$1.67 billion to help local news coverage and democracy
President Biden and Democrats understand the value
of strong local newspapers even if they make life difficult for politicians by
pursuing the truth.
If the $2.2 trillion House-passed social safety
net and climate package makes it through the Senate, where it faces a stiff
challenge, it will provide $1.67 billion over the next five years for newspapers,
websites, radio and TV stations, and other outlets that primarily cover local
news. If eligible, they could reap up to $25,000 for each locally focused
journalist they employ in the first year and $15,000 in each of the next four.
There are now 200 U.S. counties without a
newspaper, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina, and
more than 2,100 papers have shut down since 2004. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of journalists at newspapers fell to
31,000 last year from 71,000 in 2008.
Media outlets funded by political action
committees would not be eligible. The same holds true for news organizations
that do not carry media liability insurance or fail to disclose their owners.
News publishers with more than 1,500 employees at a single location also would
not qualify, under the terms of the bill.
Local News Outlets
May Reap $1.7 Billion in Build Back Better Aid - The New York Times
(nytimes.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment