# Plain Language Summary: Future of Local News Act

Local news outlets across America are disappearing at an alarming rate. Since 2004, the country has lost more than 2,100 local newspapers, and over 200 counties now have no newspaper at all. Newsroom jobs have been cut by roughly half, and many remaining newspapers have become what experts call "ghost newspapers"—so stripped down they can barely cover breaking news or investigate local issues. This bill creates a special committee to study this crisis and figure out what the federal government can do about it.

The bill establishes a 13-member advisory committee made up of journalists, media experts, business leaders, and others with knowledge of the news industry. These committee members will examine why local news has collapsed, what it means for democracy when communities lose their news sources, and how the federal government might help. The committee will look at everything from how the coronavirus pandemic affected news outlets to whether existing federal programs and regulations are helping or hurting local journalism. They'll also explore whether the government should create new funding mechanisms—potentially something like a national endowment for local journalism or expanding public broadcasting—to support local news as a public good, similar to how the government funds educational television.

The committee will hold public meetings in different regions of the country and gather input from people working in local news, especially those serving rural areas, communities of color, and tribal nations. Within one year, they'll submit a detailed report to Congress with their findings and recommendations. This report will be made available to the public for free online. Congress can then hold hearings on the committee's recommendations and decide whether to take action based on what they learn. The bill doesn't directly change any laws or provide funding yet—it's essentially asking experts to study the problem and propose solutions that Congress can consider.

Future of Local News Act

Veasey, Marc A.

Future of Local News Act This bill establishes the Future of Local News Committee to examine, report on, and make recommendations related to the state of local news and the ability of local news to meet the information needs of the people of the United States. The duties of the committee include (1) examining the implications of the loss of local newspapers, digital news outlets, and broadcasting outlets; (2) assessing the impact of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and whether the Paycheck Protection Program has had beneficial effects on local news organizations; and (3) assessing and examining existing and potential means of supporting local news production. The committee must recommend mechanisms that the federal government can create and implement to support the production of local news, such as the possible creation of a new national endowment for local journalism or the reform and expansion of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.