KUSA in Denver, Colorado is airing a campaign showing the importance of a fair and free press.
Free Press, Free Country includes a broadcast documentary, short video segments, and a social media campaign.
On Thursday, a 90-second video called A Matter of Fact aired during the Denver NBC affiliate’s nightly newscast Next with Kyle Clark.
The video outlines the importance of the First Amendment. KUSA has a web page showing all the topics. Click here to view.
“As Americans, we all have a right to a free and open press, to ask questions and openly criticize those in power, and hold them accountable,” said on-air host Jessica Duran. “It’s why the press is often called the Fourth Estate.”
The series includes videos about press freedom, algorithm bias, the importance of issuing corrections, open-records laws, identifying the difference between news and opinion and sponsored content.
“The intent is civic education on its very basic level,” Brian Malone of Malone Media Group and Fast Forward Films told Corey Hutchins on his substack “This is to remind all of us of the core values of the First Amendment and the importance of journalism in our free and open society.”
Malone said he hopes other news outlets will pick up the series and share it with viewers and readers.
“If you’re a paper in Yuma, if you’re a paper in Burlington, if you’re a radio station in Ignacio, this material will be available for you to share — and you’re encouraged to share it,” Malone said. “This is civic education that benefits all of us in the journalism industry.”
