Newspaper Page Text
Page 6 - Wednesday, December 6, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
jenkinscountytimes.com
A bridge over troubled
waters for local journalism
By Dean Ridings, CEO, America’s Newspapers
Special Contributor
for
The Times
Among the liberties enshrined for Americans in our
founding documents, freedom of the press stands first
among equals. "A popular government, without popular
information, or the means of acquiring it," wrote James
Madison, "is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy — or
perhaps both." For generations, local journalism has been
the lifeblood providing citizens the means to acquire the
information required for enlightened self-governance.
Yet today, a perfect storm of economic disruption
jeopardizes this proud tradition foundational to our
democratic experiment. As digital technology has upended
traditional revenue models, many newspapers have
struggled to achieve sustainability. This has led to the
proliferation of so-called "news deserts" across the land —
communities bereft of comprehensive local reporting.
But amid these headwinds, local newspapers have shown
remarkable resilience. Despite the economic challenges,
most organizations are optimistic about the future and are
committed to serving their communities through print and
digital platforms. And while not all have achieved financial
stability, even local newspapers in the most challenging
environments are aggressively innovating and continuing
to evolve their business models to achieve sustainability.
While not all have achieved financial stability, this fortitude
reveals an industry positioned for success given pmdent
policy support.
That is why Congress has developed legislation targeted
specifically at converting struggling newspapers into
sustainable businesses. The Community News and Small
Business Support Act would provide temporary tax credits
to inject resources into local newsrooms and incentivize
small business advertising partnerships.
For qualifying newspapers, the Act offers credits of
up to $25,000 per journalist in year one, phasing down
subsequently — timely aid to rebuild battered newsrooms.
Concurrently, thousands in credits encourage small
businesses to advertise in local outlets, seeding a symbiotic
growth cycle benefiting community partners.
These smart incentives offer a bridge over the stormy
seas local publishers navigate. More reporters can be hired
to supply the essential news rural residents rely upon. Once-
robust papers decimated by staff cuts can restore breadth
and depth. And critically, with expanded resources, outlets
can consistently deliver high-quality journalism while
adapting for the future.
We remain clear-eyed that fuller remedies will come only
through many efforts: philanthropic funding, developing
new rural business models, training journalists in community
engagement. But federal incentives can help accelerate this
work before the lights go out — offering temporary ballast
to sustain community papers until achieving financial
shipwright.
Some may argue that the government should stay out
of the newspaper business altogether. But this phased,
targeted support is a lifeline — not a takeover. Credits
empower local organizations to freely navigate disruption
on their own temis, while safeguarding press independence.
Critically, the Act includes an inbuilt sunset mechanism that
promotes fiscal restraint. The tax credits phase down after
year one, and expire completely five years from enactment.
This ensures temporary support to bridge the storm — not
endless government intervention or expenditure. The sunset
clause limits assistance to a fixed temi designed to deliver
stmggling newspapers across the passage to sustainability.
Once achieved, the market discipline of performance, not
federal credits, will dictate individual outcomes.
The Community News and Small Business Support
Act — https://supportcommunitynews.com/ — represents
a hand across troubled waters for community journalism.
The industry has shown its mettle, achieving profitability
through performance. This legislation will help the
vulnerable remainder make the passage to sustainability
— ensuring citizens nationwide can stay informed on the
issues directly impacting their lives.
Perfection
Jenkins County
Senior Center
By Lee Wilson,
Special Contributor
for
The Times
Well, one of our seniors, we’ll call him “James”, was telling
us that he had gone to the Christian bookstore in Augusta
and while there he saw bumper sticker that read “honk if
you love Jesus”. “James” said he bought the sticker and
put it on his bumper before he left the store. He said what
an uplifting experience that followed!
On his way home” James” said he stopped at a red light
at a busy intersection and started thinking about the Lord
and how good he has been. “James” said he didn’t notice
that the light had turned green. He said that it was a good
thing that someone else loved the Lord because had the
car behind him had not started honking, he would have not
noticed that the light had turned green.
“James” said that LOTS of people loved Jesus that day
because all of the cars behind him started honking. “James”
said that one man leaned out of his window and started
shouting “For the love of God! GO! GO! GO!” What an
exuberant cheerleader that man was for Jesus!
