Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
Klobuchar is a vocal advocate for local news organizations and has introduced legislation to allow news publishers to collectively negotiate with digital platforms
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled “Breaking the News – Journalism, Competition and the Effects of Market Power on a Free Press” on February 2 at 2:30pm ET.
“As the daughter of a newspaperman, I understand the important role journalism plays in our democracy,” said Klobuchar. “At this hearing, we will examine how shifts in market power, especially to dominant digital platforms, have hurt local newspapers and broadcasters, and we will explore the importance of local news in communities across the country. It is past time to address the need to preserve the newspapers, radio stations, and broadcasters that keep our communities informed, and competition policy is part of that solution.”
Last March, Klobuchar, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), Representative David Cicilline (D-RI), and Representative Ken Buck (R-NY) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide a safe harbor from antitrust laws so news publishers can band together to negotiate with digital platforms. The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act would allow a 48-month window for companies to negotiate fair terms that would flow subscription and advertising dollars back to publishers, while protecting and preserving Americans’ right to access quality news.
Last May, Klobuchar and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation to create a committee to study the state of local journalism and offer recommendations to Congress on the actions it can take to support local news organizations.
Last July, Klobuchar and Senators Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Local Journalism Sustainability Act to help financially support local news organizations through tax credits to incentivize hiring more journalists, subscriptions, and advertising from local small businesses.
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