Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Civic Journalism Awards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate adds one‑time civic journalism awards; Secretary of State to partner with UVM Center for Community News
Summary
The Senate added a one‑time appropriation to fund cash awards to local civic journalism organizations. The Secretary of State will collaborate with the UVM Center for Community News to set award criteria and select recipients by a panel of 3–5 ineligible journalists/academics.
The Senate added a one‑time appropriation instructing the Secretary of State to collaborate with the University of Vermont Center for Community News to distribute cash awards to local civic journalism organizations or businesses.
Grady Nixon, Joint Fiscal Office, described the addition — section e2.32.1 in the Senate draft — and read the draft language directing the Secretary of State and UVM Center for Community News to establish award criteria and assemble a panel of three to five journalists, academics or industry veterans who neither work for eligible organizations nor are eligible to receive awards to select recipients.
Committee members asked whether the provision had been carried in another bill and who sponsored it. Nixon said the language was brought to the Senate committee by the Senate Appropriations Committee chair and that it was not attached to another bill; it appeared in the Senate’s “Christmas tree” additions to the budget.
The committee took no formal action; staff characterized the item as a Senate‑added one‑time appropriation that appears in the B1100 section of the Senate working draft and advised members to consult the final addendum for the appropriation amount and final text.
