WASHINGTON—Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced S. 673, the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.
NetChoice implores the full Senate to reject this proposal that elevates politically-favored newsrooms while inhibiting other services on which Americans rely for news.
In the 21st century, there are more ways than ever to access news about what’s happening down the street and around the world. The free flow of information plays a vital role in public discourse, and the internet brings us local and global information instantly – wherever we are. For Americans, we have more intellectually diverse news and views at our fingertips. Big media companies and gatekeeper editors are no longer in control of what makes it to publication. Such dynamism has allowed emerging outlets to rise—without the hand of government.
But the JCPA—Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s pro–collusion bill—gives new powers to entrenched media incumbents, undermining future competition in a diverse and competitive landscape.
“We’re disappointed to see the Senate Judiciary Committee advance JCPA. Exempting newspapers from antitrust laws will incentivize them to collude in order to control legitimate news and diminish competition,” said Jennifer Huddleston, Policy Counsel for NetChoice. “In an effort to prop-up traditional media, Congress forgets that Americans have more sources of news and views than ever before–because of the internet. Traditional media is increasingly woke and progressive, so we’re disappointed to see Republicans support this bill.”
“JCPA will make news outlets dependent on the government, further undermining the independence and integrity of journalists,” continued Huddleston. “This bill is less about protecting journalists and more about scoring political points for Senator Klobuchar, which makes it mystifying to see Sen. Cruz is helping her. The full Senate must reject this pro-collusion government intervention in American news and views.”
You can find Huddleston’s recent op-ed on JCPA at Reason here.
JCPA is opposed by several organizations and leaders across the political spectrum, including Public Knowledge, Electronic Frontier Foundation, the LA Times, Breitbart, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Jim Jordan, and Sens. Blackburn, Cotton, and Rubio. Sen. Rand Paul, who was originally a co-sponsor, pulled his support of the bill on 7-Sep.