To the Editor:

I have perhaps a slightly different take on the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. I get the “Supply, Demand and the Invisible Hand” arguments made. However, the fact is that the Communications Revolution has so swiftly surpassed traditional journalism and publishing to such a degree. This is one of the reasons why I left the publishing business myself when I was in my mid-30s, after about 13 years in the business in New York City. Fortunately, I had a Business Degree and transferable skill sets and experience which helped make my transition into other industries relatively seamless. I remember many of my old colleagues who were not as fortunate. 

I have three main reasons why I would encourage our elected representatives to support the LJSA. 1) Standards and Practices, 2) Editors, and 3) Fact Checkers. 

So many Americans are now receiving their news exclusively from news feeds on platforms such as X, and Facebook…platforms which are currently not held legally liable or responsible for any of these three reasons. Our First Amendment has always been my favorite. But we also have laws on the books such as Libel and Slander. Traditional publishers cannot publish something about a person or a company which is not true, without subsequently issuing a retraction, an apology, and a desist.  Otherwise, they can (and in my view, rightfully should), be able to be sued criminally and civilly for what was published. Publishers will carry what’s called E&O Insurance (Errors & Omissions) for just this reason. 

There is also non-partisan support and movement in Congress right now to repeal Section 230 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which I also would encourage our representatives to support. This Section currently prevents internet companies from being sued for content appearing on their platforms. If this Section is repealed, it will place traditional journalism and publishing on an even playing field and allow for the economics to work for themselves.  1996 was a long time ago. Section 230, while I believe was well-intention at the time, is now at the point, I would argue, where it is completely obsolete.  As one of the Senators, I believe it was Sen. Whitehouse,  stated, in a recent hearing with big tech execs, “You guys really suck at policing yourselves. And we’re tired of it”. One may look at the case of Alex Jones. He only finally stopped his disgusting, false, and defamatory statements, after the Sandy Hook Families got together, took him to court, and held him accountable. 

Leland Farnsworth
Massena