Dear colleagues,
Good morning!
It is Monday, July 1st, and I have exciting news to share with you.
First, starting today, Ethnic and Community Media outlets (“ECM”) have full access to “Room 9” at City Hall!
On December 19, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams held his weekly media briefing. During that session I asked him to provide access to City Hall’s Press Room 9 to ALL ECM. The Mayor said that he would do so and he expressed his support of our work. On June 11, 2024, the Mayor kept his promise to “diversify” Room 9 and ensure access to all ECM, and he confirmed that the change would take place in the immediate future.
You can click here for a video recording of my December question and click here for Mayor Adams’ joyous June update.
I want to personally thank Mayor Adams, his Chief Advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, and the Deputy Mayor of Communications, Fabien Levy, for their understanding of our struggle and their tremendous support.
For a more detailed factual narrative regarding the evolution of this major change between December 19, 2023, and June 28, 2024, please click here.
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Second, here is an update regarding our campaign for equitable advertising practices by New York State government agencies.
In response to last year’s shocking report from the CUNY Center for Community Media – concluding that ECM have received less than 10% of New York State’s government advertising dollars over a 10-year period — we launched an advocacy campaign to codify into law the practice that ECM should receive at least 50% of all state government advertising. (To learn more about CUNY’s explosive report, click here.)
We started by successfully introducing a Bill that duplicates the structure and practices of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media.
On the same day I asked Mayor Adams for ECM access to Room 9, I also asked him if he would support our State legislation, built upon the New York City model. Mayor Adams publicly responded with total support for the bill.
You can click here for a video recording of Mayor Adams expressing full support.
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What we can do to generate more advertising revenue for ECM.
We are not “just” newspaper publishers or news website publishers. We are voters and business owners residing and operating in different areas of the State and City. Many of us wear different hats, including those of community leaders. So, we need to contact and speak with our State legislators (Assemblymembers and Senators) right now. Remind them and their staff members of the different roles you play in your community, and that they are up for re-election in 2025.
The legislative session in Albany is over and the State agencies are moving forward with their spending in accordance with their budgets. If we don’t demand that our elected representatives assist us with our legislation and with accessing these agencies now, then we will miss many opportunities. Government spending does not take a vacation during the summer months.
The legislators are not in Albany now; they are home in their districts – where we are. Contact your Assembly member and tell them to sign on to our legislation, Bill #AO9380. For the contact information for your State Assemblymember, click here.
Then contact your State Senator and ask them to sign on to our legislation, Bill #S8132. For the contact information for your State Senator, click here.
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Third, join the Coalition and become active.
To visit our website and learn more about our efforts, in general, and/or to join the coalition to get more advertising, click here.
If you have any questions or suggestions on how we can support each other and advocate for more advertising, please feel free to call me at (646) 872-7149 or email me at mona@ethnicandcommunitymedia.org
Have a great summer.
Mona Davids
Founder and Publisher
New York Voice News Newspapers
LittleAfrica News Newspaper
***I know not all members are listed in the directory, we will update with all new members this week. Thanks.
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Below is the June 28, 2024 email sent by Fabien Levy with the new Room 9 seat assignment layout.
