Today, America’s Newspapers released the following statement in support of the New York Local Journalism Sustainability Act:
“America’s Newspapers, the largest trade association of local newspapers in the U.S. with over 1,700 member publications, endorses the New York Local Journalism Sustainability Act. We applaud the New York State Senate for including this important tax credit for local news organizations in its one-house budget, and we call on NY Governor Hochul, the NY Senate, and the NY Assembly, to include the NY Local Journalism Sustainability Act in the state’s FY'25 budget. The NY Local Journalism Sustainability Act will create newsroom jobs across the Empire State and be a model for other states to follow to combat the current rate of 2.5 newspaper closures per week in our country. New York is now positioned to be a national leader in preserving local journalism.”
Dean Ridings, CEO of America’s Newspapers, said: “The New York Local Journalism Sustainability Act would be the first legislation of its kind in the nation. Local news outlets — unlike most national media — are trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. That’s why a federal version of the New York legislation, the Community News and Small Business Support Act, has over 40 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats signing on to the federal bill.”
Heidi Wright, CEO of Oregon-based EO Media Group and president of America’s Newspapers, said: “Democracy depends on a free and vibrant press. Our communities rely on this, too. The New York Local Journalism Sustainability Act will ensure that New Yorkers continue to be informed and protected by real journalism.”
Alan Fisco, president of The Seattle Times and co-chair of the America’s Newspapers legislative committee, said: “I am heartened by the prospects of New York’s passing the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. It is a smart bill that not only will help local news outlets today, but also can be built upon in the future.”
Francis Wick, publisher of Arizona-based Wick Communications and co-chair of the America’s Newspapers legislative committee, said: “It is exciting to see the tremendous work of the Empire State Local News Coalition in moving the Local Journalism Sustainability Act forward. Passing this legislation in New York would be a monumental step to sustaining our nation’s democracy by establishing a model for local news public policy that other states can follow.”
About the Empire State Local News Coalition:
The Empire State Local News Coalition, a statewide advocacy group of more than 150 local news outlets, is advocating for passage of a legislative package that would deliver long-term sustainability to newspapers across the state.
Capped at $20 million statewide, the Local Journalism Sustainability Act is a bipartisan bill that provides payroll tax credits for the employment of local news journalists. News organizations would receive a 50% refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of each newsroom employee's salary, up to $200,000 per outlet. This benefit would be limited to print and online newspapers and broadcasters with 100 employees or less and that cover local community news ensuring that truly local news outlets will receive this assistance. This bill will be crucial for incentivizing job creation, returning reporters to many of the state's newsrooms that are becoming increasingly desolate.
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