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Our next Mad Monday is June 17, at 7 pm ET. Please join us!
The News of Local News
Local news is imperative to building community cohesion, representing local people’s concerns, and investigating corruption. But, it is on the decline due to a business model that relied on, now dwindling, advertisements. To paraphrase Margaret Sullivan, ‘News serves as a public service, providing citizens with essential information about their communities, countries, and the world. By understanding news as a public good, we can appreciate its role in fostering an informed and engaged citizenry.’
The hedge fund business model treated local news as a commodity, when in fact, it is a necessary public service. The Community News and Small Business Support Act (H.R. 4756) was introduced to provide monetary government assistance to struggling local news outlets. But it is languishing after being introduced.
In California, a similar bill, SB 1377, is failing as it lacks the necessary 2/3 support to pass after Tech Giants have rallied against it. The bill would tax the online advertising and data mining of Tech Giants (companies with more that $2.5 billion in annual revenue) to create $500 million in tax credits to support education and non-profit local journalism.
On the opposite coast, New York’s local journalism bill passed. Polls have demonstrated that across the USA people trust their local news more than national news outlets, even while desiring reform in tech and media.
Please Take Action to Protect Journalists and Their Sources:
Please call Senator Durbin and ask that he schedule a mark up of the Press Act. Then call your Senators and ask them to support or co-sponsor the PRESS Act.
The PRESS Act (S 2074) is a bi-partisan, nationwide law to shield journalists from surveillance. Freedom of the Press is enshrined in our Constitution, but journalists are, at times, nonetheless subject to government surveillance and harassment. For two decades there has been a bi-partisan effort to pass a strong national press shield law. Almost all states have them but we need a stronger, uniform national law.
Call Senator Durbin’s office and request that he schedule a markup soon. His number is 202.224.2152.
Sample Script: “I am asking Senator Durbin, as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and sponsor of the PRESS Act (S 2074/H4250) to be scheduled for Committee mark-up as soon as possible. This bill to protect journalists has passed the House with strong bi-partisan support.”Next, call or write your senators to ask them to support the bill or text PAIQYM to 50409.
- A U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can connect you directly with the Senate office. (202) 224-3121
- Or, contact them directly using the directory: https://www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm
Upcoming Events (all meetings are via Zoom)
6/17 Monday 7:00p ET Our Media and Democracy Project once per month “MAD Monday” General Meeting – newcomers are always welcome. We will discuss different ways you can help #FixMediaNow Sign up here
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In community,
Noelle, Brian, Jonathan, Holley, Carolyn, Milo and the entire Media and Democracy Project
If you would like to speak at one of our meetings or have any feedback.
Email: Noelle@MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org
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