Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Media Civic Journalism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Negotiators discuss trimming community radio support and shifting funds to civic journalism
Summary
Committee members proposed a compromise to reduce funding for community radio stations and redirect some funds to civic journalism support, including awards and philanthropic matching; staff were asked to consider alternatives and language.
Committee members reviewed a funding request for community radio stations and a separate civic journalism proposal. Speaker 1 described community radio as "growing and especially providing emergency services and local programming opportunities," and said there are "7 currently" (stations) providing local services in some rural areas.
The House had requested $250,000 for community radio and the conference had the amount at $150,000; Speaker 2 proposed a compromise to reduce support to radio stations by 50% and reallocate the remainder to a civic journalism program (awards and philanthropic matching) administered with the Secretary of State. Speaker 2 said they would "take that as an alternative" and asked staff to consider a split between community radio support and civic journalism funding and return with options.
Committee members emphasized the civic journalism program would support reporting on local civic institutions—school board meetings, planning boards and elections—and said staff should draft alternative funding language and amounts for the next meeting.
