This month, the LWVWA encourages local Leagues support our bid for national concurrence on our Local News position. This can be done through your League's program planning process, as well by supporting the concurrence proposal at the national Convention in June—attendance can be either virtual or in-person.
The LWVWA's study, the Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy, detailed the alarming effect of the nationwide loss of one-fourth of our newspapers and the statewide loss of one-fifth. The study showed we have fewer candidates for local office, lower voter turnout, greater political partisanship, less civic engagement, increased government costs, among other challenges.
Many local Leagues in Washington are familiar with the Local News study, having participated in the 2022 consensus process. However, if you are unfamiliar (or would like a refresher), visit our website. You will find our local news study, our position, and the current actions we are taking on this issue. For viewing during your program planning meetings, a 7-minute informational video—created by the LWVWA Local News Committee—and summarizing the issue is available here.
The problems that stem from the decline of local news in the U.S. are snowballing. National adoption of the LWVWA position would provide the basis for any League throughout the country to advocate on national, state, and local legislation aimed at rebuilding independent local news outlets and expanding news media literacy.
The LWVWA will propose that LWVUS adopt the position by concurrence. We are asking each local League to submit the proposal to LWVUS through its program planning process. This would entail including local news concurrence in the national survey no later than March 10. You can find further information on how to do this here.
LWVUS Convention
The concurrence proposal will be voted on at the national Convention taking place June 27-30, 2024 in Washington D.C. Learn more about the national Convention here.
Convention provides an opportunity to participate at the national level in a number of ways:
- Delegates from throughout the nation will vote on the 2024-2026 LWVUS Program, the LWVUS budget, the LWVUS Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, and bylaws amendments,
- By providing opportunities to network with fellow League members,
- Enabling participation in a variety of workshops and trainings,
- Through a number of opportunities to hear from dynamic speakers.
The LWVWA encourage each local League to send as many delegates as they are allowed by the LWVUS bylaws. Delegates at Convention must be voting League members and may vote only if their League has met its per member payment responsibilities. Convention delegates are determined by a local League's membership numbers. Each League is permitted at least one delegate, with one additional delegate authorized for every 50 voting members the League has. Learn more about delegate allocation in Article IX, section 2 of the LWVUS bylaws.
More information about the national Convention will be available on our website soon. Contact Shelley Kneip for more information on the concurrence process, and Dee Anne Finken for more information on the LWVWA Local News study and position.