Everyone started honking! “James” leaned out of his car
window and started smiling and waving at all of those
lovely people. ” James” even honked a few times to share
in the love. There must have been a man from Florida back
there because “James” said he heard him yelling something
about you “sunny beach”! He saw another guy waving in
a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the
air. ” James’” friend “Roger” was riding with him that day
so he asked “Roger” what that meant. “Roger” said that
he thought it was a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.
Well, “James” said he had never met anyone from Hawaii,
so he leaned out of his window and gave him a Hawaiian
good luck sign back.
A couple of people were so caught up in the joy of the
moment that they got out of their cars and started walking
towards him. “James” said that they probably wanted to
pray or something but that’s when the light had turned
green again, so he waved to all of his sisters and brothers
in Christ and drove on through the intersection. “James”
said he noticed he was the only car that got through the
intersection before the light changed back to red. “James”
said he felt kind of bad having to leave them behind
after all the love they had shared, so he gave them all the
Hawaiian good luck sign one last time while he drove
away!
The 2023-2024 Partners in Education for the
Jenkins County School System are:
B&T Food Fresh Market; Brinson Insurance;
The Charm Bam; CoreCivic; Dairy Queen;
Durden Bank; Georgia Power; Hadden
Insurance Agency; Huddle House; Jenkins
County Chamber of Commerce; Jenkins County
Times; Jenkins County Family Enrichment
Center; Jenkins County Medical Center;
Modern Woodmen of America; Planters EMC;
Queensborough Bank; Regions Bank; Round's
on Winthrope; Subway; Superior Alarm of
Millen; Spring Creek Auction
These businesses are proud to support Jenkins
County Schools.
Experience
Magnolia Springs
Monday, January 1, 2024
First Day Hike at Magnolia Springs
10 AM to 12 PM
Magnolia Springs State Park - Millen, GA
What better way to start out the New Year than a beautiful
easy guided hike down our wooded trails through the park
and Camp Lawton? Hikers will pass unique lime sinks and
then along the lakeside before making the stroll back to the
Visitor's Center. You can choose to complete the first 1.5
miles or hike the entire route for a rewarding 3 miles. $5
parking. 478-982-1660.
Cottages 1-5 opened on November 1st. Reservations can
be made online or by calling 1-800-864-7275.
Georgia Republicans
Advance Legislative Maps
Amidst Controversy over
Congressional District
Redrawing
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
Georgia Republicans made significant strides on
Thursday as they moved forward with new legislative
maps designed to maintain their majorities in the state
House and Senate. However, the spotlight remains on the
party's strategy concerning the redraw of Georgia's 14
congressional districts, a detail still undisclosed.
A state Senate committee, in a 7-5 party-line vote, pushed
ahead with a new Senate map, while a House committee
voted 9-5 to advance a new House map. These bills are
now set to face debate in their respective full chambers
on Friday.
The legislative maps have drawn criticism from
Democrats and advocacy groups, particularly targeting
the Senate map for allegedly failing to create meaningful
opportunities for Black voters in districts previously
identified as violating federal law. U.S. District Judge
Steve Jones had mandated the creation of additional Black
majority districts to address the dilution of Black voter
power, a ruling stemming from October.
Democrats express concern over the House map as well,
highlighting potential alterations to or elimination of two
districts where no ethnic group holds a majority.
The proposed Senate map, if implemented, is expected
to maintain the current 33-23 Republican margin by
reshuffling districts, turning two Democratic-held districts
with white majorities into ones with Black majorities. In
the House, the current 102-78 Republican advantage could
potentially see two additional Democrats due to the creation
of five new Black districts. Nevertheless, Democrats argue
that changes to competitive House districts could tip the
balance in favor of Republicans.
Democrats argue that the changes proposed by
Republicans are insufficient to address the specific areas of
voter discrimination identified by the court. Republicans,
on the other hand, criticize a Senate map presented by
Democrats, asserting that it would likely result in the
Democrats gaining two additional seats, narrowing the
Republican advantage in the Senate to 31-25.
The ongoing debate over redistricting becomes
increasingly complex as the U.S. Supreme Court's stance
on partisan gerrymandering comes into play. While federal
courts should not intervene in partisan gerrymandering,
the Voting Rights Act protects minority voters.
As Georgia's lawmakers grapple with these intricacies,
the nation watches closely to see how this pivotal
redistricting process unfolds. The decisions made in
the coming days will undoubtedly shape the political
landscape of Georgia for years to come.
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