,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dggb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #cj 7legislative day1 ,september #bi71 #bjbj,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 and ,ms4 ,klobuchar7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,future of ,local ,news ,commission to examine and report on the role of local news gathering in sustaining democracy in the ,united ,states and the factors contributing to the demise of local journalism1 and to propose policies and mechanisms that could reinvigorate local news to meet the critical information needs of the people of the ,united ,states in the #bast century4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,future of ,local ,news ,commission ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings and purpose ,congress finds and declares the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states of ,america was founded on the press freedom principle enshrined in the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution1 declaring that ,congress shall make no law ''' abridging the freedom of speech1 or of the press ''' 44 7#b7 ,democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens1 and an informed citizenry depends on accurate and unbiased news reporting to inform the people's judgments4 7#c7 ,thomas ,jefferson famously and wisely wrote1 ,were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government1 ,i should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter44 7#d7 7,a7 ,according to research by the ,university of ,north ,carolina ,school of ,media and ,journalism1 ,center for ,innovation and ,sustainability in ,local ,media3 7i7 ,the ,united ,states has lost more than #b1ajj local print outlets since #bjjd4 7ii7 ,more than #bjj counties in the ,united ,states have no newspaper at all1 creating a news shortage for the #c1bjj1jjj residents of those counties4 7iii7 ,of the remaining counties1 more than half1 or #a1ebh1 have only one newspaper1 often a weekly newspaper1 to cover populations ranging from under #a1jjj to more than #a1jjj1jjj residents4 7iv7 ,more than half of all ,united ,states newspapers have changed owners in the past decade1 and in #bjah just #be companies owned two-thirds of all daily newspapers4 7v7 ,of the surviving #f1gjj newspapers in the ,united ,states1 at least #a1jjj qualify as ghost newspapers1 or newspapers whose reporting staffs are so significantly reduced that they can no longer provide much of the breaking news or public service journalism that once informed readers about vital issues in their communities4 7vi7 ,rural counties are among the counties most deeply impacted4 ,more than #ejj of the #b1ajj newspapers that have closed or merged since #bjjd have been in rural counties4 7,b7 ,according to the ,pew ,research ,center1 total newsroom employment 7meaning in newspapers1 television1 radio1 and digital7 dropped by roughly #be percent from #bjjh to #bjah1 while the plunge in newspaper newsrooms alone was much worse1 at #dg percent4 7,c7 ,according to the program ,on the ,media of ,,wnyc ,studios1 beat reporting1 meaning the day-to-day coverage of a particular field that allows a journalist to develop expertise and cultivate sources1 has been gutted4 7,d7 ,freedom of ,information ,act requests submitted by local newspapers to local1 ,state1 and ,federal agencies fell by nearly #ej percent between #bjje and #bjaj1 demonstrating a significant drop in the extent to which reporters request government records4 7,e7 ,according to the ,pew ,research ,center1 newspapers alone lost more than #ce1jjj1jjj1jjj in advertising revenue between #bjjd and #bjah4 7,f7 ,a #bjah study by ,american ,indian ,media ,today found that the number of ,american ,indian print media sources has shrunk dramatically in recent years1 from #gjj media outlets in #aiih to only #bjj in #bjah4 7#e7 ,according to the ,native ,american ,journalists ,association1 ,tribal news outlets are often dependent on ,tribal governments for funding1 but most ,tribal news outlets lack the policy structure necessary to fully protect journalistic independence4 7#f7 ,as a result1 freedoms of speech and press among ,tribal nations are inconsistent1 as ,tribal media journalists report experiencing punitive budgetary restrictions1 censorship1 required prior approval of content1 and workplace harassment in pursuit of ,tribal reporting4 7#g7 ,in its #bjai call-to-action report1 ,losing the ,news3 ,the ,decimation of ,local ,journalism and the ,search for ,solutions1 ,,pen ,america proposed a major reimagining of the local news space1 in which local reporting is re-conceptualized as a public good1 calling on society and government to urgently address the alarming demise of local journalism4 7#h7 ,half a century ago1 ,congress perceived that the commercial television industry would not on its own provide the educational and public interest broadcasting that was appropriate and necessary for the country1 and1 informed by an independent report prepared by the ,carnegie ,commission on ,educational ,television1 saw fit to create the ,corporation for ,public ,broadcasting1 which has since ensured that radio and television include public interest educational and reporting programs1 using annually appropriated funds4 7#i7 ,in order to determine an appropriate course of action to preserve and sustain local news across the ,united ,states1 including in all ,states1 territories1 insular communities1 and ,tribal areas1 it is desirable to establish a ,federal advisory commission on the future of local news to prepare a report that would make recommendations to ,congress4 #c4 ,future of ,local ,news ,commission 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a commission to be known as the ,future of ,local ,news ,commission 7in this section referred to as the ,commission74 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,commission is to-- 7#a7 examine the state of local news and the ability of local news to sustain democracy by meeting the critical information needs of the people of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 provide recommendations on mechanisms that the ,federal ,government can create and effectively implement to support production of professional1 independent1 and high-quality local news to meet the needs of the public1 which recommendations1 in addition to any other proposals deemed appropriate1 may explore the possible creation of a new national endowment for local journalism1 or the reform and expansion of the ,corporation for ,public ,broadcasting or another appropriate institution1 to make public funds a part of a multi-faceted approach to sustaining local news4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,composition ,the ,commission shall be composed of #ac members1 of whom-- 7,a7 #b shall be appointed by the majority leader of the ,senate2 7,b7 #b shall be appointed by the minority leader of the ,senate2 7,c7 #b shall be appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,d7 #b shall be appointed by the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,e7 #b shall be appointed by the ,chairman of the ,board of ,directors of the ,corporation for ,public ,broadcasting2 7,f7 #b shall be appointed by the ,chairperson of the ,national ,endowment for the ,humanities2 and 7,g7 #a shall be appointed by the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media4 7#b7 ,criteria for service on the ,commission ,to the extent practical1 the ,commission shall include members with relevant expertise1 such as individuals in the following positions3 7,a7 ,print media news editor4 7,b7 ,digital-native or digital-first news editor4 7,c7 ,broadcast news editor4 7,d7 ,local county editor or journalist of a news outlet with circulation or readership of not more than #ge1jjj4 7,e7 ,print media journalist or editor for a news outlet that serves national readership4 7,f7 ,nonprofit news outlet journalist or editor4 7,g7 ,broadcast news reporter who works for a local broadcast outlet serving a single community or geographic area4 7,h7 ,a research expert on the state of local news and the phenomenon of the industry's revenue loss and overall contraction during the last #aj or more years4 7,i7 ,business leader in the media industry4 7,j7 ,labor union leader in the media industry4 7,k7 ,dean or professor at a university school of journalism4 7,l7 ,civil society representative from a nonpartisan organization that examines the nature of the local news crisis4 7,m7 ,editor or other senior professional of a regional ethnic media outlet serving communities in which ,english is a second language4 7,n7 ,editor or other senior professional of a ,tribal news outlet or a news outlet serving ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 or ,native ,hawaiian communities4 7#c7 ,diversity ,to the extent practical1 the ,commission shall-- 7,a7 include members from diverse regions of the country and reflect the experience of rural1 urban1 suburban1 insular1 and ,tribal communities2 and 7,b7 reflect the gender and racial diversity of the ,united ,states4 7#d7 ,designation of alternates ,if a member of the ,commission is unable to serve on the ,commission for the duration of the ,commission1 the official who had appointed the resigning commissioner shall appoint an alternate not later than #cj days after the member withdraws or becomes unable to serve4 7#e7 ,chairperson ,the chairperson of the ,commission shall be elected by the ,commission from among the members by a majority vote at the initial meeting4 7#f7 ,term of membership ,members of the ,commission shall serve until the date on which the ,commission terminates under subsection 7h74 7#g7 ,compensation ,members of the ,commission shall not be compensated for membership on the ,commission but may be allowed reimbursement for travel and incidental expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the ,government service are allowed expenses under section #egjc7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7d7 ,duties ,the duties of the ,commission are as follows3 7#a7 ,to examine