For Immediate Release: January 15, 2026 President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.org
Orlando— The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is sounding the alarm about the accelerating impact of authoritarianism on public media in the United States and around the world. As authoritarian tactics spread — including censorship, propaganda, and digital surveillance — public media systems are increasingly targeted because they serve as essential watchdogs, truth‑tellers, and platforms for civic participation.
Authoritarian governments have long used media control to consolidate power, but new digital tools have dramatically expanded their reach. Research shows that modern authoritarian regimes now rely on digital censorship, surveillance, and manipulation to shape public opinion and suppress dissent. These tactics are no longer confined to foreign governments; they are influencing political behavior, media ecosystems, and public trust in the United States and globally.
“Public media is one of the last remaining institutions dedicated to truth, transparency, and the public good,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “Authoritarianism thrives when people are misinformed, intimidated, or silenced. Undermining public media is a direct attack on democracy — and on the rights of women, LGBTQ+ people, and marginalized communities who rely on factual reporting to hold power accountable.”
Authoritarian Tactics Are Reshaping Public Media
- Censorship and Information Control
Authoritarian regimes increasingly deploy digital firewalls, content blocking, and algorithmic suppression to restrict access to independent journalism. These tactics limit citizens’ ability to access diverse viewpoints and weaken public media’s role as a democratic safeguard.
- Propaganda and Manipulation
New research shows that authoritarian propaganda spreads most effectively in societies where information networks are either highly fragmented or tightly controlled. This allows regimes to flood the public sphere with biased narratives while drowning out independent reporting.
- Attacks on Journalists and Newsrooms
Around the world and here in the U.S., journalists face harassment, intimidation, silencing, and violence for reporting on government abuses. Public media outlets — which often investigate corruption, human rights violations, and state misconduct — are frequent targets.
- Erosion of Trust in Independent Media. Authoritarian leaders often label public media as “biased,” “fake,” or “enemies of the people” to delegitimize critical reporting. This coordinated discrediting campaign weakens public confidence in factual journalism and fuels polarization.
- Exporting Authoritarian Media Models
Countries like China now export surveillance and censorship technologies to other governments, accelerating the global spread of digital authoritarianism. This threatens press freedom worldwide and emboldens leaders who seek to control information.
Why This Matters for Women and Marginalized Communities
Authoritarianism disproportionately harms women, LGBTQ+ people, and communities of color. Public media plays a critical role in:
- Exposing gender‑based violence
- Reporting on reproductive rights
- Amplifying marginalized voices
- Investigating abuses of power
- Providing fact‑based civic education
“When public media is weakened, the most vulnerable communities lose one of their strongest defenders,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “Authoritarianism is not just a political threat — it is a direct threat to gender justice and human rights. In the U.S., we are seeing all media being intimidated with some caving to the pressure. This is not free speech which America has always prided itself on. The U.S. leadership at all levels is violating our rights under the First Amendment. We won’t allow this fascism to take away our rights.”
FL NOW Calls for Action
FL NOW urges policymakers, civic organizations, and the public to:
- Protect funding for public media at the federal and state levels.
- Defend press freedom and oppose efforts to censor or intimidate journalists.
- Strengthen digital rights and privacy protections to prevent surveillance abuses.
- Promote media literacy to counter propaganda and disinformation.
- Financially support independent journalism, especially outlets serving marginalized communities.
About Florida NOW
The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is the state’s largest feminist advocacy organization, dedicated to advancing gender justice, racial equity, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and the protection of democratic institutions.
Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org
