RTDNA Chair’s Letter to Journalists: RTDNA Partner NAB is Working For You
By Andrea Stahlman
Dear Local Journalists:
This week, radio and television broadcasters from across the country are meeting with members of Congress to discuss the vital services they provide to every local community as part of the National Association of Broadcasters’ State Leadership Conference.
Participants include owners of large media companies, station general managers and owners of radio and television stations – big and small – from every state in America.
Relationships and an ongoing dialogue with members of Congress are critical as broadcasters advocate on issues that help keep the airwaves free and our industry economically strong.
As journalists, you know how critical local journalism is in your community.
You work hard to provide information in times of crisis and important news and weather information daily.
You know better than most how important local radio and television stations are to the communities they serve.
If you are a journalist working for a local broadcaster, I encourage you to be engaged in protecting our industry and support the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
Here are a few of the issues NAB is addressing this week:
- The power of big tech companies is threatening Americans’ access to quality local journalism. Broadcasters support the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which gives news producers the ability to fairly negotiate for their local journalism.
- Urging lawmakers to support the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes a performance tax. A performance tax on local stations would jeopardize local jobs, stifle new artists and harm local radio’s millions of listeners.
- Broadcasters support the Expanding Broadcast Ownership Opportunities Act of 2019. It would reinstate a tax certificate program that encourages broadcast station ownership for women and people of color.
- Broadcasters oppose any legislation that modifies the tax laws to make advertising more expensive, as it would have a devastating impact on radio and television stations.
Many journalists proceed through their careers without fully understanding or realizing how critical these issues are to what we do every day. You can learn more about Broadcasters’ Policy Agenda at nab.org/bpa.
Broadcasters provide critical information in times for emergency – for free. Radio and television broadcasters obtain licenses from the Federal Communications Commission because according to the law, the public owns the airwaves. We serve our communities – that is both our mission and our obligation.
To learn more about the National Association of Broadcasters and the policy issues that can impact our industry at nab.org.