Access to trusted journalism leads to healthy democracy

The Problem

• More than 50 percent of Oregon’s incorporated cities lack a local news source.
• More than a quarter of Oregon’s newspapers have closed.
• Two of Oregon’s rural counties are already news deserts and 16 more have only one news organization to cover hundreds of miles.
• Many diverse communities across the state, such as non-English speakers and rural Oregonians have little access to trustworthy news and information.

The Solution: HB 2605

This innovative bill is a $2.9 million infusion of support to FORJournalism and the University of Oregon’s Agora Journalism Center to create the following:

• A statewide journalism resource center to provide support, programming and training to local publications.
• Mini-grants to at least a dozen projects designed to meet the information needs of vulnerable communities.
• A report to identify interventions and policy proposals that will have a significant impact on the capacity of and trust in news and information across Oregon’s communities.
• A community-informed workgroup to develop criteria and application procedures to guide project grants and participate in drafting the sustainability study and future legislative proposals.

<aside> ✍️ Email specific members of the Oregon State Legislature and ask their support for HB2605.

SIGN THE LETTER

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Why it Matters

A lack of local news leaves under-resourced rural and ethnic communities out of the vibrant dialogue needed to ensure a healthy democracy in Oregon. Without strong local news sources, community members have a harder time finding trustworthy information, and are less able to share their voices to shape the outcomes of our most important civic challenges.

Communities with trusted, local news experience:

• Higher rates of voter participation
• Less corruption
• Stronger feelings of community cohesiveness

Communities without strong local news experience:

• Lower voter participation
• A decline in government accountability
• An increase in corruption and polarization, contributing to the spread of misinformation, political division and reduced trust in media

Highlighted Testimonies

“From the housing crisis, to the economic stresses caused by the pandemic, from disappearing water supplies, to uncontrollable wildfire and extreme heat waves, Oregonians’ very lives depend on the information that our news sources can provide.” > more — Khanh Pham, State Representative District 46

“Just like clean water and safe highways and good schools are necessary to a functioning society, quality local news is an essential part of the civic infrastructure of democracy.” > more — Regina Lawrence, Associate Dean, SOJC Portland, University of Oregon

“This funding isn’t about helping a few or propping up a failing business model. It’s about testing and trying new ways to evolve as news gathering organizations, be it for-profit or non-profit, traditional community journalism or emerging platforms that have the tenants of journalism at their core. It’s about a runway to fix an industry that has been decimated by big tech and greedy hedge funds. It about journalists being present and living in both metro and rural communities around the state” > more — Heidi Wright, COO of EO Media Group

“FORJ will be the advocate for news outlets throughout our state, we’ll be the boots on the ground helping where the need is highest, and we’ll work with coalition partners to create a system that sustains local news.” > more — Jody Lawrence-Turner, Director, FORJournalism

“The loss of trusted news sources should be troubling as information gaps are where misinformation breeds, and accountability goes to die. But I also see hope with examples of innovative local news and civic media outlets directly supporting their community’s civic health.” > more — Andrew DeVigal, Director of UO’s Agora Journalism Center

<aside> 👍🏼 Read more testimonies in support of HB 2605

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Additional information and resources

• HB 2605 on the Oregon State Legislature website
• Chief Sponsors: ****Representative Khanh Pham, Representative Jules Walters, Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, Representative Ben Bowman