New report shows it's largely officials and organizations demanding books be banned
A new report reveals the vast majority of those demanding book bans are organizations or officials — not individual parents.
Seventy-two percent of demands to censor books in schools have come from organizations that include elected officials, board members and administrators, according to the American Library Association.
Parents only accounted for 16 percent of book ban demands, while individual library users made up five percent.
'The movement to ban books is not a movement of parents, but a movement of partisans who seek to limit our freedom to read and make different choices about things that matter,' Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the organization's office of intellectual freedom, said in a statement.
The American Library Association can 'trace many of the challenges to lists of books that have been distributed by Moms for Liberty and other groups," Caldwell-Stone told ABC News.
Moms for Liberty is a far-right group considered an extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The most common reasons cited for challenges include 'false claims of illegal obscenity for minors,' 'inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes,' and 'topics of race, racism, equity and social justice,' according to the American Library Association.
'As the organized attempts to censor materials in libraries persist, we must continue to unite and protect the freedom to read and support our library workers, especially at a time when our nation's libraries are facing threats to funding and library professionals are facing threats to their livelihood,' American Library Association President Cindy Hohl said in a statement.
More than 5,000 books were challenged in the U.S. last year, a sharp drop from 2023's 9,021 books.
However, the American Library Association attributes this drop to underreporting, rules prohibiting library workers from purchasing certain books requiring them to be placed in a certain area and legislative restrictions.
Several states — including Florida, Iowa, Texas, and Utah — have passed laws restricting what school librarians can acquire and provide to students in recent years.
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The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
Terry Moran launches Substack to continue doing ‘important work' following ABC News ouster
A day after ABC News parted ways with longtime correspondent Terry Moran following his 'world-class hater' tweets about Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, Moran announced that he was joining the growing chorus of former TV anchors and hosts who have launched their own Substacks. 'For almost 28 years, I was a reporter and anchor for ABC News, and as you may have heard, I'm not there anymore,' he said in a video posted to social media and his own personal Substack account. In the post titled 'Independence Day,' the former Nightline anchor suggested that he would be going the independent route for the time being, following in the footsteps of other veteran broadcasters and reporters who have recently found themselves sidelined by mainstream news networks and legacy press outlets. 'I'm here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space. And I can't wait to get at it, to get at the important work that we all have to do in this time of such trouble for our country,' he stated. 'I'm gonna be reporting and interviewing and just sharing from you, and hoping to hear from you as well.' Moran did let his followers know that it could be a while before he actually starts producing content on a regular basis. 'So, it'll be a few days, maybe a little bit longer, got to get some stuff sorted out, but can't wait to see you,' he concluded. The now-former ABC News anchor and correspondent is adding his name to the expanding list of prominent names who have turned to Substack and similar subscriber-based platforms as television news networks and media conglomerates continue to slash costs amid dwindling ad revenues. Jim Acosta, the former CNN anchor who left the cable news giant earlier this year rather than accept a move to the dreaded midnight shift, encouraged Moran to follow in his footsteps and join Substack earlier this week. 'Come on in, Terry. The water is warm,' he told Vanity Fair. With other TV news vets such as Joy Reid, Don Lemon, Chuck Todd and Chris Matthews all creating their own online programs – not to mention one-time MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan starting up his own Substack-based media company Zeteo – Vanity Fair spoke to some who have recently taken the dive into independent journalism. 'My advice to Terry or any other legacy media person who goes independent is this: You have spent your whole life as a buyer. People came to you with information, job offers, etc. Now you are a seller,' former CNN analyst Chris Cillizza said, adding, 'My view is that as an independent news creator, you have to be in a lot of places at once.' Moran's Substack announcement also came shortly after anti-Trump digital media empire MeidasTouch – which just hired Katie Phang after MSNBC canceled her show – publicly pitched him to join the network. 