Dear Newspaper Colleagues,

I’m writing to you seeking your support for a bill that will help local journalism exist and transition during a time of COVID-19.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act is bi-partisan legislation providing an assist, not a hand out, to key local stakeholders that directly support local journalism.

U.S. Representatives Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Arizona) and Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) are the chief co-sponsors of this legislation, which I believe is part of the solution to remedy the very dire situation facing local journalism.

At this point I’m asking you to personally pick up your phone, email and communicate with your lawmakers and ask them directly to take a leadership role on this bill and sign up as an original co-sponsor.

In addition to state press associations, this bill is also supported by: News Media Alliance, National Newspaper Association, America’s Newspapers, Report for America and Rebuild Local News Coalition

Below you will find a link to a sample email containing talking points for a phone call or email that I am asking you to make/send to your Congressional representatives. You also will find the Dear Colleague email that was sent by Reps. Kirkpatrick and Newhouse to members of the House of Representatives, as well as contact information for Congressional representatives.

Dear Colleague email sent to Members of Congress by Reps. Kirkpatrick and Newhouse
Sample email that you can send to your representatives (or talking points for a phone call)
Find contact information for your Congressional representatives here

This legislation is well thought out, comprehensive and provides the bridge for journalism to achieve a stable footing in a digital reality. It will help newspapers deal with the impacts of COVID-19 … and every provision of the bill sunsets in a few years.

As you will note, this legislation drives three key stakeholders that support the ecosystem of local journalism — citizens, business owners and journalists.

We have approximately one week to get members of the House of Representatives — your congressman or woman — on board as a lead sponsor of the legislation. We need a broad group of Republicans and Democrats to support this important bill — right out of the gate — so that we can demonstrate to the Congressional leadership that this is a serious legislative endeavor.

Please do not hesitate to email or call with questions.

Thank you in advance for your efforts on this … your voice matters here as does the critical work our institutions perform.

Linda Conway, Executive Director
New England Newspaper & Press Association
(781) 281-7648
l.conway@nenpa.com

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act includes a series of three tax credits aimed at sustaining and providing a pathway to viability for the local journalism industry 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.

Information for this article provided by America’s Newspapers.

WOBURN, MA – The Journalism Education Foundation of New England, a division of the New England Newspaper & Press Association, has announced the recipients of their 2020 scholarships.

This year, $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to three collegiate students and one high school student: Alison Cross, Monroe, CT; Caroline Enos, Gloucester, MA; Julia Preszler, Newtown, CT and Matthew Gouvin, Charlestown, RI.

We asked the students what the scholarship means to them and furthering their journalism education and this is what they had to say.

“I am a rising junior at the University of Connecticut, double majoring in Journalism and Sociology with a minor in Human Rights. Winning this scholarship from the Journalism Education Foundation of New England is a blessing. It allowed me to pursue an unpaid summer internship as a staff reporter for TheMonroeSun.com, my town’s local news publication.

I am recognizing first-hand the importance of local news in preserving town history, holding local officials accountable, and building a greater sense of community.

In the future, I want to pursue a career in investigative journalism for a major print publication. I am so thankful for the generosity of JEFNE and NENPA and their investment in the next generation of journalists.”

Monroe woman awarded New England journalism scholarship

“The NENPA scholarship has helped me pay for my education at Suffolk University, where I study journalism and political science.

Receiving this scholarship at the end of my senior year of high school helped me feel confident that I was making the right choice in what major I should pursue. This time around, it has helped me feel like I am on the right track in my studies and in my career path.

Because of this scholarship, I have had the opportunity to focus on my studies and journalism without having to worry as much about paying for school. I have been able to write for several newspapers, including The Boston Globe, where I was a co-op on the City Desk, and The Gloucester Daily Times.

It has also given me valuable time to devote myself to The Suffolk Journal, where I was recently named the editor-in-chief. I have enough experience now to know what direction I want to take the paper in, and I am looking forward to exploring what comes next. I’m very grateful that this scholarship has helped me launch my career and develop a passion for this vital industry.”

Cape Ann people in the news

“I’m entering my senior year at Northeastern University, where I’m majoring in journalism and minoring in environmental studies. To gain experience in both of these subject areas, I have interned at The Boston Globe, The Chautauquan Daily (NY), and two community newspapers in Connecticut, as well as at an urban farm in Boston and a community garden in Connecticut.

While studying abroad in Costa Rica last fall, I took classes focused in ecology and sustainability. Upon graduation, I hope to pursue a career in environmental and agricultural reporting.”

I’m incredibly grateful for her scholarship from JEFNE, which will help me pay for my last semester at Northeastern.”

“In our polarized society, I believe that the work of journalists is vital to the health of our democracy because it encourages public awareness.

With the support of this scholarship, I will continue to develop the essential skills that will enable me to become a journalist who always searches for the truth and shares important stories that keep the public informed.”

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/lifestyle/people/people/article_8f54343c-cdbf-11ea-aa23-e730c2ff3b8e.html

The Journalism Education Foundation of New England encourages and supports high school seniors and college students in the six-state region who aspire to pursue a career in journalism.

The JEFNE scholarship is available to residents of New England. Applicants must be a college student or high school senior planning to attend college the following year to study journalism or a related field.

Member newspapers of the New England Newspaper & Press Association joined in sponsoring the competition for these scholarships by promoting the program in their newspapers.

For more information about the JEFNE scholarship program, please contact Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com.