We can’t wait for Big Tech to solve our local news crisis

The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent antitrust case against Google has shone a spotlight on the tech giant’s role in the American news ecosystem. Federal prosecutors argue that Google’s dominance in digital advertising harms advertisers and publishers who pay the company a portion of their revenue to serve their website ads.

While the outcome of this case could financially benefit the predominantly large media companies that rely on this practice as their primary source of revenue, the impact on small, independent media companies is less certain.

As publishers of local newspapers, we join our colleagues in the media who want fair compensation for the use of the content we produce. But local news can’t rely solely on Big Tech to solve our industry’s ongoing financial crisis. It’s time to adopt policies that don’t rely solely on antitrust regulations to save local news.

Local news is a public good, as important to our democratic systems as utilities are to our homes and businesses. Reporters and editors who live in suburban and rural communities are far better prepared to cover those communities than national media outlets that only jump in when there’s an important story, usually from (guess who) the Local newspaper was discovered.

Truly local news organizations provide local jobs, ensure community values ​​are prioritized in local reporting, and tell stories that are relevant to people’s everyday lives. When these media outlets disappear, the gap is often filled by the national, partisan media – a stark contrast to the local news outlets that champion the stories that bridge partisan divides, like the church bake sale or the local high school run. School football team for the state championship.

For years, tech giants have disrupted this vital media landscape, siphoning off the advertising revenue that once sustained local newsrooms. In place of that revenue, they have offered grants and short-term initiatives to support journalism.

Building a business model on such a precarious foundation — whether the funders are charities or Fortune 500 companies — leaves local news organizations vulnerable to sudden funding cuts that could devastate entire newsrooms. These short-term solutions can undermine local news and leave entire communities without trusted sources of information.

To truly ensure the sustainability of local journalism, we need public policies that allow local news outlets to become and remain profitable without relying on the uncertain support of Big Tech. That’s why recent legislative efforts in states like New York and Illinois are so important.

In New York, lawmakers passed the Broadcast and Newspaper Media Jobs program, a tax credit for local newspapers. The law gives eligible outlets a 50 percent tax credit for the first $50,000 of each employee’s salary, up to a maximum of $300,000, and provides direct financial support to prevent layoffs and closures in small newsrooms.

This policy – ​​with objective and content-neutral eligibility requirements – enables local news organizations to remain financially stable and independent of external influences. Illinois is taking a similar path, recognizing that the future of local news is at risk without legislative support.

These legislative steps demonstrate how government can play an essential role in securing the future of local journalism by providing targeted support that enables newsrooms to operate autonomously while maintaining their journalistic integrity. The founders of our country knew how important this was. This is why the free press is the only industry mentioned in our Constitution.

Policymakers across the country should follow the Founders’ intent. While federal antitrust cases like the Google monopoly trial may lead to some changes in the tech industry, they alone are unlikely to provide the comprehensive solutions that local journalism needs.

Both Democrats and Republicans have an interest in strengthening our local news ecosystem and supporting the news institutions that have covered America’s small towns for generations. Walk into the office of any elected official—Democrat or Republican, in Washington DC or around the corner—and there’s bound to be a story about them from the local newspaper on the wall.

Our communities deserve independent, locally focused journalism that serves their interests. There is too much at stake to rely on short-term solutions from the very companies that revolutionized our industry in the first place.

Without decisive action, local news’ critical role in holding power accountable and connecting our communities could be lost. We must act now to ensure the future of local news is in the hands of the communities we serve.

This commentary is part of The Hill’s “How to Fix America” ​​series, examining solutions to some of the country’s most pressing problems.

Zachary Richner is a director at Richner Communications, Inc. Cameron Nutting Williams is chief revenue officer of Ogden Newspapers and former president of the board of directors of America’s Newspapers. Jeremy Gulban is the CEO of CherryRoad Media.

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