The Indiana Publisher

August 2020 Page 3 Staff KPC News Hundreds of thousands of American businesses are getting help to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic. So why not newspapers? We're in business, too. We like to think of it as a very special business, but in many ways, we're like everybody else. We must meet expenses for paying our employees, providing them with benefits, operating our offices and running our printing presses. Many local news publications already were facing financial difficulties before the pandemic. Now, the severe economic blows from the pandemic are creating further challenges to keep newspa- pers sustainable. That's why a group of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress — including Rep. Peter Visclosky of Indiana — is coming to the rescue. The bipartisan group has introduced the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, providing three types of tax credits to help journal- ism. We'll let them make the case for passing it: "Local journalism is a bedrock pillar of communities across the United States," said Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat from Arizona. "Unfortunately, journalistic endeavors throughout the country are facing major economic struggles that put the future of many publica- tions in serious jeopardy. … We need to make sure these publications can sustain themselves through this crisis and beyond, and I believe the credits in this bill make significant progress in providing a pathway to that sustainability." "Local journalists and newspa- pers are essential to ensuring the public remains informed," said Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington state. "Local news is crucial — particularly within our rural communities in Central Washington — and our local journalists provide in-depth perspectives that inform their readership regarding local current events. … By providing tax credits for readers and local businesses and by empowering our local journalists, we can begin to help our newspa- pers remain resilient and continue to provide important information and updates to our rural communities." The Local Journalism Sustain- ability Act proposes a series of three tax credits: • Credit for Advertising in Local Newspapers and Local Media — This five-year, non-refundable credit provides businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees up to $5,000 in the first year and up to $2,500 in the following four years to spend on advertising with local newspapers and local media, including TV and radio stations. It helps the small businesses with advertising, as well as supporting news organizations. • Credit for Local Newspaper Subscriptions — This five-year, non-refundable credit provides every taxpayer up to $250 a year to spend on subscriptions to local newspapers, defined as print and online publications that primarily produce content related to news and current events and have a majority of their readership within the publication's state of operation or within 200 miles. • Payroll Credit for Compensa- tion of Journalists — This five-year, refundable credit provides local newspapers a credit to use for the compensation of journalists, up to $50,000 a year per employee. The bill's sponsors say the proposed credits will encourage Americans to subscribe to local publications, help those publications retain and pay journalists, and provide both businesses and publications with much-needed advertising dollars. We encourage Indiana's delegates in Congress to support the bill. Indiana is home to dozens of small newspapers with long, proud histories of serving their communi- ties with vital information. Editorial: Tax credits could save newspapers Hundreds of thousands of American businesses are getting help to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic. So why not newspapers? David Bordewyk South Dakota Newspaper Association Washington, D.C. - On Aug. 19, U.S. Representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced the Preserving Readership and Information of Newspapers for Tomorrow (PRINT) Act, which would include the cost of print production of local print media in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Currently, local media is eligible for the PPP but printing costs are not forgivable under the program guidelines. "We rely on local newspapers for information about what the city council and county boards are doing, the births, deaths and weddings, what's happening at school, who's running for office, and how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting our lives," said Peterson. "COVID-19 has made the already vital role of local news even more critical, at a time when many small businesses are struggling to keep the doors open. The PRINT Act will help our small and rural newspapers to continue their important work informing our communities." "A free-press is critical to our democracy," said Johnson. "Our local news teams work day in and day out to keep South Dakotans informed of what's happening both locally and nationally. Unfortu- nately, local media hasn't been immune from the financial impact of COVID-19. A slowdown of advertisements and subsequent layoffs continue to threaten our ability to maintain a free press, the PRINT Act will help alleviate some of the burden our print shops are facing." "Keeping the newspaper going during the pandemic is an essential service. Second only to staffing costs are production expenses— printing, ink, paper and the contracts associated with getting the paper out. Allowing commu- nity newspapers that still have PPP dollars through the end of the year to spend their money on printing would help our local newspapers to survive." – Matthew Adelman President, National Newspaper Association and Publisher. "Minnesota's community newspapers are severely challenged in their efforts to produce reliable local news and advertising products during this Covid 19 pandemic. Allowing PPP funds to help cover production costs would go a long way to keep our local newspapers producing their essential publica- tions." – Chris Knight, President Minnesota Newspaper Association and Regional President/Publisher APG Media "South Dakota's newspapers are appreciative of Rep. Johnson's legislation to include the costs of printing and production in the Paycheck Protection Program. Having that flexibility in a PPP loan for newspapers would be very significant since printing costs make up a major portion of every newspaper's ongoing fixed expenses. As importantly, SDNA and its member newspapers thank the Congressman for his under- standing and appreciation of the importance and need for local jour- nalism in communities across South Dakota and our nation. Dusty's lead on this legislation demonstrates that conviction and we are grateful." Bill includes newspaper printing costs in Paycheck Protection Program

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