Pennsylvania House Committee Advances Essential Legislative Package to Support Local Journalism and Civic Information
The bills follow legislative models that are succeeding in supporting local news in a growing number of states
HARRISBURG — On Wednesday, Pennsylvania’s House Committee on Communications & Technology passed two important journalism and civic-information bills (HB 2047 and HB 2048) designed to support independent public-interest news that meets the most pressing information needs of communities across the Commonwealth.
The legislative package, which Pennsylvania State Rep. Chris Rabb introduced and 12 state representatives co-sponsored, lays out two distinct approaches. HB 2047 would establish a state-backed fellowship program to place early- and mid-career journalists in community newsrooms across Pennsylvania. HB 2048 would create a Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium to invest in local reporting projects that expand coverage of municipal government, schools, public safety, environmental health and other core issues that directly affect Pennsylvanians’ daily lives.
“This is a critical time to support independent public-interest journalism. Taken together, these bills treat local news and civic information as the public goods that they are,” said Mike Rispoli, the senior director of Free Press Action’s journalism and civic information program. “They prioritize transparency, independence and the information needs of Pennsylvania residents; they direct resources to where they can do the most good; and they lay the groundwork for longer-term, sustainable solutions. Other states have shown that the kind of complementary approach these bills take is an effective way to support journalism jobs and strengthen the broader local-news landscape.”
“At a time of great turmoil for local journalism in Southwestern Pennsylvania, these bills will help provide stability to the more than 50 newsrooms that continue to produce critical news and information for this region,” said Jennie Liska, co-executive director of revenue and operations at Pittsburgh’s Public Source.
“Local journalism is strongest when it reflects the full diversity of the communities it serves,” said Martin Alfaro, the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. “These bills create opportunities for smaller and ethnic media outlets to build capacity, mentor new journalists and expand culturally competent coverage. For NAHJ Philadelphia, this support helps ensure that Latino and multilingual communities are not left out of the civic conversation. Investing in local news is ultimately an investment in representation and access.”
“We’re thrilled to see the House Communications & Technology Committee pass these two bills, both of which offer critical support for local news and building civic infrastructure in Pennsylvania,” said Chris Krewson, the executive director of LION Publishers. “Too many Pennsylvanians lack access to quality local journalism as outlets across the state continue to close their doors and lay off staff. Investing in local news — especially independent media — will ensure these businesses can be more sustainable, that power is held accountable and that the public is more informed.”
“The passage of these bills is not only a victory for Pennsylvania journalists, but sends a courageous message to the rest of America that our Commonwealth is substantially invested in our local free press,” said Ernest Owens, the president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. “This is what equity in free-press policy should look like — increasing opportunities for underrepresented local journalists and developing innovative pipelines for the future.”
“Democracy cannot function without a free press and an informed electorate. This legislation is an important step toward reinvesting in the local public-interest journalism that is vital to our civic life,” said Philip Hensley-Robin, Common Cause Pennsylvania’s executive director. “Every community needs and deserves quality reporting that informs voters and holds the powerful accountable. But because of the ongoing crisis in journalism, that is increasingly no longer the case in communities across Pennsylvania. These bills present proven models to start to address that crisis. We applaud the committee for advancing this important legislation and call on the General Assembly to pass these bills without delay.”
Background
Free Press Action spearheaded the legislative and organizing campaign that led to the creation of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, which HB 2048 is modeled after. Since 2021, NJCIC has distributed more than $12 million to local newsrooms and organizations across the state. Free Press Action collaborated with local allies to create and implement the California Local News Fellowship program at UC Berkeley. Serving as inspiration for HB 2047, the California Local News Fellowship program supports 75 fellows across the state annually, with a focus on communities with the greatest need of quality, trusted local news.