Title
Local Journalism - For the purpose of supporting local journalism, including fair economic investment in newsroom staffing and resources.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 58-20
Introduced by: Alderwoman Tierney
Co-sponsored by: Alderman Savidge, Alderman Schandelmeier,
Mayor Buckley, Alderman Gay, and Alderwoman Pindell Charles
A RESOLUTION concerning
Local Journalism
FOR the purpose of supporting local journalism, including fair economic investment in newsroom staffing and resources.
WHEREAS, the Annapolis City Council and the City of Annapolis is committed to supporting local journalism, including fair economic investment in newsroom staffing and resources; and
WHEREAS, the newspapers currently operating out of the Capital Gazette newsroom, including The Capital, The Maryland Gazette, and The Bowie Blade News, provide vital coverage of issues pertaining to the health, education, and well-being of the residents of Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis, and the City of Bowie; and
WHEREAS, only four of the 35 employees represented by the Chesapeake News Guild make more than $40,000/year, despite the fact that some employees have worked for the paper for more than 20 years, and some reporters make below $15.00/hour; and
WHEREAS, in early 2020, the Tribune Publishing Company offered buyouts to experienced employees, two of which were talented, veteran journalists who helped cover the Capital Gazette shooting from the back of a truck in 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Tribune Publishing Company has declined to commit to hiring a diverse staff, posting all job openings, and fairness in contract language; and
WHEREAS, the campaign “Save Maryland Newspapers” exists to convince the Tribune Publishing Company to sell The Baltimore Sun and its related properties, including The Capital, The Maryland Gazette, and The Bowie Blade News to responsible local ownership who will care about the quality of news; and
WHEREAS, the closure of the Annapolis newsroom means that reporters need to travel significantly farther to meet with people in the communities they are writing about.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis urges the Tribune Publishing Company to take the following actions:
- Cease any further layoffs that will have an inverse effect on the citizens of Annapolis, Maryland receiving timely news.
- Consider in good faith any and all offers from outside Maryland, or Maryland based entities that will return the paper to civic-minded ownership.
- Commit to diversity hiring and fairness in contract language.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that a copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the Tribune Publishing Company as a sign of our dedication and commitment to supporting local journalism.
EXPLANATION
Underlining indicates matter added.
[Strikethrough] indicates matter stricken.