As local Leagues commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the state League is partnering with the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association to pay homage to the document’s First Amendment, which was adopted 35 years later. 

The state board, in late April, approved a project proposed by the Local News & Democracy team to help expand awareness about the vital connection between a free press and democracy. 

“As the state League’s study, ‘The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy,’ showed us, robust local news coverage is critical to having healthy communities and a true democracy,” state President Karen Crowley said.  

The president noted other extensive research links the loss of credible local news with declines in voting, in people running for local office and the public’s engagement in civic activities. The decline also is linked with higher government costs, greater political polarization and challenges in conducting public health efforts.  

One element of the project will be to encourage local Leagues to pose questions in pre-election forums to candidates about their perspectives on local news and whether legislation plays a role in addressing the news crisis. 

A second feature will be to ask local Leagues to write letters to the editors of their local news outlets about the importance of robust local news and why the League has identified it as a priority. 

Finally, the campaign is looking to create a series of op-ed essays signed by Crowley and local League presidents detailing the reasons for the League’s support for local news with suggestions about how to address the problem. 

Kate Hobbie and Dee Anne Finken, both from the Clark League and members of the Local News team are facilitating the project. Both will be in touch with local League presidents in the coming weeks to give them more information. 

Meanwhile, members are welcome to contact Hobbie or Finken to volunteer.