{"id":9125,"date":"2024-02-21T13:41:06","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T14:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=9125"},"modified":"2024-02-21T15:23:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T15:23:50","slug":"plan-to-prop-up-wisconsin-newspapers-sets-off-alarm-bells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=9125","title":{"rendered":"Plan to prop up Wisconsin newspapers sets off alarm bells"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.badgerinstitute.org\/plan-to-prop-up-wisconsin-newspapers-sets-off-alarm-bells\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Analysis: Danger of government interference in proposals for \u2018fellowships\u2019 and grants to media<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

With all the pressing problems facing Wisconsin, it\u2019s difficult to imagine that state legislators would be even remotely concerned about the dwindling ranks of newspaper reporters statewide.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Rolled-up<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

But it\u2019s time to recalibrate expectations in the wake of a recently introduced bill that would have the state pay $1 million annually to fund a journalism fellowship program. The program would pay 25 newspaper reporters an annual salary of $40,000 in an effort to bolster local news coverage in communities underserved by newspapers.<\/p>\n

The bill is one of three related measures introduced by Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Reps. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) and Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire).<\/p>\n

The second bill would create a Civic Information Consortium Board (CICB), a group that would oversee a new nonprofit corporation called the Wisconsin Civic Information Consortium Inc. (WCIC). In partnership with the University of Wisconsin System, the corporation would award grants to fund \u201clocal news and media projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

The third bill would provide an income tax credit for newspaper subscribers, equal to 50 percent of a subscription cost, capped at $250 per person per year.<\/p>\n

The trio of bills, reportedly supported by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, raises some troubling issues. Should the state stick its nose in the media business, even in a tangential way? Should it be propping up failing industries? How would the process of selecting the 25 reporters \u2014 and the newspapers, for that matter \u2014 be kept apolitical? And what about potential conflicts of interest when these reporters cover state legislative issues?<\/p>\n

Furthermore, as a practical matter, given that there are 200 newspapers in Wisconsin as of November 2023, according to a database<\/a> compiled by the University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media, how much difference is 25 reporters going to make?<\/p>\n

Bad precedent<\/strong><\/h4>\n

State Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) says the bills is one of the worst pieces of legislation he\u2019s ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving served in the Legislature for over a decade, I have seen my fair share of ridiculous ideas, but this one might be near the top,\u201d he says. \u201cThe notion that it is government\u2019s job to subsidize and prop up a dying industry like journalism is preposterous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0 Stroebel also notes that state subsidies for newspapers open up a whole new set of questions when it comes to journalistic integrity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill reporters accurately report on stories or thoroughly investigate matters related to state government when it\u2019s that very government that is subsidizing their employment?\u201d he asks. \u201cPublic trust in traditional media is already in decline \u2014 these bills would likely exacerbate that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese bills are an example of government picking winners and losers while driving us closer to the desired outcome, which is essentially a state-sponsored media,\u201d he concludes. \u201cThis is something that should concern all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack Shafer, a media writer for Politico<\/em>, calls the proposals \u201can incredibly bad idea.\u201d He questioned whether newspapers and reporters could be objectively selected and also asked why just newspapers \u2014 not other media outlets \u2014 were targeted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also creates a conflict of interest,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t inspire a lot of confidence, knowing that news reports might be coming from someone who\u2019s essentially paid by the government. To me, that seems untenable.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo government subsidy comes without some kind of compromise,\u201d Shafer continues. \u201cYou can easily imagine the news industry becoming dependent on handouts, then have their funding removed if they\u2019re critical of the state Legislature.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last thing you want is a press that becomes a captive of government interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shafer also says that legislation like this reflects liberals\u2019 propensity for government intervention in order to maintain a status quo for failing industries.<\/p>\n

