More than 120 members of the U.S. House of Representatives — led by Republican Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island — on Wednesday sent a letter to House leadership requesting that access to funding for local news publishers and broadcasters be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.
“The nation is at war with COVID-19 and America’s local media has not been immune to the effects of the virus on local communities. Local newspapers, radio stations, and television broadcasts play a pivotal role in connecting communities with vital information,” Sensenbrenner said in a statement.
“I am proud to lead a group of more than 120 House members in bipartisan support of local news publishers and broadcasters in the next COVID-19 relief package. Local news employs thousands of workers in addition to reporters and photographers. Newsroom support staff, technical support operators, and printer publishers are just a few of the examples of hardworking Americans that keep local journalism in motion. Now, more than ever, local news provides essential information regarding public health and safety, local events, and democracy. Accurate, reliable, and trustworthy sources of information are vital in this time of need.”
