Congressional effort aims to save local journalism with new legislation

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Feb. 19, 2024) — Democratic U.S. Reps. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C., and Jamie Raskin of Maryland reintroduced two pieces of legislation on Feb. 9 aimed at supporting and preserving local journalism, the ‘Saving Local News Act’ and a local news resolution.

The Saving Local News Act (H.R. 7306) is designed to facilitate the transition of print and online news outlets into nonprofits, allowing them to focus more on quality content than profit. The local news resolution (H.Res. 1005) recognizes the crucial role of local media outlets in society and urges Congress to take action to prevent their decline.

This legislative effort comes at a time when newsrooms nationwide, from the Los Angeles Times to the Wall Street Journal, are facing significant challenges. Rep. DeSaulnier emphasized the importance of a free press in maintaining American democracy and ensuring that all communities have access to vital news.

Recent data from the Pew Research Center shows a 13% decline in weekday print newspaper circulation in 2022 compared to the previous year. Northwestern University reports that nearly 2,900 newspapers have been lost since 2005, with over 130 confirmed closures or mergers in the past year alone.

To address this crisis, DeSaulnier established a working group of Congress members from areas heavily impacted by the decline of journalism. The group aims to raise awareness and promote solutions to support local journalism.

The Saving Local News Act and the local news resolution have garnered support from organizations such as Free Press Action, LION Publishers, PEN America, and others. Additional information can be found online at bit.ly/3IfiWGN.