11/04/21, 1:18 PM
“WHAT IF THERE WERE NO LOCAL REPORTERS?”
FREEdom of the PRESS?
Yesterday’s Edition of the Madras Pioneer devoted 2 full pages regarding their financial woes and the need to “Save Community Journalism.”
They explain: “Our newspapers and websites provide an important sense of community with reliable reporting, compelling storytelling, and solid leadership. At a time when America is increasingly divided, our reporters are a unifying voice in our communities by providing a non-partisan, trusted source of local news.”
“UNIFYING VOICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING NON-PARTISAN, TRUSTED SOURCE OF LOCAL NEWS”
“Studies show that when there are fewer local reporters, it’s harder for neighbors to know each other and communities to solve their own problems. Voting goes down. Participation at public meetings go down. The information vacuums are filled with misinformation and conspiracy. There’s more government waste and corruption.”
They ask, “HOW CAN YOU HELP!”
Last June, US Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, (D-AZ) introduced a Bill that is designed in part to preserve reporters jobs.
Representative Kirkpatrick’s Bill: H.R.3940-Local Journalism Sustainability Act, describes the Act as “a pathway to financial viability for local news in newspapers, in digital only publications, and on television and radio stations through a series of tax credits. Newspapers and broadcasters have been a trusted source of local news and information during the COVID pandemic. At the same time, they have been under financial pressure from both the pandemic and on account of revenue loss from unfair and abusive practices by tech platforms.”
