Community newspapers are key to a more inclusive America
More than 50 years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson heralded ethnic newspapers for their role in building American unity.
“Your publications represent one of the most American of all our American institutions,” Johnson told a roomful of publishers in the East Room of the White House. “Beyond this moment, beyond this hour, beyond this year, we must work for a better America — for all Americans … (t)his is the work we must always do.”
In these desperate times of horror and righteous anger over the needless deaths of George Floyd and countless others — and dawning shame that microaggressions against people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA are so commonplace they rarely draw more than passing acknowledgment — we recognize we have a very long way to go to reach America’s promise of compassion and unity. A promise that our country will embrace all people from different genders, religious affiliations and ethnicities equally.
And more than ever, America’s newspapers are vital in helping our nation reach its potential.
Citizens in our country turn to the news for information about the state of our country and the recent riots. The only reason we know about injustices in our backyard is because journalists rushed to the front lines to report in real time so we might know what was happening and what it might mean for the future of our community and society at large.
Newspapers shine a light on injustice and keep public pressure on the powerful. They combat the insidious spread of false information, especially unvetted rumors that spread like wildfire across social media. They provide more than sound bites and 280-character tweets; they inform our communities with insightful, in-depth coverage of weighty challenges and the truth.
And in these troubled times, they are messengers of our work toward a better society that prioritizes peace, respect, interfaith restorative justice and the value of all humankind. Indeed, the great theologian Karl Barth once told Time magazine newspapers are so important that “I always pray for the sick, the poor, journalists, authorities of the state and the church — in that order.”
But the old adage “What we take for granted will eventually be taken away” has never been more prescient.
Newspapers struggling with the one-two punch of the financial impact of COVID-19 on advertising revenue now face impending increased costs of new employment laws in California. As many as 20% of California’s newspapers are teetering on the financial cliff, putting many communities in jeopardy of becoming news-less.
As representatives of vibrant and extremely diverse districts, we are gravely concerned about the future of community and ethnic media. These outlets not only provide facts but also guide how to operate in American society — including how to participate civically. And local print newspapers ensure seniors and those without reliable internet access stay informed and engaged.
That’s why we are authoring Assembly Bill 323 (Rubio), which will bolster local news outlets, including ethnic media outlets, by establishing a path for them to access state advertising and providing more time for these outlets to adjust to independent contractor laws. This lifeline will help community and ethnic outlets survive, stabilize and continue to serve their communities.
AB 323 needs to pass the powerful Assembly Labor Committee and be voted upon by the state Assembly before the end of this month. Readers can support its passage by calling the Labor Committee chair, our respected colleague Assemblyman Ash Kalra, and asking for a yes vote on AB 323. Assemblyman Kalra can be reached at 916-319-2027.
Our great democracy — and our ability to improve it — is predicated on an informed citizenry. We cannot allow our community newspapers to die when we need them the most — in our pursuit of a more just, more inclusive America.