Petition: Expose Media Mergers as News Monopolies

A massive proposed merger between Nexstar and Tegna would consolidate control over local TV stations across the country, putting even more of America’s news infrastructure in the hands of a single corporate giant. This is not just a business deal—it is a transformation of who controls the information millions of people rely on to understand their communities, elections, and government.

Yet too much media coverage treats these mergers as routine corporate transactions or regulatory debates, rather than examining their impact on journalism itself. When ownership consolidates, local newsrooms are often cut, coverage becomes more homogenized, and corporate priorities can override community needs. Failing to name this as monopolization obscures the real stakes: fewer independent voices and less accountability journalism.

We call on major news organizations to cover the Nexstar–Tegna merger as a threat to a free and diverse press—investigating how consolidation affects local reporting, who benefits from increased control, and what it means for democracy. The public deserves clear reporting on how media ownership shapes the news they receive.