Right this moment the Oregon Legislature will host a public listening to on Home Invoice 2605 — the Defend Journalism Act. At first look, it has nothing to do with bicycles or transportation. However in the event you take into account that it might be a significant supply of funding for BikePortland — which I’d argue is the most important and most influential biking and transportation information outlet within the state — you’ll perceive why that is on our entrance web page.
Sponsored by Home Rep. Khanh Pham, the invoice goals to enhance the monetary well being of companies like BikePortland all through the state by creating new funding alternatives to help journalists and the information retailers they work for. The way in which it was initially launched it might permit Oregonians to make a monetary contribution to a information outlet and obtain a tax credit score (Just like Oregon’s present political tax credit score). The invoice additionally seeks to kickstart a brand new grant program to supply instant monetary assist to fund native information — particularly in rural components of Oregon the place information deserts are more and more frequent.
I’ve heard that the invoice has been amended since being launched. The brand new plan is to drop the tax credit score and as an alternative search the legislature’s permission to ascertain a statewide process power of journalism specialists that can meet and give you an higher answer to this downside. That answer will then be pitched in a invoice subsequent session. (The grant program a part of the invoice will stay this session.)
I used to be so glad to see this invoice launched! It was like somebody lastly noticed me and my battle to make the enterprise aspect of BikePortland work.
Under is the testimony I submitted this morning:
Pricey Committee members,
Thanks for taking time to contemplate the Defend Journalism Act (HB 2605). I strongly help this invoice for 2 primary causes: I’m an Oregonian who believes {that a} well-informed public is crucial to a powerful democracy, and since I’m the proprietor of a small information enterprise who is aware of all too effectively how arduous it’s to outlive in right this moment’s media enterprise.
I launched BikePortland in 2005 — 18 years in the past — as a result of I noticed a spot in our neighborhood that wanted to be stuffed. There was no central, trusted supply of knowledge the place all of the completely different teams, folks, policymakers and organizations may come collectively, be taught from each other, construct a stronger neighborhood, and find out about necessary information that might influence their lives.
Almost 20 years in, I’ve received journalism awards, awards from advocacy teams, a particular commendation from a member of the United State Congress, and have been the topic of quite a few journal and newspaper tales. I’ve constructed a platform that reaches a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals each month. Our work has influenced numerous insurance policies, tasks, and other people.
However I don’t take into account BikePortland successful. Why? As a result of, regardless of broad help from our neighborhood, and a few years of arduous work, we’re nonetheless not financially sustainable. If we don’t increase income considerably by the center of this yr, we’ve to face some very arduous selections.
The information enterprise is unforgiving, and it’s not a meritocracy. It doesn’t care in regards to the high quality of your work or the influence it has on the neighborhood. It solely cares about clicks. I imagine in specializing in what’s important, not viral. I’ve felt the urge to favor clicks over high quality — to provide folks a chunk of sweet as an alternative of a well-rounded meal — as a result of that’s usually the place the cash is. However doing that results in a race to the underside and it’s not what’s finest for our neighborhood or for Oregon.
As a for-profit company, we don’t pursue grant funding and we will’t provide tax deductions for donations. That makes our funding problem much more troublesome, and it makes us much more reliant on the whims of advertisers, and the monetary help of particular person Oregonians.
The legislature has already created the political tax credit score to encourage extra folks to help and get engaged in electoral politics. We should always have funded journalism first! In spite of everything, extra funding for political events with out the information retailers and journalists to carry them accountable on this age of divisive, win-at-all-costs, misinformation campaigns — places Oregon’s democracy in peril.
The native information enterprise has by no means been a downhill trip within the park, and lately it’s like making an attempt to pedal a bicycle by way of a sandy desert with out water. HB 2605 can be an oasis.
Please help this invoice. Let’s rebuild the inspiration of native information.
Thanks for the chance to testify.
– Jonathan Maus
HB 2605 will likely be heard within the Home Committee on Guidelines at 1:00 pm right this moment (2/9). If you happen to imagine native media retailers like BikePortland are price combating for, I strongly encourage you to help this invoice. You may nonetheless submit written testimony, and you’ll join with Rep. Pham’s workplace in the event you’d wish to be taught extra or get entangled.
And sure, it’s true what I wrote in my testimony. Please turn out to be a monetary supporter of BikePortland right this moment.
If in case you have questions or suggestions about this web site or my work, be happy to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, through e-mail at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or telephone/textual content at 503-706-8804. Additionally, in the event you learn and admire this web site, please turn out to be a supporter.
