US: IFJ backs calls to support Local Journalism Sustainability Act

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act seeks to keep the local media in the United States financially viable and turn around a struggling industry. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Newsguild-CWA in fully supporting the bill’s adoption.

Credits: NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on 22 July, aims at supporting and paving the way for local journalism in the future by providing a series of three tax credits. These tax credits are respectively intended to encourage the employment of local journalists, encourage subscriptions to local media and boost advertising through local media.

Firstly, the bill provides a five-year compensation credit to enable media outlets to hire and increase journalists' wages. The media concerned are local newspapers, digital-only publications, local television, and local radio stations.

Secondly, the bill provides for a five-year subscription credit to encourage citizens to subscribe to local newspapers. In other words, part of the annual subscription costs will be covered. This subscription credit could also be used for non-profit publications.

Finally, a five-year advertising credit is provided to encourage small businesses to advertise through local newspapers, local television, or local radio stations.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act will help local outlets that are currently struggling, as well as ensure that they continue in the future and that new projects can be launched. As local journalism is facing many economic challenges (salary cuts, lay-offs, or even closures) which have been greatly aggravated by the pandemic, such help is more than needed.

NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss said: “Half of America’s journalism jobs have been wiped out in the past decade and the losses have accelerated during the pandemic. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act would provide a much-needed boost to save local news jobs. I’m hopeful that members of Congress will rally around this important measure.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Local journalism is a pillar for communities around the world. The pandemic has once again proven its importance, notably in the fight against misinformation. The decline of local media is damaging but we strongly believe that a bill like the Local Journalism Sustainability Act can turn the sector around. We support its adoption as a necessary first step in the right direction, and encourage other countries to adopt similar reforms for the future of local journalism.

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

Follow the IFJ on TwitterFacebook and Instagram

Subscribe to IFJ News