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Rep DeSaulnier in hearing

Representatives DeSaulnier, Norton, and Raskin Introduce Legislative Efforts to Preserve Local Journalism

February 9, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) reintroduced two pieces of legislation aimed at supporting and preserving local journalism in order to keep communities informed, maintain government accountability, and protect American democracy. The Saving Local News Act (H.R. 7306) would make it easier for print and online news outlets to become non-profits, allowing them to focus more on producing quality content rather than on maximizing profits. The local news resolution (H.Res. 1005) recognizes the importance of local media outlets to society and expresses the urgent need for Congress to take action to help prevent their decline. Reintroduction of this legislation comes as newsrooms across the country from the Los Angeles Times to the Wall Street Journal are being decimated. 

“From informing the electorate to holding power to account, without a flourishing free press there is no American democracy. If outlets as large as the LA Times are suffering, it’s no wonder that local papers across the nation are being bought up and taken over by large corporations and dismantled in record numbers,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am proud to again introduce this legislation that would recognize and protect local journalism as the public good it is so Americans in every community across the country have access to the news they need.”

“America is losing its local newspapers and along with them, thousands of brave journalists who keep our communities safe and informed. We must fight against the loss of more local news outlets, which threatens our democracy. Supporting more nonprofit local news organizations that will put quality reporting and good jobs in journalism above profits is an important step in doing that work. We applaud Representative DeSaulnier's strong commitment to strengthening local journalism and supporting union journalists. Now, let's get this done for the American people and our democracy,” said Jon Schleuss, President of The NewsGuild-CWA

“NNA appreciates Congressman DeSaulnier introducing this legislation and his recognition of the importance of local print and digital journalism,” said John Galer-Chair of the National Newspaper Association. “Local news is essential to providing good governance at every level. This legislation affirms and supports our industry.”

“The retreat of local news across the country has starved Americans of information necessary for effective democratic citizenship,” said PEN America’s Interim Washington Director, Hadar Harris. “By easing news organizations’ ability to become nonprofits, the Saving Local News Act would help staunch the bleeding in the local news ecosystem and keep financially challenged news publishers afloat, empowering informed citizens in the process. PEN America applauds Congressman DeSaulnier’s legislation, which affirms the centrality of a free press to a healthy democracy.”

“Independent news, and local news in particular, is facing an existential crisis, threatening the health of our communities and our democracy," said Dr. Courtney Radsch, Director for the Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute. "We must advance a host of solutions to address the structural problems undermining the news industry and protect the news; the Saving Local News Act is one important step in that direction.”

“As the local-news crisis deepens, we are seeing more noncommercial newsrooms emerge that are doing great journalism and putting reporters back on local beats where they can focus on their communities’ needs,” saidMike Rispoli, Free Press Action's senior director of journalism and civic information. “The Saving Local News Act is a critical step to ensuring the growth and success of these innovative news and civic information outlets, especially nonprofit organizations that are bringing water to news deserts and filling other gaps left by a faltering commercial-media system. Importantly, this legislation helps remove obstacles to establishing more local news nonprofits. We applaud Representative DeSaulnier for recognizing that local journalism is a public good — one that is essential to the health of our democracy and urgently in need of public support.”

“Local independent news organizations are looking at multiple ways to fund their newsrooms while continuing to deliver the critical journalism that is fundamental to a thriving democracy. When news organizations decide to pursue a nonprofit business model it should be as accessible for established organizations as it is for news startups. Our members are known and trusted in the communities they serve. Removing the hurdles to build up philanthropic support—and allowing them to keep local businesses and organizations involved as a revenue stream—is an important step in helping newsrooms serve their communities,” said Brandi Rivera, Publisher, Santa Barbara Independent and Board Vice President, Association of Alternative Newsmedia.

In 2022, weekday print newspaper circulation fell 13 percent from the previous year according to Pew Research Center, and since 2005, the country has lost almost 2,900 newspapers, including more than 130 confirmed closings or mergers over the past year according to Northwestern University. To respond to this disturbing trend, Congressman DeSaulnier established a working group of dedicated Members of Congress from areas particularly affected by a drought of high-quality journalism. Together they have been working to bring awareness to this crisis and to the need to promote local journalism.

Congressman DeSaulnier’s bill and resolution are supported by: Free Press Action, Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, PEN America, Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute, NewsGuild-CWA, Association of Alternative Newsmedia, and the National Newspaper Association.

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