50+ local NY newspapers run coordinated editorial calling for passage of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act

This week, more than 50 independent, local newspapers across New York State published a joint editorial calling for Governor Hochul and state legislators to pass the Local Journalism Sustainability Act (S.625B/A2958C), sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemlymember Carrie Woerner. This unprecedented mobilization is the latest action taken by the Empire State Local News Coalition, which formed in January with the mission of saving the local news industry in New York amid a national crisis that has led to more than 3,000 newsroom closure across the country since 2004.

The editorial noted that New York has been particularly hard hit by the local news crisis, while touting the Local Journalism Sustainability Act’s bipartisan support and content-neutral approach to supporting local news outlets:

“In 2022 alone, 30 newspapers closed across the state. A quarter of New York’s counties are news deserts — down to their last newspaper. Orleans County recently became the first in the state to have none. ...

“ [Through the Local Journalism Sustainability Act], news organizations are incentivized to actually add jobs, returning reporters to many of the state’s newsrooms, which are becoming increasingly desolate. Importantly, the bill is also content neutral, meaning that any legitimate local news outlet — left, right, or in between — can benefit from this bill. The objectivity of the bill’s eligibility requirements means the legislation cannot be weaponized to penalize news organizations critical of government officials.”

Sen. Hoylman-Sigal said, “A thriving local news industry is vital to the health of our democracy, and we should do everything in our power to ensure that New Yorkers have access to independent, community-focused journalism. I’m proud that so many publications from every corner of the state have come out in support of this critical legislation.”

The joint editorial was released ahead of a rally in support of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act in Westchester County on Thursday. The event was organized by the Empire State Local News Coalition and local grassroots activists who were motivated to save local news in the county after The Scarsdale Inquirer, Rivertowns Enterprise and Bedford Review Record all closed in rapid succession.