From the Sam Rasoul for LG campaign…this is definitely a problem that needs addressing, especially in light of unfortunate developments such as this (“Shareholders of Tribune Publishing Company and its storied newspapers, including the Baltimore Sun, the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune, voted Friday to sell the company to a hedge fund with a reputation for slashing staff and deep cost-cutting”):
Rasoul for Lt. Governor Releases Plan to Support Local Journalism
Rasoul’s plan includes tax credits to increase subscriptions to local media outlets and incentives to advertise in local newspapers
Proposal would cap FOIA fees and ensure government meetings are open to press in every instance possible
ROANOKE – On Tuesday Del. Sam Rasoul (D-11), candidate for Lieutenant Governor, announced a plan to support local journalism in Virginia. The plan was first reported by Charlottesville Tomorrow, a nonprofit public service journalism outlet.
The plan’s release follows the downsizing of newsrooms in local outlets across the Commonwealth, including the Roanoke Times, which has lost over 25% of its newsroom employees since early 2020.
Rasoul’s plan includes:
- Tax credits to increase subscriptions to local outlets and incentivize advertising in local outlets
- Ensuring a substantial portion of government advertising is spent in locally owned newspapers, including Black- and brown-owned and nonprofit outlets
- Capping FOIA fees at $100
- Making government meetings public and open to press whenever possible
Read the full plan on Rasoul’s website.
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant. A free press at the local level holding government accountable and rooting out corruption is essential to a strong, functional democracy,” said Rasoul. “In Roanoke and so many communities, we’ve seen our newspapers of record gutted and cut down. This is a critical moment where we must commit to supporting journalism in Virginia and ensuring it can thrive and grow once again.”
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