Four Senators Join Call To Help Local News Media In Next COVID-19 Stimulus, While House Appeal To Trump Gets Over 240 Co-Signers

Help Urged

Another bi-partisan letter has emerged from CAPITOL HILL urging the Senate leadership to support aid to news media in the next COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS small business stimulus appropriations. Sens. MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA), AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA), and JOHN BOOZMAN (R-AR) sent the letter to Senate leaders asking for waiving the SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION's affiliation rule to enable local radio, TV, and print outlets to get assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program. A similar effort is being led in the House by House Antitrust Subcommittee Chair DAVID N. CICILLINE (D-RI) and Rep. JIM SENSENBRENNER (R-WI).

In the letter, the four Senators wrote, “Ensuring that local news outlets remain viable at this critical time is not only a matter of fairness, but is essential to public health. Local newspapers, radio, and television stations provide important local content that keeps their communities informed. People rely on local newspapers and broadcasters to cover school and business closures, to widely communicate public health guidance, and to combat life-threatening misinformation.” The letter adds that waiving the affiliation rules will help the funds go directly to the local affiliate and not the parent companies.

Meanwhile, the drive by four members of Congress -- DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI), FRED UPTON (R-MI), BILL FLORES (R-TX), and MARC VEASEY (D-TX) -- to get their colleagues to sign on to a letter to President TRUMP also urging the inclusion of local media -- radio, television, and print -- in the next COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS stimulus package (NET NEWS 4/14) has succeeded in getting over 240 lawmakers to co-sign the appeal.

NAB Pres./CEO GORDON SMITH said, “NAB is grateful to Senators CANTWELL, KENNEDY, KLOBUCHAR and BOOZMAN for their leadership in supporting expanded access to SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION loans for local radio and television stations under the Payroll Protection Program. AMERICA’s broadcasters are providing trusted and credible lifesaving coverage to keep citizens safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet local stations are suffering advertising losses of historic proportion that will undermine this critically important service. We urge Congressional leaders to support this proposal to provide immediate SBA loan eligibility to more local radio and TV stations.”

NEWS MEDIA ALLIANCE Pres./CEO DAVID CHAVEM added, “During this time of unprecedented uncertainty, reliable local news and information is more important than ever. SBA loans have allowed some local news publishers to keep reporters employed and their newsrooms running as an essential function. But too many publishers have been left out because they are part of groups with other small publishers or non-news businesses. We are requesting changes to the SBA loan program would allow funds to flow to more local newsrooms, and help them to continue doing the work that sustains communities during a time of crisis. We applaud Senators CANTWELL, KENNEDY, KLOBUCHAR, and BOOZMAN for their leadership in pushing for this measure and we call on Congress to expand the SBA program to cover local news outlets."

On the Congressional letter, SMITH said, “AMERICA’s radio and TV broadcasters take seriously our responsibility to report, inform, comfort and educate our hometowns during these unprecedented times. Unfortunately, with economic activity at a standstill, local broadcasters are struggling without the local business advertising dollars that sustain stations and help local businesses generate commerce. We thank Reps. DINGELL, FLORES, VEASEY and UPTON and the over 240 Members of Congress who have expressed support for ensuring the future of trusted journalism, news and local media.”

“Local newspapers are working around the clock to provide the public with critical public health information and help individuals and families stay informed and connected with their communities,” added CHAVEM. “With their advertising revenues falling off a cliff, we are at a turning point on whether many local newspapers will survive. Directing government advertising to local newspapers – across all market sizes – will help publishers and their hard-working journalists weather this storm and be around to report on the next crisis. We are heartened and grateful by the support from Reps. DINGELL, FLORES, VEASEY and UPTON and more than 240 Members of Congress who have called on the Administration to take action now to support America’s local media outlets.”

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