The Local Journalism Sustainability Act is bipartisan legislation that will provide direct financial incentives to support local journalism. It contains a series of three tax-credits aimed at providing a pathway to viability for local journalism in the years to come.
The credits are as follows:
- Credit for Local Newspaper Subscriptions. A five-year non-refundable credit of up to $250 annually to incentivize individual subscriptions to local newspapers, defined as print and online publications which primarily produce content related to news and current events and which have a majority of their readership within the publication’s state of operation or within 200 miles. The credit can cover 80% of subscription costs in the first year and 50% of subscription costs in the subsequent four years.
- Payroll Credit for Compensation of Journalists. A five-year refundable credit for local newspapers (utilizing the same definition as above) to employ and adequately compensate journalists. The credit can be up to $25,000 in the first year and $15,000 in the subsequent four years.
- Credit for Advertising in Local Newspapers and Local Media. A five-year non-refundable tax credit that would incentivize small-to-medium-sized businesses to advertise with local newspapers (utilizing the same definition as above), as well as local radio and television stations. The credit can cover up to $5,000 of advertising costs in the first year and $2,500 in the subsequent four years.
These credits will encourage Americans to subscribe to local publications, help those publications retain and compensate journalists, and provide businesses and publications alike with much-needed advertising dollars. Taken together, implementing these credits will help sustain local journalism throughout the United States.
WNA members are encouraged to communicate directly with their lawmakers; ask them to take a leadership role on this bill and sign-on as a co-sponsor.
The bill needs a broad group of Republican and Democrat co-sponsors in order to demonstrate to Congressional leadership that this is a serious legislative endeavor.
Below you will find a link to a sample email containing talking points to send to your Congressional representative as well as a link to congressional contact information.
Finally, there is a link to the Dear Colleague email that was sent by the lead sponsors Reps. Kirkpatrick (D-Arizona) and Dan Newhouse(R-Washington) to members of the House of Representatives requesting support for the bill.
- Sample email that you can send to your representatives (or talking points for a phone call)
- Find contact information for your Congressional representatives here
- Dear Colleague email sent to Members of Congress by Reps. Kirkpatrick and Newhouse
Your congressional contacts and support of this effort is greatly appreciated.
Please contact me if you require additional information or have any questions regarding the legislation.
Sincerely,
Beth Bennett
WNA Executive Director
