Local Media Advocates Rally for Urgent State Legislation to Save Community Journalism
Urgent Legislation Needed to Revive Local Journalism
River Journal – Local media advocates gathered in Hastings-on-Hudson to address the alarming decline of local journalism, spurred by recent suspensions of publications like The Scarsdale Inquirer and others. Led by Lucas Cioffi of Qiqo.org and the Westchester Youth Congress, supporters emphasized the need for urgent state legislation, particularly the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. This proposed bill aims to offer tax credits to local news outlets to support the employment of journalists, crucial for maintaining community-focused reporting.
The rally saw a diverse group of attendees, including Zachary Richner of Richner Communications, Sandra Nam Cioffi of Qiqo.org, and elected officials like Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky. The proposed amendment to the bill, supported by the Empire State Local News Coalition, seeks to ensure that tax credits directly benefit smaller news outlets with no more than 250 employees, recognizing the challenges faced by local publications in sustaining themselves amidst financial pressures.
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Tax Credits: NY Coalition Advocates Tax Credit to Preserve Local News Outlets (PHOTO: City & State New York)
Coalition Sounds Alarm: Local Journalism Crisis Threatens Democracy’s Foundation
The coalition, comprising over 150 local news outlets, stresses the importance of local journalism as a cornerstone of democracy. With the number of news outlets in New York dwindling and many counties left without a newspaper, the coalition underscores the urgent need to support local journalism to preserve community voices and accountability in governance.
