This week NewsGuild locals in Buffalo, Albany and New York City called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to include a local journalism job tax credit in the reconciliation effort currently being negotiated in the Senate.
Originally included in the reconciliation effort that passed the House earlier this year, the tax credit would provide up to $25,000 in a payroll tax credit for news companies who employ local journalists. We helped raise the cap to cover 1,500 local journalists per company each year. The NewsGuild has supported the legislation since it was introduced last year.
“We’ve all seen what has happened to most newsrooms around the state,” wrote Kenneth Crowe, president of The Newspaper Guild of Albany. “They have shrunk and nearly disappeared completely in many instances.”
“The Albany Guild believes strongly that by including the tax credit in the reconciliation legislation it will help strengthen our democracy by supporting a stronger free press,” he wrote.
“This journalism job tax credit is critical for the local news industry and our democracy,” wrote Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York.
“There are no good Plan B options for this legislation,” wrote the News Media Guild executive committee. “It is desperately needed now.”