U.S. Congress agrees to expand payroll assistance to local news outlets

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Congressional leaders said on Sunday that lawmakers agreed to expand forgivable government loans to additional struggling local news outlets as part of a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the measure would expand eligibility "for nonprofits and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters."

Thousands of local newspapers, TV and radio stations had been ineligible for the initial "Paycheck Protection Program" approved by Congress in March because they were owned by larger parent companies.

U.S. local news outlets, which already faced a decline in print revenue in recent years, have seen advertising revenue plummet in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. A report released by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell in October said U.S. newspapers would most likely cut at least 7,000 employees in 2020, leaving only about 30,000 newsroom jobs.


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-congress-agrees-to-expand-payroll-assistance-to-local-news-outlets/ar-BB1c5KIQ?li=BBnb7Kz

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Good

[jimfields33]

1. i don't mind giving them a break so much.

I’m just thinking that newspapers are on their last breath. Websites are where it’s at. I cant wait to see the environmental destructive newspapers themselves gone for good. Everybody can stay on and work the future ways of getting the news out.

[brush]

2. That's ok but state and local governments need help desperately.

or there are going to be cuts in services like transit, garbage pick-ups, road maintenance etc. Not to mention the layoffs which will be the reason for the cuts in service.