the implications for the democracy of the ,united ,states of the disappearance of so many local newspapers1 digital news outlets1 and broadcasting outlets-- 7,a7 in every ,state and territory2 7,b7 in rural1 urban1 suburban1 insular1 and ,tribal communities1 of the ,united ,states2 and 7,c7 that serve ,black communities and non-,english-speaking communities4 7#b7 ,to assess-- 7,a7 the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the demise of the news industry2 and 7,b7 whether the ,paycheck ,protection ,program set forth in section #g7;a77#cf7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcf7;a77#cf77 has had beneficial effects on local news organizations4 7#c7 ,to assess the effectiveness of existing ,federal statutes 7including the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and the antitrust laws71 regulations1 institutions 7including the ,corporation for ,public ,broadcasting71 and programs in supporting the production of local news4 7#d7 ,to examine potential new mechanisms for public funding for the production of local news to meet the critical information needs of the people of the ,united ,states and address systemic inequities in media coverage and representation throughout the country4 7#e7 ,to consider issues of transparency and other guardrails1 such as editorial independence from government actors and a distinct1 independent legal and financial structure for the funding institution1 which must be addressed if public funding is viewed in principle as one path forward to support production of local news4 7e7 ,powers of the ,commission 7#a7 ,hearings ,the ,commission may1 for the purpose of carrying out this section1 hold hearings1 sit and act at times and places1 take testimony1 and receive evidence as the ,commission considers appropriate4 7#b7 ,powers of members and agents ,any member of the ,commission may1 upon authorization by the ,commission1 take any action that the ,commission is authorized to take under this section4 7#c7 ,obtaining official data ,subject to applicable privacy laws and relevant regulations1 the ,commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the ,united ,states information and data necessary to enable it to carry out this section4 ,upon written request of the chairperson of the ,commission1 the head or acting representative of that department or agency shall furnish the requested information to the ,commission not later than #cj days after receipt of the request4 7f7 ,operating rules and procedure 7#a7 ,initial meeting ,the ,commission shall meet not later than #cj days after the date on which a majority of the members of the ,commission have been appointed4 7#b7 ,meetings ,the ,commission shall convene some of its public meetings in various regions of the country4 7#c7 ,voting ,each member of the ,commission shall have #a vote4 7#d7 ,recommendations ,the ,commission shall adopt recommendations only upon a majority vote4 7#e7 ,quorum ,a majority of the members of the ,commission shall constitute a quorum1 but a lesser number of members may hold meetings1 gather information and evidence1 and review draft reports from staff4 7g7 ,staff 7#a7 ,personnel ,the chairperson of the ,commission may appoint staff to inform1 support1 and enable commissioners in the fulfillment of their responsibilities4 ,a staff member may not be a local1 ,state1 or ,federal elected official or be affiliated with or employed by such an elected official during the duration of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,expert consultants ,as needed1 the ,commission may commission intermittent research or other information from experts and provide stipends for engagement consistent with relevant statutes and regulations4 7h7 ,duration ,the ,commission shall terminate #fj days after the date on which the ,commission presents the findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations of the ,commission at the public hearing described in subsection 7i77#c74 7i7 ,report 7#a7 ,submittal of report ,not later than #a year after the date of the initial meeting of the ,commission1 the chairperson of the ,commission shall submit to ,congress a comprehensive report on the findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations of the ,commission in furtherance of the purpose of the ,commission under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,public access to report ,the report submitted to ,congress under paragraph 7#a7 shall be publicly available online for free4 7#c7 ,hearing and implementation ,after the ,commission submits the report under paragraph 7#a71 the appropriate committees of ,congress may hold hearings at which the ,commission may present the findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations of the ,commission as laid out in the report4 7j7 ,applicability of ,,faca ,except as provided in subsection 7h71 the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall apply to the ,commission4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,commission #a1jjj1jjj to carry out this section4