A legislative effort in Washington state to support local journalism through Senate Bill 5400 is encountering resistance as a new report advocates for substantial changes to the bill's funding mechanism. These proposed alterations have sparked apprehension among long-time advocates for press independence, who worry about the potential for government officials to exert influence over news organizations.
Dee Anne Finken, a volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Washington, expressed her concern regarding the report's recommendations. Finken, who has dedicated years to championing local journalism, underscored the necessity of ensuring that any support for news outlets is distributed based on objective criteria, devoid of political or philosophical preferences. Her comments come as she participates in discussions with legislative staff concerning the reintroduction of SB 5400.
Senate Bill 5400, initially introduced by State Sen. Marko Liias in early 2025, aims to tax tech giants that profit from news content. The proceeds from this tax, estimated to exceed $20 million annually, are intended to support newsroom jobs across Washington's approximately 150 news outlets and stem further job losses in the industry. Since its introduction, the bill has undergone refinement through multiple public hearings and committee debates, with its original design proposing that funds be allocated based on the number of newsroom employees – a model adopted in other states for similar journalism support efforts.
However, the Washington State News Alliance (WSNA) presented its report last week, urging legislators to abandon this objective model. The WSNA report instead favors more subjective and flexible criteria "tied to community impact, information access, and demonstrated public service." While this language may appear innocuous, critics argue that such a change could enable officials to select which outlets receive support based on "equity criteria" that align with their political agendas. Finken drew a parallel to past concerns about government administrations choosing which news outlets receive access based on coverage preferences.
Finken helped author the League of Women Voters of Washington's 2022 report on the state of local news and contributed to its 2023 position statement. This position asserts that local journalism is vital for democracy and that the government has a responsibility "to provide support for conditions under which credible local journalism can survive and thrive." However, the League's support is contingent on government intervention being implemented in ways that prevent officials from picking and choosing beneficiaries. Finken, a retired journalist and journalism instructor, emphasized the importance of clear, objective provisions that can garner bipartisan support.
The WSNA report was produced with a $75,000 grant from Press Forward’s Washington chapter. The lead author of the report, Anika Anand, previously worked for LION (Local Independent Online News), a nonprofit that has received funding from Meta and Google. LION has also reportedly opposed policies similar to SB 5400 in Congress and other states. Another WSNA member, Sarah Gustavus Lim, is currently employed by LION. While LION is acknowledged for its work supporting small outlets, it has also been noted for siding with tech companies against legislation designed to support news organizations nationally.
The timing of the WSNA report, arriving after years of work on SB 5400, and its demand for significant changes and weaker guardrails, could create division among the coalition of news outlets, trade groups, and advocates like the League of Women Voters. This dynamic, whether intentional or not, echoes tactics historically employed by tech companies such as Google and Meta to divide publishers when faced with legislation requiring them to compensate for news content. Similar situations have arisen in California and Oregon, where attempts to pass ambitious policies like SB 5400 faced uncertainty and division when some outlets, or tech allies like LION, opposed the legislation.
Despite ongoing legal challenges, such as publishers suing OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged copyright infringement, the broader consensus remains that government intervention is necessary to sustain the local news industry, which largely comprises local newspapers. However, this support must be structured to eliminate any opportunity for officials to influence editorial content or select recipients based on subjective preferences. Finken voiced concern over fracturing the group working on SB 5400, particularly given ongoing newspaper layoffs that highlight the urgency of the situation. She stressed the importance of unity and collaboration among advocates to ensure effective legislation is passed.