'There's a seat at the table for you, Terry,' MeidasTouch founder Ben Meisalas declared in a video posted to social media. 'Help lead the next era of journalism—one that doesn't flinch when democracy is under threat.' The journey from broadcast television to Substacking has been quick for Moran, who was suspended by ABC News on Sunday after he sent out a late-night screed savaging Trump and his deputy chief of staff Miller. 'Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred,' Moran wrote in the since-deleted tweet. 'He's a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.' He added: 'The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism. It's not brains. It's bile.' With the administration demanding that the network take action against Moran and MAGA media calling for him to be fired, ABC News announced on Sunday morning that he was 'suspended pending further evaluation' as his post 'does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.' Moran, who had just sat down with Trump for a newsmaking and high-profile interview six weeks earlier, found himself fired two days later. Progressives and liberals savaged the move and accused the network of once again capitulating to the president, specifically noting that the network had paid Trump $15 million late last year to settle a defamation lawsuit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. In the end, though, the decision to cut Moran may have had as much to do with economics as it did with criticism over his tweets, which also reportedly resonated within the halls of the ABC newsroom. 'The fact that Moran was at the end of a contract cycle — his deal was set to expire on Friday, according to a person briefed on the matter — made it easier for ABC to take swift action,' CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter reported on Tuesday.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Terry Moran's reveals new career move after being axed from ABC over criticism of Trump
Terry Moran has revealed he is launching a Substack channel just days after he was axed from his anchor job at ABC over anti-Trump social media comments. The 28-year ABC veteran, who was pictured barefoot, pacing and biting his nails outside his home earlier today, took to X - the same platform which ultimately became his downfall - to unveil the new career move. 'For almost 28 years I was a reporter and anchor for ABC News. As you may have heard, I'm not there anymore,' he said, referencing the high-profile axing. Moran was let go following a 'clear violation' of the network's social media and impartiality policy. Days prior, he shared a controversial post on X describing Trump as a 'world class hater' and top White House staffer Stephen Miller as the 'bile' behind the Trumpist movement. 'Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world class hater,' Moran wrote just after midnight on Sunday. 'You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate. Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred only a means to an end, and that end his own glorification.' Those comments, though swiftly deleted, ultimately went viral and ABC executives felt they had no choice but to act quickly and respond harshly. If they didn't, the network's impartiality would have come into question, particularly given Trump's outspoken criticism of media bias. Now, Moran is forging a new path away from traditional media. 'I'm here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space and I can't wait to get at it,' he said. 'To get at the important work we all have to do in this time of such trouble for our country. 'I'm going to be reporting and interviewing and just sharing with you and hoping to hear from you as well.' Moran said it will take 'a few days, maybe longer' to get his profile up and running. 'I've got to get some stuff sorted out, but I can't wait to see you,' he said. Moran's decision to join Substack comes months after former CNN anchor Jim Acosta forged the same path after leaving his position. Acosta, who had long been an adversary of Trump, is reportedly on track to earn even more money than he was at CNN through Substack subscriptions - and is now free to share his true thoughts on the administration without fear of reprisal from his bosses. Just two days ago, he published an article weighing in on Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to the Los Angeles pro-immigration riots. He wrote 'Trump has a long and disgraceful history of exacerbating and even fomenting political unrest in America. Moran was barefoot as he stepped out of his home on Wednesday. Hours later, he revealed he is forging a new path away from traditional media. 'I'm here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space and I can't wait to get at it' 'In California, Trump appears to be chomping at the bit for yet another violent clash with protesters. 'Whether his aim is to clear the way for a stronger authoritarian grip on America or to simply distract the public from his recent catfight with Elon Musk, Trump seems ready to rumble.' Among the top comments were praise that he was now able to speak his mind. 