\u2018Unserious\u2019 legislation<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Spreitzer was not available for an interview<\/strong>. But in a press release, he said the legislation is necessary to help local news organizations that have suffered deep staffing cuts. More than a quarter of American newspapers have folded and one in every five Americans now live in local news deserts, he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a state senator, I know first-hand how important local journalism is to the foundation of our democracy \u2014 keeping Wisconsinites informed about their government and local community, providing opportunities for discussion on important civic issues and helping to cultivate an informed and engaged electorate,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery Wisconsinite deserves access to high-quality and affordable local journalism. This package is an important tool to support local news while encouraging civic participation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) says the legislation is intended to bolster democracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI genuinely believe that one of the big reasons why thing have gotten so partisan and divisive is that people have poor media diets,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m trying to improve the media landscape in Wisconsin.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for potential conflicts of interest, Anderson asserts the bill has \u201cguardrails\u201d in place that would prevent government from interfering with reporters in the fellowship program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure reporters can report on what they want to report on without any government influence,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Asked if government should be picking winners and losers in an industry, particularly one that\u2019s seriously faltering, Anderson notes that there are other many other precedents for government subsidies for industries, such as the paper industry, for starters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not proposing to spend a million dollars on an obsolete industry,\u201d he explains. \u201cJournalism is a fundamental part of our democracy and our society\u2026and we need to support it as much as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will 25 reporters really make a difference? Anderson says every reporter matters, especially in rural or low-income areas where defunct newspapers have created \u201cmedia deserts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdding any number of reporters can only improve the situation,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Anderson concedes that the bills have no chance of advancing in this legislative session, but says they\u2019ve generated some excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad we\u2019ve started a conversation about the media and its role in our society,\u201d he say.<\/p>\n

Money for media<\/strong><\/h4>\n

To qualify for the $40,000-a-year \u201cfellowships,\u201d applicants would be required to complete a two- or four-year degree in journalism, media, communications or \u201ca similar program.\u201d They also would have to demonstrate how their participation in the program will \u201chelp increase access to high quality local journalism, bolster media literacy, meet state residents\u2019 civic information needs or a combination of these,\u201d according to a summary of the bill.<\/p>\n

As for the CICB, the group would consist of two members appointed by the governor, one from each political party; two state senators and two state representatives, with one each picked from the majority party and the majority party; representatives with media expertise from UW-Madison, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Superior, appointed by the president of the UW System; and one representative from a local media group, one from the technology sector and two at-large public members, all appointed by a majority of the aforementioned members.<\/p>\n

The media grants distributed by the CICB would fund local news and media projects aimed at \u201caddressing communities\u2019 information needs, bolstering media literacy and civic engagement and supporting access to high-quality, consistent local journalism, especially among underserved communities,\u201d according to a bill summary.<\/p>\n

According to a summary of the bill, a grant application would have to include an explanation of \u201chow the proposed project benefits the state\u2019s civic information needs and provides media literacy skills or local journalism access to currently underserved residents of this state.\u201d Furthermore, a grant recipient must agree to remain independent, and the corporation must ensure that at least 30 percent of the total amount of all grants awarded are distributed to \u201coff-campus partners\u201d in rural communities.<\/p>\n

The WCIC also would be required to collect data on state populations and communities that are \u201cunderserved by local news\u201d and prioritize grant funding for these populations and communities.<\/p>\n

How much would it cost the state to fund this corporation? No dollar amount was provided in the bill summary, but it indicated that funding would come in the form of \u201ca new general fund appropriation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposed bills are not precedent-setting. Since 2017, at least 13 states have proposed similar legislation<\/a>. The proposals were approved in other states, including California<\/a>,\u00a0New Mexico<\/a>, New Jersey <\/a>and Washington<\/a>. Similar programs are under consideration in other states, including Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.<\/p>\n

Stroebel believes the Wisconsin proposals have no chance of advancing right now.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, as unserious as these policies are, that doesn\u2019t mean we should ignore them,\u201d he cautions. \u201cDemocrats are telling us exactly what their agenda will be if they are able to take control of the Legislature this fall. These bills show just how out of touch Democrats are with the needs of Wisconsinites.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Shafer agrees, noting that liberal initiatives like this rarely die.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because it doesn\u2019t pass this time doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t pass the next time,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Ken Wysocky is a Milwaukee-area freelance journalist and editor with more than 40 years of journalism experience.<\/em><\/p>\n

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