BREAKING NEWS: NYC Council to Hold First-Ever Oversight Hearing on Ethnic and Community Media Advertising

The New York City Council will hold its first-ever oversight hearing on the Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media (MOECM) and government spending on advertisements on Wednesday, October 28th, at 10 am. 

The hearing will take place at 250 Broadway, 8th Floor, Hearing Room 1, before the Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation.

Titled “Oversight – Mayor’s Office of Ethnic & Community Media and Government Spending on Advertisements,” the hearing will give ethnic and community media outlets an opportunity to raise concerns about disappearing city advertising and the impact on their businesses.

The hearing follows months of outreach by the New York Coalition of Ethnic and Community Media (NYCECM) to Council Speaker Julie Menin’s office and other elected officials seeking answers about the city’s advertising practices.

For the first nine months of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration, the Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media (MOECM) had no leadership or staff available to address the publisher’s concerns. 

A designated leader was not in place until October 5th, leaving outlets without a point of contact to explain the disappearance of city advertising or clarify how advertising decisions were being made. 

The MOECM website remains unupdated, still listing staff from the previous administration.

Meanwhile, many ethnic and community media outlets reported a 100% drop in city advertising since Mamdani took office.

Repeated inquiries to City Hall and contracted advertising agencies reportedly produced no clear answers about the decline or who was responsible for allocating campaigns.

With no functioning leadership at MOECM and no meaningful response from City Hall, NYCECM publishers reached out to Speaker Menin’s office, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, local City Council members and state representatives to seek assistance.

The hearing finally gives ethnic and community media outlets an opportunity to bring their questions and concerns directly before the City Council and explain what they describe as the devastating impact of the administration’s advertising practices. 

Many are small businesses, including immigrant-owned publications that depend on advertising revenue to sustain operations, pay staff and continue serving their communities.

A central concern is the lack of transparency over who decides which outlets receive advertising for individual city campaigns. NYCECM says neither city agencies nor the advertising firms contracted to handle campaigns have clearly explained whether those decisions are made by city departments or the advertising agencies themselves.

NYCECM wants the Council to investigate the decision-making process and establish accountability for the distribution of taxpayer-funded advertising.

Questions have also been raised about reports that social media influencers connected to the administration have received city-funded advertising opportunities through contracted agencies.

NYCECM is seeking transparency about how influencers are selected, vetted and compensated, and whether they face the same standards expected of established ethnic and community media outlets.

Local Law 83 of 2021 established MOECM and expanded the city’s requirements for advertising in ethnic and community media. 

NYCECM wants council members to examine the city’s compliance with the law, whether its requirements are being applied fairly, and additional reporting requirements including quarterly reports on city agencies advertising with ethnic and community as well as influencers.

Ethnic and community media play an important role in informing New Yorkers about public health initiatives, education opportunities, housing assistance, elections, emergency announcements and other city services. 

Through trusted news websites, newspapers, and radio shows, these outlets help government agencies reach residents who might otherwise miss important information.

The hearing will give council members an opportunity to question city officials about advertising spending, MOECM’s operations and the process used to select media outlets for publicly funded campaigns. 

The accountability and transparency recommendations resulting from the hearing could have significant implications for the future of ethnic and community media in New York City who provide local news and information tailored to their respective immigrant, cultural and language communities.

 

Mayor Adams Welcomes Ethnic and Community Media to City Hall, Supports State-Level Media Diversity

Adams Smiling FLKR

During a media briefing on Tuesday, December 19th, Mayor Eric Adams reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the representation of ethnic and community media in the coverage of his administration and his support for a state-level media diversity bill.

This commitment is part of Adams’ ongoing efforts to diversify media voices, recognizing their essential role in reaching New York’s diverse communities.

Mayor Adams addressed the issue of limited media representation at City Hall’s press room, also known as Room 9, and the press room, known as the”Shack,” at NYPD headquarters, where larger media outlets primarily occupy desks. 

He acknowledged the challenge faced by many New Yorkers who rely on smaller, community-focused media for comprehensive information about city activities. 

Adams stated his intention to change this by expanding access to these spaces to a wider range of media voices.

Ethnic and Community Media (ECM) outlets, representing a range of diverse groups, have advocated for increased representation in City Hall and NYPD headquarters. 

Adams emphasized the need for a thorough analysis of the press space utilization within Room 9.

He said, “We’re going to do an analysis of how we are using space in the building for the press. We’re going to make a determination if those who have multiple seats, if they’re going to have to decide which one of them are going to have to give up one. We are going to have to open this place up to the ethnic and community media.”

New York’s smaller media outlets, encompassing radio, print, and digital formats, have recently formed the NY Coalition for Ethnic and Community Media. 

Their goal is to establish a state-level law akin to New York City’s current legislation, focusing on enhancing ECM representation and addressing the issues of inequitable advertising and community disenfranchisement.

The coalition has expressed its objectives on its website, stating, “We are seeking a state law, equivalent to NYC Local Law 83, codified as a state law, so all communities will have access to important services, programs, and initiatives of state agencies across New York State.”

New York City has already taken steps in this direction by establishing an office in 2021 committed to directing at least 50% of its advertising budget to ECM outlets. 

However, a September study released by the Center for Community Media (CCM) highlighted the existing disparities on the state level, revealing that in the last decade, less than 3% of such advertising spending was allocated to ECM by six state agencies with the largest advertising budgets.

Adams also voiced his support for the state-wide bill, being sponsored by State Senator Kevin Parker and Assemblyman Al Taylor, aiming to replicate the inclusivity of NYC’s Local Law 83 on a broader scale.

He said, “I’m gonna support that bill and I’m going to speak with both the assemblyman and the senator.” 

Adams concluded by emphasizing his commitment to “level the playing field” in media representation.