WASHINGTON—Senator Amy Klobuchar has reintroduced a key piece of her progressive antitrust pet project, the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA), in the 118th Congress.
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 innovation 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.
“It seems that in Washington, a bad idea is never dead. Exempting newspapers from antitrust laws will incentivize them to collude to control information channels and diminish competition,” said Carl Szabo, Vice President & General 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 public trust in the industry,” continued Szabo. “This bill is less about protecting journalists and more about scoring political points for Senator Klobuchar. Congress should again throw out this pro-collusion government intervention in American news and views.”
You can find a one pager on JCPA here and more information here.
JCPA has been opposed by several organizations and leaders across the political spectrum, including Public Knowledge, Electronic Frontier Foundation, the LA Times, Breitbart, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Jim Jordan, and Sens. Blackburn, Cotton, and Rubio. Sen. Rand Paul, who was originally a co-sponsor in 2022, pulled his support of the bill.