It’s understandable that the idea that government should help save local media makes many journalists’ skin crawl. How can reporters get support f

How public policy can help save local news

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2023-01-25 02:30:11

It’s understandable that the idea that government should help save local media makes many journalists’ skin crawl. How can reporters get support from one of the institutions we’re supposed to be holding accountable?

The local news crisis is severe—and on a scale beyond the capacity of philanthropy alone. More than 1,800 communities have no local news. Thousands more have ghost newspapers that barely cover their communities. The number of reporters per 100,000 people has dropped 62 percent since 2004.

Newspapers saw a drop in advertising revenue of $40 billion or 82 percent since 2000. By contrast, philanthropic efforts contribute a few hundred million each year. They can do more, but they won’t be able to do it alone.

Less local news leads to lower voter turnout, less civic participation in Parent Teacher Associations and other groups, more corruption, higher taxes, and lower bond ratings .  And in general it makes it harder for voters to hold elected officials accountable, and for communities to solve their problems.

In the past, government has devised policies that protected editorial independence. The Founding Fathers believed it was crucial to have not just the right to a free press but the reality of a functioning free press. So they decided to give a massive subsidy to newspapers . The Post Office Act of 1792 gave a lower postage rate to newspapers. In 1801, 45 percent of all pieces of mail were periodicals but the publications covered only 8 percent of the costs.

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