The Indiana Publisher

Page 4 April 2021 Staff reports America's Newspapers U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, April 15 came out strongly in favor of including local news as critical American infrastructure in need of support — highlighting the role of local broadcasters and newspapers as a trusted source of news and information during the pandemic. "So I plan to, Mr. Chairman, push this issue as it relates to this critical infrastructure investment we're making," Senator Cantwell said at the subcommittee hearing. "I think news, local news particularly, a trusted source, is frayed beyond belief. And if we don't shore it up, at least until the legal battles play out with the tech industry, that will be making a big mistake. So I continue to appreciate this hearing, because I think it was a good diagnosis of how impor- tant local journalism was and I think the critical infrastructure needs to be preserved." In October of last year, Senator Cantwell released a report about the impact of unfair practices by major technology companies on local news outlets all across the country. "Local news across America creates competition and trusted information," Senator Cantwell said in a statement released along with the report. "We shouldn't let regional and commu- nity news die as local newspapers and broadcasters adjust to digital delivery because online giants are unfairly leveraging the advertising market against them." That same month, Senator Cantwell pressed Big Tech CEOs about the impact of their platforms on local news. "The message from today's hearing is the free press needs to live and be supported by all of us," Senator Cantwell said at that hearing. "We look forward to discussing how we can make sure that they get fair return on their value." Then, in December, Senator Cantwell successfully fought to expand Paycheck Protection Program eligibility for more local news outlets to receive PPP funding — providing a lifeline to local outlets all around the country. Video of Chair Cantwell's Q&A with witnesses can be found at https://bit.ly/2Qdhg9k and a transcript is at https://bit. ly/3n308yY.. Cantwell urges congressional support of local news Papers must have a 'physical presence' to publish public notices Cantwell "I think news, local news particularly, a trusted source, is frayed beyond belief. And if we don't shore it up, at least until the legal battles play out with the tech industry, that will be making a big mistake." — Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) Staff reports National Newspaper Association More than 2,500 local newspapers on April 13 joined a letter from National Newspaper Association to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra asking to join the agency's public education cam- paign to promote the COVID-19 vaccines. The "We Can Do This" campaign was announced by HHS on April 1 as part of the Biden Administration's quest to encour- age vaccinations across America. A $10 billion outreach rollout includes TV advertising and Facebook profiles to reach com- munities that may be hesitant about the vaccine. But no announcement about including local newspapers as part of the $10 billion campaign was included in the agency's announcement. Local newspa- pers report that they are still waiting to participate in the advertising campaign and educa- tion outreach. "It was just last December when Congress strongly urged HHS to do a better job of directing federal ad dollars to local media, NNA Chair Brett Wesner, president of Wesner Publications, Cordell, Oklahoma, said. "Now as the nation's newspapers and the communi- ties they serve are struggling to emerge from the pandemic economy, we are concerned that we have been overlooked," he said. "Instead, the agency so far seems more interested in invest- ing in the large social media platforms that have played such an unfortunate role in spread- ing misinformation about the vaccine. We use those platforms ourselves in addition to our own print and digital publica- tions but when we do, it is with information vetted by local journalists and our own adver- tising departments. This is the brand that makes us such a crit- ical element in this campaign. People know us. They see us on the street. They have been relying on the local newspaper all year to help them under- stand the pandemic. We are far more trusted than remote and sometimes obscure voices in the digital spectrum." "We want to help," Wesner said. "Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of our credibility in a moment of such urgency and national concern?" Wesner said many local newspapers have already been working with their public health departments on reader educa- tion and vaccination advertising campaigns. He said NNA and its partner organizations look forward to the opportunity to help HHS to make the "We Can Do This" campaign a success. The newspaper industry let- ter is viewable at https://bit. ly/3aqbms6. Papers ask to join HHS campaign promoting COVID-19 vaccines "People know us. They see us on the street. They have been relying on the local newspaper all year to help them understand the pandemic." — Brett Wesner chair, National Newspaper Association

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