• by Ray Schultz , February 18, 2024

A coalition designed to foster local journalism has been created in New York State. 

The Empire State Local News Coalition is made up of over 100 local newspapers. 

The group supports these legislative priorities:

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act (S.625B/A2958C) would provide tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of journalists. 

Incentivizing small businesses to advertise in local media.

“The Empire State Local News Coalition is dedicated to advancing a legislative package with bipartisan support aimed at providing a lifeline to newspapers across the State,” says Zachary Richner, director of Long Island-based Richner Communications, and a founding member of the coalition.

Coalition members say they fulfill a critical function. 

“Village View is a critical source of local news,” says Arthur Z. Schwartz, senior editor, The Village View. “Its importance is reflected by the fact that we distribute 11,000 copies, by hand, to building lobbies and door stoops all over Greenwich Village and the West Village and we always get calls asking for more.”

“Professionally-reported, fact-checked local news forges community, keeps elected officials in check, and strengthens democracy,” says Adam Stone, publisher at Westchester’s Examiner Media .

Stone adds that the legislation would “help fortify our business and allow us to keep reinvesting in high-quality local journalists.”

New York State suffered a 40% decrease in newspapers between 2004 and 2019. Moreover, there are half the number of journalists left, and overall circulation has plummeted by 60%, it adds. 

Of all New York counties, 13 counties have only one newspaper and one, Orleans County,  has none.