Bill > SRes152

This resolution designates April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" and addresses the critical challenges facing local journalism in the United States. The resolution highlights the fundamental importance of local news to democratic processes, noting that the First Amendment protects press freedom and that an informed citizenry relies on accurate reporting. It documents the significant decline of local news outlets, revealing that over 3,200 local print outlets have been lost since 2005, with an average of 2.5 newspapers closing weekly, and more than 200 counties having no local newspaper at all. The resolution emphasizes the broader implications of this decline, including reduced civic engagement, increased government and corporate corruption, and disproportionate impacts on rural, Black, Latino, and Native American communities. Additionally, it underscores the economic challenges facing local journalism, such as steep drops in advertising revenue, massive job losses in newsrooms, and the emergence of "ghost newspapers" with severely reduced reporting capabilities. By recognizing local news as a public good, the resolution aims to draw attention to the critical role of local journalism in maintaining informed, connected, and democratic communities.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/152/all-info