Who do you trust when you just need the facts?

Americans overwhelmingly turn to their local news outlets for critical information, which they know has been fact checked to provide the most trusted news. Radio and TV broadcasters cover local news and emergencies, often running toward a disaster as others are running for their lives. Broadcasters are part of the communities where they work, so they also support neighborhood charities and community projects, and provide a personal connection to national and international stories. Local media provides the news you can trust, and it has never been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the dominant Big Tech platforms threaten Americans’ access to quality local journalism. They use local news outlets’ stories and take the majority of the digital advertising revenue associated with it, leaving local outlets with little to reinvest in quality journalism. And what’s worse, the Big Tech algorithms prioritize controversial content, serving up questionable misinformation and disinformation sites to the public.

NAB is partnering with the News Media Alliance to ask Congress to empower local journalism. The bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) would allow local news outlets – including radio and television stations and newspapers – to come together to negotiate with Big Tech for compensation for access to their original content.

Without the ability to partner, local news outlets lack negotiating power against the billion-dollar Big Tech giants. If left unchecked, the overwhelming market power of platforms like Google and Facebook will continue to divert digital revenue from local media outlets, leaving them with less money to invest in on-the-ground reporters and equipment such as news vans and newsgathering services.

When local news goes away, it’s the public who suffers. A recent study by Brookings shows that less local news has been linked to more government corruption, less-competitive elections and weaker municipal finances.

You can help protect the local news your community relies on – ask your member of Congress to support the JCPA now.