Rebuild Local News Proposes A Public-Private Plan To Save Local Newspapers (mediapost.com)

Since 2005, 2,100 newspapers have closed, almost one-quarter of the 9,000 newspapers that were being published in 2004, according to a report from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Can newspapers be saved?

The Rebuild Local News coalition has an ambitious plan.

The organization comprises a large group — including but not limited to the Institute for Nonprofit News, the National Newspaper Association, Local Independent Online News, Black publishers, Hispanic publishers, the American Journalism Project, The Lenfest Institute and PEN/America.

RLN is not turning to government for a bailout; it sees it as an ally. The gist of the plan is for Americans to step up and help save local news, which is essential to ensure communities have a watchdog to fight corruption and waste.

In fact, Rebuild Local News envisions approximately $3 billion-$5 billion injected into the local news economy from philanthropy, businesses, consumers and the government — but mostly via tax credits.

One bipartisan idea is a $250 refundable tax credit used to buy local news subscriptions or as a donation to a local nonprofit news endeavor.
more at source: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/356458/rebuild-local-news-proposes-a-public-private-plan.html

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