Protecting Journalism During a Pandemic
COVID-19 THREATENED LOCAL JOURNALISM JOBS WHEN WE NEEDED THEM THE MOST.
COVID-19 and the resulting recession hammered workers across the economy but few were harder hit than the journalists and other employees of the local news industry. The News Guild-CWA, the largest labor union of media workers, historically had stayed out of any public policy advocacy due to the unique role of the Fourth Estate. But this was different. News Guild President Jon Schleuss believed that with local journalists losing jobs, and projected revenue losses for newspapers topping 70% in 2020, the Guild had to ask Congress for funding to keep journalists employed. They reached out to us for help.
MANY LOCAL PAPERS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.
Due to the Small Business Administration (SBA) attribution rules that came with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), many local newspapers didn't qualify for funds. Without PPP, management laid off thousands of local journalists right when we needed them the most. An exception for local newspapers, broadcasters, and other media outlets was necessary for the next round of PPP funding so that these journalists could continue to do their jobs. As if the pandemic wasn't enough reason to prove the importance of local journalism, 2020 also was a year of historic protests against police brutality and one of the most consequential presidential elections in modern history. At at time when the American people needed their local news more than ever, workers in local media were losing jobs at a historically high rate.
On behalf of the News Guild-CWA, we joined with industry advocates to make this case before Congress, arguing for a waiver of the SBA attribution rules for local media outlets, focusing on the House and Senate Small Business Committees and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. We worked in bipartisan fashion, bringing in resources to petition Senate Repbulicans, while we focused on Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, and Progressive Democrats willing to hear the stories of workers who feared for their jobs.
EXPANDING PPP ELIGIBILITY, A HOLIDAY GIFT FOR THOUSANDS OF JOURNALISTS.
Just before the holiday recess, leadership finally reached a deal on COVID relief, extended funding for PPP, and included most of the local news provisions the News Guild sought. In a press release, President of the News Guild, Jon Schleuss, said,
"Local journalism is facing an extinction-level event and this is an important step to stem the layoffs and closures of newsrooms across the country. This year—more than any other—has shown how essential local news is to our lives as folks ask which hospitals are overcrowded, whether schools are meeting in person and when we'll get the vaccine to end this pandemic. I applaud Congress' bipartisan support to save local news jobs."
The Goodfriend Group is proud to have represented the News Guild to help protect local journalism. Expanding PPP eligibility will help to stop some of the bleeding at many of our communities' local news outlets. But we must do more. The Goodfriend Group will continue to stand with The News Guild and others to support long-term, structural measures to ensure that every American community can benefit from local journalists covering everything from school board meetings to city council votes or emergency events.