Enhancing Local News Coverage in Underserved Pennsylvania Regions through New Legislation
Pennsylvania Proposes Legislation to Boost Local News Coverage in Underserved Communities
Pennsylvania is taking steps to address the lack of local news coverage in rural and underserved communities by establishing the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium. This independent, nonpartisan body will distribute grants to local newsrooms and nonprofit organizations, mirroring New Jersey's successful Civic Information Consortium.
State Representative Chris Rabb introduced the bill, which aims to revitalize community news by funding local journalism efforts and creating journalism jobs through programs such as state fellowships for early-career journalists. The Pennsylvania initiative targets counties with one or fewer newsrooms, many of which are rural or underserved areas.
The approach includes funding hyperlocal startups, supporting multilingual outlets, and providing training and fellowship opportunities for local residents and student journalists. The goal is to fill critical information gaps and ensure that relevant civic information reaches underserved populations. To date, the New Jersey model has awarded over $10 million to various grantees, producing thousands of news stories.
In Union County, one of several areas in Pennsylvania considered underserved by local news outlets, the situation is particularly challenging. The Daily Item and the Standard-Journal provide some coverage of the region, but Union County does not have a news outlet within its boundaries. Kevin Mertz, editor of the Standard-Journal, appreciates the interest in community journalism at the state level.
Shari Jacobson, a professor of anthropology at Susquehanna University, tries to stay informed about local news in Lewistown and Pennsylvania's Union County. She believes that issues such as farmland conversions, hospital consolidations, environment concerns, and new tire burning facilities are not getting enough news coverage in the region.
Jacobson also notes that local politicians often run on clickbait national issues that don't affect the community, while the community is at risk of losing access to medical care, broadband internet, and farmland to solar fields, among other things. Internet access is still limited in the area, making it difficult for small businesses and students to stay connected.
Rabb believes that the lack of local news has led to the "devaluing of democratic institutions," hyperpartisanship, and an ill-informed electorate. He hopes that the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium will help to address these issues and ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to accurate, relevant, and timely news.
Next week, the Standard-Journal will be covering multiple National Night Out events and two school board meetings. They employ two more staff reporters and a two-person sports department, in addition to freelance stringers. The Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium will provide much-needed support to news outlets like the Standard-Journal, ensuring that they can continue to serve their communities effectively.
[1] Pennsylvania House of Representatives, "House Bill 1765: Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium Act" (2021) [2] Northwestern University, "Local News Landscape" (2020) [3] New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, "About Us" (2021) [4] Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, "Broadband Programme" (2021) [5] Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, "Agricultural Broadband Initiative" (2021)
[1] In an effort to enhance home-and-garden coverage and promote a balanced lifestyle, the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium could consider funding local gardening or home improvement projects, generating content that educates and inspires residents in underserved communities.
[2] To create a comprehensive and inclusive lifestyle in Pennsylvania, the initiative should also support multilingual outlets specializing in home-and-garden topics, serving those with limited English proficiency and facilitating a more diversified community.
