From The Banner · Ginny Bixby · · 1m 30s
Montgomery County Media Control Debate
County council seeks to align public media with nonprofit rules amid funding concerns.
In brief
County council seeks to align public media with nonprofit rules amid funding concerns. Montgomery County Council proposes new rules for public media station to match nonprofit standards after funding disputes. Originally reported by The Banner.
County Council Bill
Montgomery County Council considers bill to align Montgomery Community Media with nonprofit funding rules.
“The bill would apply new standards to Montgomery Community Media, the nonprofit that streams council meetings on public access television”
Funding Source
Montgomery Community Media receives over 80% of its funding from county budget in fiscal 2027.
“In fiscal 2027, it received nearly $2.5 million”
MCM CEO Concerns
MCM CEO Jasmine White warns legislation could curtail press freedoms by requiring council and county executive to appoint board members.
“Changing the governance structure of an independent nonprofit organization, and the government having the authority and ability to do that specifically or particularly because of funding, I think is really a dangerous precedent”
Bill Details
Bill requires MCM to follow open meetings laws and adopt policies on journalistic ethics and racial equity.
“The bill would also require MCM to comply with open meetings laws and adopt policies related to journalistic ethics and racial equity and social justice”
Council Member Motivation
Council member Kate Stewart says legislation addresses economic pressures on county cable fund and inconsistent protocols for funded organizations.
“There was no requirement for a racial equity and social justice statement. There was no requirement for following open meetings rules. There were no requirements for board members to adhere to county ethics”
Legal Expert Opinion
University of Maryland law expert says government can exercise control over nonprofits receiving substantial county funding.
“The government can say, 'If we’re going to provide you with substantial funds, if we’re going to provide you access to government services not provided to others, then we can in fact exercise some control'”
Governance Structure
MCM board currently includes elected officials like Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman who does not control county budget.
“When the organization approaches an elected official who has shown an interest in the work and the mission and wants to support the organization at a different level, and invites that person on the board, that’s a very different relationship than the government saying, 'We have the authority to put a person on your board'”
Bill Provisions
Bill includes provision to prohibit board censorship and requires independent content decisions without government interference.
“Public media organizations that contract with the county must 'determine independently in the public interest and without government interference the content and scheduling of programming'”
County Executive Stance
County Executive Marc Elrich supports transparency but has concerns about elected officials serving on MCM board.
“I’m not totally comfortable with the idea that representatives of either myself or the council should be serving on the board of an organization whose job it is to cover and report on us”
MCM Board Chair
MCM board chair Jeffrey Slavin supports bill with amendments to protect news outlet independence.
“We need to put guardrails in MCM’s bylaws to prevent any members of the board of directors from interfering with content”
The key point
Montgomery County Council proposes new rules for public media station to match nonprofit standards after funding disputes.
