Media unions applaud FCC’s proposed rulemaking to support local news

NABET-CWA and NewsGuild-CWA applauded the FCC Chair Rosenworcel’s announcement on a proposed rulemaking to support local journalism by prioritizing license application review for broadcasters that provide locally originated programming.

“American democracy depends on every citizen having easy access to local news coverage that provides credible, factual information they need to make informed decisions about their health, their safety, their government, and their lives. Yet a rise in local news deserts, communities without access to local news, threatens the livelihood and wellbeing of our communities and our democracy. In the last decade thousands of local newspapers have shut their doors and half of all journalist jobs have disappeared,” said NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico and NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “We must do everything we can to protect and bolster local news coverage and the journalists and media workers who help bring us the news. That’s why we applaud Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s announcement on the proposed rulemaking to support local journalism. We look forward to working with the Federal Communications Commission to ensure our members can have a future in local journalism and our communities are served by the news they deserve.” 

The FCC eliminated a rule that required broadcast stations to maintain a studio with program origination capability located in or near their community of license in 2017. The new proposal aims to encourage radio and TV stations to serve their community of license with local journalism or other locally originated programming in order to advance efforts to promote localism and serve local communities across the nation. 

Links:

Media unions applaud FCC’s proposed rulemaking to support local news (CWA, Dec. 4, 2023)

FCC NPRM on Priority Application Review for Broadcast Stations that Provide Local Journalism or Other Locally Originated Programming (FCC, Jan. 17, 2024)