Accessibility in the U.S. faces push-back

For the last two years, Equal Access Public Media has warned that accessibility — in both the U.S. journalism industry and in general — was facing push-back.

We saw the writing on the wall based on lagging donations and the struggle to secure consistent funding from grantors.

As March closed, the annual WebAIM Million report noted that for the first year in several years, web accessibility declined. The report noted that this is likely due to more websites using AI to code and build sites which are not set up to properly account for accessibility. In the EAPM magazine, The Word, an article discussed web accessibility issues from AI.

Another article in The Word discussed how the impending Title II deadline for government websites would affect college and university student newspapers. Nearly a week later, the Department of Justice announced it was delaying the deadlines for at least a year, despite those accessibility requirements being a decade in the works.

At EAPM, we offer our published content for free. We offer low-cost training for news outlets not just on the importance of accessibility but on how to actually implement accessibility. We teach how to write alt text in interactive courses that take into account that news outlets have captions under photos that are unique to news. We make sure that we take in the unique needs and practices of news and journalism.

But we cannot do this without continued support. Your support comes in many forms:

• spreading the word about Equal Access Public Media.
• asking friends and family to join the fight for accessibility.
• and, yes, monetary support.

Your continued support matters.

Thank you for being in this fight for accessibility with us.

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Now accepting applicants for Aug. 2026 board term

It’s only May, but we are now accepting applications the board of directors for the term beginning in Aug. 2026. Board directors serve a three-year term. 

The board is seeking people dedicated to making the field of journalism and news products more accessible.

Our directors have a diversity of skills and backgrounds, including journalism, marketing, social media, business, nonprofit, and more. We believe this makes us a stronger board.

Are you ready to drive EAPM into the future? Apply now!

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Email newsletter gets a step-up

Those who receive our newsletter by email noticed a slightly new look and feel this month. 

There’s two reasons for that.

1. We changed newsletter providers to MailPoet.
2. We dedicated an email address just for sending out the newsletter. 

What does that mean for email newsletter subscribers? A better newsletter that works better on desktop or phone mail client and perform better for accessibility.

If you’re not yet a newsletter subscriber, become one by filling out the form below. We only use this information to send out the newsletter monthly. We take your privacy very seriously, and we refuse to give your information to anyone.

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