How much, and in what ways, should government support local news? Have you thought about teaching but can't stomach 4 years of education classes? I couldn't either.
Public policy to support news
The podcast interview below came across my desk a long time ago and has been getting shoved to the bottom of the pile over and over due to things relating to the Assembly session. With those things clearing rapidly out of my system, it bobbed back up.
The interview below was an interesting one because it gives this gentleman's perspective on the relation between government and news agencies (particularly local news).
It brought up some interesting thoughts for me and I wanted to share. I would love for you to add your perspective too in the comments.
An oft-repeated refrain from the reporters and organizations I watch here in Colorado concerns the importance of local news. I would agree, but with an asterisk. Yes, local news is important. We do need people watching our local government and local happenings. At the same time, I think that a good deal of this relates to protecting their turf and also relates to what I think many reporters see as a solution to the lack of trust people have with the media in general.
That's the asterisk: I think it's good to have local news, but I would expand that idea to include local people sharing news with each other (not just a local radio or newspaper there to offer jobs to "official" reporters), and I would also say that local news coverage is just as apt to be biased as any other (I say this from a couple interactions I've had with local reporters during COVID).
Second, I have some concerns about public money being used to support private organizations--whether that be by the government contracting out for public notices, direct transfers (or similar support like tax breaks a la a recent failed bill here in Colorado), or news organizations getting tax breaks by becoming "nonprofit" corporations.
There are legal reasons and traditions around the government putting public notices in local news outlets. There is also a custom of the government hiring out things they do to private companies. While I might question the need nowadays for the government to hire out public notices, especially with the internet and social media, until the law catches up I'm okay with a government entity contracting with a private news organization to publish public notices as long as there are guardrails.
The other ones are where I have a concern because they involve public money being given to private entities (either in the case of the government bolstering local news in one way or another or via tax breaks for nonprofit companies that have the potential to be political advocates).
Why would we give public money to businesses because we like them? What is the limiting principle there? Should we give public money to small town drive in theaters? To all local businesses we have a soft spot for?
Secondly, we are all aware of how news organizations have bias and end up either outright (or inadvertently) advocating for one group or policy vs. another. As such, if a nonprofit news organization is advocating, they are using tax dollars and tax breaks to do so. We don't (and shouldn't) tolerate this from other non profits or churches, why for a struggling news organization.
What are your thoughts? If you feel strongly, add your two cents to the comments.
https://localnewsmatterspodcast.com/public-policy-as-a-tool-to-support-local-news-steve-waldman-of-rebuild-local-news/
Have you ever thought about teaching but don't want to go back to 4 years of education school to do it?
I would offer a suggestion: look into starting at a private school and/or look into alternative licensure programs. I speak from experience on this because I had absolutely no education classes prior to starting as a teacher at a private high school in Denver. I did have an education in physics which qualified me to teach physics and math, but no education certification.
The school took a chance on me by hiring me and spending resources training me. I took a chance on the school because at the time I still wasn't 100% sure I wanted to teach at the high school level. Both our gambles paid off and I spent 11 years there (eventually getting certified in secondary mathematics through a program at the Archdiocese in Denver).
My wife also got an alternative license, though she went from an office job to a public school and got her license faster than I did (yes, I waited the full maximum-allowed 4 years at my school before starting my licensure).
If you're considering teaching, have a bachelor's degree in a subject matter that can be taught, I'd recommend a couple approaches to you.
If you know of a school or district in your area that needs teachers in the subject you think you'd be qualified and interested in teaching, go straight to the district. Introduce yourself and say you want to teach but aren't certified (and, can't we work something out?). The school, if the need is big enough and you're a candidate they're interested in, will help you navigate licensure.
You can also look up Colorado Alternative Licensure. There are about a thousand approaches, but I included CDE's in the link below the Sun article that inspired this post because it's the most informative and a government-run program (not a pay to enter program).
The pay is not that good, sometimes the kids are not that pleasant, but if you get it, you get it.
Oh, and teaching makes up for low pay with the gift of time. That was a bargain I was always happy to strike; I don't mind the low pay because I have big blocks of time off to pursue other interests.
https://coloradosun.com/2023/05/15/colorado-education-schools-second-career-teachers/
https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/checklist-alt_teacher