INA Update | 04.09.20

Senators urge action for local journalism

A group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D—Conn.) has sent a letter to Senate leadership urging the body to consider stimulus relief for local journalism and media.

The letter, signed by 19 Democratic senators including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, calls on House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), says local news in a “state of crisis” worsened by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Without this support, communities across the country risk losing one of their key sources of accurate information about what citizens need to know and do in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter states.

---

Media Groups Call on Congress to Support Local News, Local Media Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Today, four national media organizations representing thousands of local newspapers and local broadcast media outlets – the News Media Alliance, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Newspaper Association (NNA) and America’s Newspapers – jointly called on Congress to provide critical support to local news media in its next stimulus bill designed to provide relief to businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.