We applaud Reps. Scanlon and Schiff for recognizing and reaffirming journalists’ Constitutional rights and calling for the protection of these journalists, who are risking their lives to bring critical news and information to the public.
The last several days, journalists have been risking their lives to report on the ground at the scenes of protests across the country in response to the death of George Floyd. These journalists are serving a critical role in providing information the public needs to know in order to stay informed about what is happening in their communities, as well as to keep them and their families safe.
The News Media Alliance commends the U.S. Copyright Office for its comprehensive report on Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. We are pleased to notice that the report acknowledges that the intended balance of the safe harbor system created by Section 512 is currently “askew” and that the system might facilitate at least some activities and service providers that Congress did not intend to protect.
Today, a House version of the “Local News and Emergency Information Act of 2020” was introduced by Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI) and Ranking Member F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-05) that offers legislative text around a Small Business Administration affiliation waiver that would allow more news publishers to apply for SBA loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.
The News Media Alliance has elected Antoinette “Toni” Bush, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Government Affairs at News Corp, as its Chair of the Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 term.
Today, the bipartisan “Local News and Emergency Information Act” was introduced in the Senate by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Boozman (R-AR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), that offers legislative text around a Small Business Administration affiliation waiver for news publishers.
The Alliance is pleased to report that the latest stimulus package, introduced by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, includes support for local news in the form of an affiliation waiver allowing more news publishers to apply for Small Business Administration loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.
Today a bipartisan letter was sent from U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Boozman (R-ARK) to their Senate colleagues urging support for expanding U.S. Small Business Administration loan access to struggling local newspapers.
Today, four national media organizations representing thousands of local newspapers and local broadcast media outlets – the News Media Alliance, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Newspaper Association (NNA) and America’s Newspapers – jointly called on Congress to provide critical support to local news media in its next stimulus bill designed to provide relief to businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The News Media Alliance and Digital Content Next call on digital advertisers and digital advertising companies to stop using keyword blocking practices that jeopardize the sustainability of high-quality journalism during this critical time.
