[grc] Local Journalism Sustainability Act

[Spencer Graves]

Hello, All:


	  What do you know about the Local Journalism Sustainability Act?[1]


	  This was introduced July 17 by Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat who 
represents Arizona's second district in the US House.  It would provide 
tax subsidies of up to (a) $250 per year for subscriptions to local 
newspapers for individuals, (b) $50,000 per year for a local newspaper 
to pay staff, and (c) $5,000 for an advertiser in such a paper.  A 
"local newspaper" is a print or digital publication (A) whose primary 
content is news and current events, (B) with at least 51 percent of its 
readers living either within a single state or US possession or within 
200 miles.


	  Robert McChesney has advocated something like this for years.  He 
said that the US Postal Postal Service Act of 1792 made a major 
contribution to making the US what it is today.  Under that act, 
newspapers were delivered up to 100 miles for a penny when first class 
postage was between 6 and 25 cents.  It was 0.2% of Gross Domestic 
Product (GDP) and helped the US grow both in land area and economically 
while Mexico fractured, shrank, and stagnated economically.[2]  0.2% of 
current US GDP is roughly half of $250.


	  What might your level of interest be in helping produce or at least 
air events, hearings, panels, discussing the pros and cons of this and 
similar legislation?


	  It was introduced July 16 and will likely die unless somebodies (like 
us) push it.  If we push it and it fails, that doesn't mean we've lost. 
It could be introduced again next year.  And it could potentially be 
implemented on a local level if a local governmental entity agrees to 
match what they spend on accounting, advertising, and media and public 
relations with citizen-directed subsidies for journalism and research 
into the long-term impact of alternative governmental programs.[3]


	  I don't have anything concrete yet.  However, it would be easier to 
get people like Robert McChesney to speak if we could guarantee them an 
audience.


	  What do you think?


	  Thanks,
	  Spencer Graves, PhD
	  Journalist, KKFI.org, Kansas City Community Radio
and
	  Founder, EffectiveDefense.org
	  4550 Warwick Blvd 508
	  Kansas City, MO 64111	
m:  408-655-4567


[1]
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7640?s=1&r=1


[2]
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/The_Great_American_Paradox


[3]
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias_and_conflict