By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Des Moines, IA – Senators across the county are joining together to get funding for the local media outlets in their states.
Both Iowa Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have joined forces with other senators to sign a letter urging for support of local media during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The letter is a bipartisan draft that urges the Office of Management and Budget to provide and approve funds from paycheck protection program and to increase advertising in local radio, television and newspapers.
In a press release Ernst calls local reporting vital for the communities, especially in these times. She says that families and business rely on the information that is reported by the local outlets and that local media faces similar challenges to other small businesses. She also calls for the federal government to allocate already existing funds towards public service announcements with no additional cost to taxpayers.
The senators in their letter also urge for the federal government to increase their advertising in local media. They say that this action can be implemented today without the need of additional action taken by the federal government.