Debate continues on fund to aid journalism

Journalists and news organizations across Washington are pleading with lawmakers to set aside money to support local newspapers and broadcasters.

"Journalism is the work that our democracy relies on," said WNPA (Washington Newspaper Publishers Association) Executive Director Ellen Hiatt.

SB 5400 would create the "Washington Local News Sustainability Program," providing annual grants to help employ journalists and strengthen civic coverage in underserved communities.

Funds for the program would come from a 1.22 percent surcharge on the annual gross income of social media and search engine companies doing business in Washington. The tax would be collected quarterly, with a cap of $6 million per company each year.

The surcharge, which would go into effect January 2026, is expected to collect $24.2 million for the 2025-27 biennium. The amount is estimated to double during the 2027-29 biennium when it will be collected for a full two years.

During a public hearing March 18, opponents argued social-media companies and search engines "should not be responsible for solving the financial problems of local journalism," according to Rose Feliciano, executive director of Technet for Washington and the Northwest.

"The struggle facing news industries predates social media," said Feliciano. "First radio, then television and now the internet have changed people's habits, which has had an impact on traditional news publishing."

However, Board Member for the Washington Coalition for Open Government Robert McClure testified this is a case of "market failure," saying news "still has value to society, but the support system has disappeared."

According to a study by the Washington League of Women Voters, the state has lost more than 27 of the 140 newspapers that existed just 20 years ago, according to Dee Anne Finken, a retired journalist and volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Washington. Newsrooms that remain have seen staffing reductions of more than 50%. The staff decline means less local coverage and fewer news stories.

"Currently there are news deserts in so many places in our state," said former Sen. Karen Kaiser, D-Des Moines. "We cannot have a healthy democracy without an informed public. We need this kind of information flow."