FCC’s journalism project gets rebranded

The project drew criticism when it was interpreted by conservative critics as an effort by the FCC to tamper with the news business or impede free speech. Among those who filed in the proceeding, some critics warned that harms could arise from government intervention in news. 

Proponents say the project has no aspirations for content regulation and that it only endeavored to study the business landscape of news. 

The project will get some fanfare on Friday, when Waldman will speak at Columbia University in New York City. FCC Chairman Juilus Genachowski will introduce him. 

Interest in the proceeding appears to have waned in recent months. It has only attracted around 20 filings for the entire year.