We cannot afford to wait any longer to save local news

Our founders recognized as much when they enshrined protections for a strong free press in the Constitution. We’ve seen the commitment local journalists bring to this role, as local news organizations continue to churn out daily reporting on life-saving public health info on COVID-19 in their regions. Despite facing existential financial threats, many of these outlets are even making their COVID-19 coverage free to all readers as a public service.

Local news outlets are the quintessential small business — they are relentlessly in tune with the needs and developments of their communities, and they employ hundreds or thousands of local residents who help power their economy. If these jobs disappear, they may never return. As Congress weighs plans to provide more emergency relief for American workers, Republicans and Democrats must come together in an effort to save jobs and save the news.

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