts, to support free speech protections in cases involving media censorship, social media regulation, and access to information.
- Monitoring legislative threats to free expressionTracks 75 to 100 bills per legislative session that may impact First Amendment rights of media industries, identifying and responding to proposed laws that could restrict content production or distribution.
- Publishing research on First Amendment and censorship issuesAuthored and published at least six in-depth reports, including "Only A Game" and "Sense and Censorship," to educate officials and the public on free speech and censorship, along with accompanying resource materials.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Advocating for legislation to regulate online contentSupported or advocated for state-level legislation requiring filtering software on internet-enabled devices to block obscene content, revenge porn, and websites facilitating prostitution and human trafficking, including in Georgia, Hawaii, and Indiana.
- Advocating for post-mortem publicity and persona rightsAdvocated for New York legislation (Assembly Bill 8155b and Senate Bill 5857b) to expand post-mortem publicity rights and protect individuals’ personas from unauthorized commercial use.
- Supporting content-based taxation of mediaAdvocated for proposed legislation in Pennsylvania that would impose a 10% sales tax on video games containing violent material, based on content.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$528K
Contributions & grants$518K98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$11K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$488K
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$155K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$206K
Cash$206K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$206K
Liquid reserves5.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +56.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 23
- ANDREW O'CONNOR — Vice President
- ARLEN VALDIVIA — Vice President
- BEN SHEFFNER — Vice President
- BIJOU MGBOIJKWE — Director
- BRADLEY FEUER — Vice President
- CHERYL DAVIS — Vice President
- CINDY HOYL — Vice President
- DAN ROBINS — Vice President
- DAVID GROGAN — Director
- DAVID HOROWITZ — Executive Dir.
- DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE — CHAIR
- GREG SAPHIER — Vice President
- JEFF TREXLER — Director
- JOYCE MCINTOSH — Vice President
- KATHLEEN MCEVOY — Vice President
- KATHY BANUELOS — Director
- MARY RASENBERGER — Director
- MATTHEW STRATTON — Vice President
- MEGAN CUSICK — Vice President
- MELISSA PATACK — Vice President
- PETER CORL — Vice President
- TERRANCE HART — Director
- THERESA CHMARA — Vice President
relationships · 62
Who they work with
- Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries Partner — Co-plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging Arkansas Act 372.
- American Booksellers Association Coalition — Co-signer of amicus brief in Porco v. Lifetime
- American Booksellers Association Coalition — Coalition member that co-filed the lawsuit challenging Texas HB 900
- American Booksellers Association Coalition — Member of Media Coalition and co-plaintiff in the lawsuit against Arkansas Act 372.
- American Booksellers for Free Expression Partner — Co-signed amicus brief in NetChoice v. Moody.
- American Booksellers for Free Expression Partner — Co-signed amicus brief in NetChoice v. Paxton
- American Booksellers for Free Expression Partner — Collaborated with Media Coalition in legal defense of books against obscenity claims.
- American Booksellers for Free Expression Partner — Jointly submitted an amicus brief in the case Missouri State Conference of NAACP v. Wentzville School District.
- American Civil Liberties Union Partner — Co-filed a lawsuit challenging Arizona's H.B. 2515.
- American Civil Liberties Union Partner — Co-signed amicus brief in NetChoice v. Moody.
- American Civil Liberties Union Partner — Joined amicus brief in NetChoice v. Paxton
- American Civil Liberties Union of Florida Partner — Co-signed amicus brief in NetChoice v. Moody.
- American Library Association Partner — Jointly participated with Media Coalition in filing legal motions to defend books from obscenity allegations.
- American Society of Journalists and Authors Partner — Presented the “Open Book Award” to Media Coalition in 1984.
- Antigone Books Partner — Plaintiff in the Antigone Books v. Brnovich lawsuit, represented by Media Coalition.
- Arkansas Library Association Partner — Co-plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging Arkansas Act 372.
- Association of American Publishers Coalition — Co-signer of amicus brief in Porco v. Lifetime
- Association of American Publishers Coalition — Coalition member that co-filed the lawsuit challenging Texas HB 900
- Association of American Publishers Coalition — Member of Media Coalition and co-plaintiff in the lawsuit against Arkansas Act 372.
- Association of American Publishers Partner — Jointly submitted an amicus brief in the case Missouri State Conference of NAACP v. Wentzville School District.
- Association of American Publishers Partner — Plaintiff in the Antigone Books v. Brnovich lawsuit, represented by Media Coalition.
- Association of American Publishers Partner — Worked alongside Media Coalition in legal efforts to dismiss petitions alleging obscenity of specific books.
- Authors Guild Coalition — Co-signer of amicus brief in Porco v. Lifetime
- Authors Guild Coalition — Coalition member that co-filed the lawsuit challenging Texas HB 900
- Authors Guild Coalition — Member of Media Coalition and co-plaintiff in the lawsuit against Arkansas Act 372.
- Authors Guild Partner — Co-signed amicus brief in NetChoice v. Moody.
- Authors Guild Partner — Co-signed amicus brief in NetChoice v. Paxton
- Authors Guild Partner — Jointly submitted an amicus brief in the case Missouri State Conference of NAACP v. Wentzville School District.
- Authors Guild Partner — Partnered with Media Coalition in filing motions to vacate and dismiss a petition targeting books on obscenity grounds.
- Blue Willow Bookshop Partner — Texas independent bookstore that co-filed the lawsuit challenging Texas HB 900
+ 32 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advocacy for Voluntary Over Mandatory Filteringmethodology: voluntary_filtering_over_mandatoryBy promoting user-controlled, voluntary filtering solutions instead of government-mandated internet censorship, the organization protects free speech rights while addressing concerns about harmful content, ensuring less restrictive and more constitutionally sound approaches.
- Coalition-Based Advocacy for First Amendment Rightsmethodology: coalition_based_advocacyBy uniting allied media industries into a collective coalition, the organization increases its credibility and influence in legislative and judicial settings, leveraging shared strength to advance free speech protections more effectively than individual actors could.
- Legal Defense Using Constitutional Precedent to Challenge Censorshipmethodology: first_amendment_litigationBy applying established Supreme Court constitutional standards—such as the Miller/Ginsberg test—the organization challenges overbroad or vague censorship laws, arguing they violate the First Amendment, thereby protecting protected speech in publishing, education, and digital platforms.
- Research-Driven Public Education to Counter Censorshipmethodology: public_education_through_researchBy producing in-depth research reports, the organization informs policymakers, media, and the public to shift understanding and policy around free expression, using evidence as a tool to counter censorship and strengthen First Amendment norms.