15 Apr DeSaulnier Introduces Legislation to Help Save Local News

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Editor’s note: This story was first produced by the Los Medanos College Experience student newspaper. It has been republished with permission. 

By Juan Cebreiros

U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., reintroduced two pieces of legislation in February to the House of Representatives in an effort to support local journalism and combat news deserts.

Alongside Eleanor Holmes Norton from the District of Columbia and Jamie Raskin from Maryland, DeSaulnier has brought forward the Saving Local News Act and the local news resolution to combat the rise of “news deserts” and “ghost papers” across the United States.

“The goal of this legislation is to keep our communities informed, and to protect local journalism going forward so we can continue to have a well-functioning democracy,” DeSaulnier said.

These legislations come at a crucial time for journalism as “newsrooms across the country from the Los Angeles Times to the Wall Street Journal are being decimated,” according to a press release from DeSaulnier’s office.

Since 2004, California has lost 87 daily and weekly newspapers. This has resulted in two counties without a single newspaper, and left 12 more relying on just one.

The loss of news organizations is being felt across the country as well. Nearly 2,900 newspapers have been lost since 2005, according to a Pew Research Center study.

“Access to accurate, quality reporting is critical to maintaining a healthy democracy,” DeSaulnier said. “Unfortunately, under the current business model, local news organizations often struggle to turn a profit and are forced to sell to large hedge funds that do not have the community’s interests at heart.”

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Under the Saving Local News Act, many local news organizations would have an easier path to becoming nonprofits by shifting the focus to publishing news rather than worrying about turning a profit.

The Saving Local News Act “would help these businesses to stay afloat in a market where news organizations are still needed, but local news does not generate a lot of profit,” DeSaulnier said.

He added that local newspapers are struggling to turn a profit due to the lack of funding they receive.

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DeSaulnier’s desire to help local news stems from his time working as part of local governments. He said he felt it was always important for people to understand what was going on in their community, but also the role reporters played when holding elected officials accountable.

“A well-informed public is important to keeping elected officials accountable and maintaining a healthy democracy,” DeSaulnier said. “This bill focuses on local news, however, has a community-centered benefit that has ripple effects far beyond those it employs.”

Both pieces of legislation have not been voted on since their introduction in February and remain in the introductory phase at the House of Representatives.