The pandemic walloped Pamplin Media Group, an Oregon newspaper publisher providing local coverage in dozens of Portland-area communities.
Newsroom jobs across its 24 weekly titles fell from 90 to 55 over the last four years, including 25 cut during the pandemic. Five jobs were added back recently, but “we’re barely keeping our heads above water,” Publisher Mark Garber told me.
The family-owned chain is relatively lucky, though, compared to others that fell into the hands of rapacious investors less committed to public service.
An average of two papers a week are failing in the U.S. Thousands of cities and counties have little to no local coverage informing voters, binding communities and holding officials accountable.
Now Congress has what may be the last chance to stop this hemorrhaging, save thousands of jobs and provide a lifeline to publishers like Pamplin.
A bipartisan proposal for temporary tax credits, to outlets hiring or retaining local journalists, could be included in the budget reconciliation measure the Senate is negotiating.
Key leaders want to save local news, including U.S. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, a Portland Democrat and son of a journalist, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Washington’s delegation is especially supportive of the credits, originally co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Yakima Valley Republican. All but Spokane Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers are on board.
Tthe next few weeks appear to be the last chance for this approach to saving journalism jobs. It would also incentivize publishers to restore newsrooms, the creation of news startups and local investment in saving hometown papers.
With candidates campaigning for midterm elections, it’s also a good time for voters to ask what they’ll do to preserve America’s local, independent free press system. Even if one dislikes a particular outlet or sees bias, there’s no disputing that local news coverage is essential. When it fades, voters are less informed if they vote at all. Research shows civic engagement declines, fewer people run for office and corruption increases.
It will be a big lift just to get the reconciliation package passed.
“We believe there is interest in looking for a way to include it in a smaller reconciliation bill, but we do not have assurance,” said Dean Ridings, CEO of the America’s Newspapers trade group.
Another key bill, the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, would allow news outlets to collectively bargain for compensation from tech giants profiting from their content. This is working in Australia to sustain newsroom jobs, especially at smaller and regional outlets that don’t have leverage individually.
Every publisher Ridings talks to faces huge challenges. High gas and newsprint prices may be the final straw for those who never really recovered from the last recession.
The crisis was quantified by Northwestern University’s Medill School. It found that more than 360 papers closed during the pandemic, closures continue at a rate of two per week, and the U.S. is on track to lose one-third of its remaining newspapers by 2025.
Tax credits would interrupt that decline and buy time for outlets to retool and better compete online.
Tax credits would not give government influence over what’s covered. Think of them as a new iteration of the postal subsidy created in the 1790s and complementing First Amendment protections. Founding Fathers knew the American experiment won’t survive without a free press and informed voters.
“It’s right there in front of everybody,” Garber said. “This is an industry that’s critical to our democracy. If we don’t get some help, I’m not saying we’re going to go away completely, but something huge is going to be lost.”
Brier Dudley is editor of The Seattle Times Save the Free Press Initiative.