'Aren't you glad you are now on independent media so you can speak freely? Maybe Terry Moran will be joining you,' one person wrote. More than 200 others 'liked' the comment, while several agreed that they'd had a similar thought. Moran's fall from ABC's good graces came just months after he landed a coveted interview with the president. Trump said he had handpicked Moran for his interview because he had 'never heard of' him, despite his years of experience. In the interview, the duo clashed over Trump's immigration policies. Trump said: 'They're giving you the big break of a lifetime. I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you. I picked you, Terry. But you're not being very nice.' One ABC insider said Moran's ousting had impacted his colleagues, but executives had no choice once his deleted post (pictured) gained momentum on MAGA social media channels One ABC insider said Moran's ousting had impacted his colleagues, but executives had no choice once his deleted video gained momentum on MAGA social media channels. 'It's just sad honestly. It's sad for him, a long-time colleague, friend, a good person, family man. It's just unfortunate, but there was no alternative, especially in these times,' the insider said. 'I can get maybe what he was trying to say, but like, dude, put the phone down and go to bed.' Before becoming a senior national correspondent in 2018, he served as ABC's Chief Foreign Correspondent. He also co-anchored the network's news show Nightline for eight years and was ABC News' Chief White Correspondent from 1999 to 2005, having originally joined the network in 1997.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
ABC News insider reveals real reason Terry Moran was fired over anti-Trump post
ABC News was left with 'no alternative' but to fire veteran correspondent Terry Moran over his now-deleted social media post slamming President Trump and top White House staffer Stephen Miller. 'We f***ing took it seriously and dealt with it pretty g*d***mn quickly,' an ABC News staffer told Fox News following Moran's ouster. 'It's just sad honestly,' the source continued. 'It's sad for him, a long-time colleague, friend, a good person, family man. It's just unfortunate, but there was no alternative, especially in these times.' The source added that a drawn-out saga surrounding Moran's suspension would have been poor for viewership, forcing higher-ups' hands. The staffer insisted that Moran wasn't a 'psycho liberal' and that he often disagreed with left-leaning colleagues. 'It's like a waxing and waning, you know, type of, like, whimsical philosopher… that was his shtick,' the insider said. 'He was very folksy in the way that he did things like this... I kind of see maybe what he was trying to do. He used the wrong f***ing words, obviously. 'I can get maybe what he was trying to say, but like, dude, put the phone down and go to bed.' Moran, 65, who'd spent the past 28 years at the network, was a senior national correspondent and often offered commentary on current events. His post on X, written just after midnight Sunday, painted Trump and Miller as 'world-class' haters. 'The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism,' Moran wrote in the post, which was quickly deleted but re-shared by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on her official X page. 'Yes, he is one of the people who conceptualizes the impulses of the Trumpist movement and translates them into policy,' Moran continued. 'But that's not what's interesting about Miller. It's not brains. It's bile." 'Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world-class hater. 'You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.' Moran added that Trump was also a 'world-class hater' but that 'his hatred [is] only a means to an end, and that end [is] is own glorification.' Before becoming a senior national correspondent in 2018, Moran served as ABC's Chief Foreign Correspondent. He also co-anchored the network's news show Nightline for eight years and was ABC News' Chief White Correspondent from 1999 to 2005. He joined ABC in 1997, and in April made headlines when Trump mocked him during an interview in the Oval Office. 'They're giving you the big break of a lifetime,' Trump told Moran during the sit-down. 'I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you.' The barb came after Moran asked the president about the case of deported El Salvador native and Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and the lack of evidence linking him to the MS-13 gang. 'That's OK. I picked you, Terry,' Trump told Moran. 'But you're not being very nice.' In weeks since, Moran continued to question Trump's moves on social media, prior to his suspension Sunday. In a statement, ABC News specifically cited Moran's post as a 'clear violation' of the network's policy. 'We are at the end of our agreement with Terry Moran and based on his recent post – which was a clear violation of ABC News policies – we have made the decision to not renew,' the statement read. 'At ABC News, we hold all of our reporters to the highest standards of objectivity, fairness and professionalism, and we remain committed to delivering straightforward, trusted journalism,' the rep added.
