Legislative Report

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Legislative Platform of the Iowa Newspaper Association

The legislative efforts of the Iowa Newspaper Association shall be directed to advance, preserve and protect the interests of newspapers and publications serving the communities of Iowa. And these efforts shall be directed to nourish citizens’ First Amendment freedoms and responsibilities. We will work to enhance openness in government and advance the capabilities of a free press, understanding these are essential to the good health and vibrancy of democracy. These efforts include the following six areas of interest:

1. Freedom to gather the news.
We work to remove any obstacle that interferes with our ability to photograph and speak to people about newsworthy events, to inspect and copy documents in any form (electronic, printed, photographic, etc.) generated by public or quasi-public governmental bodies, to be present to witness meetings and activities of such entities, to follow the use of public funds to entities receiving those public funds, and contact any other source of newsworthy information.

2. Freedom to publish news, information, and advertising.
We assert the right to control the content of our newspapers, including the right to publish or not publish information and advertising whether brought to us, purchased or sold by our employees and authorized agents, or gathered by our news staffs or agents. We also seek to keep private as our own work product, the information we gather but do not publish.

3. Freedom from restrictions on distribution of the news and the free flow
of information.
We assert the right to distribute our newspapers and publications, in print or electronically, without interference from governmental agencies, corporations or private individuals.

4. Publication of notices to the public.
We believe that a central responsibility of public governmental bodies in our free society is to inform the public, not merely those directly involved, of its activities and legal actions affecting citizens. Iowa’s newspapers share and play an essential role in fulfilling that responsibility. Publication of notices in legally-qualified local newspapers, paid for by the public governmental bodies involved, ensures public notification to those interested and to the community as a whole, as it has since the founding of our nation.

5. Responsibly to minimize the burden of government in the commerce of publishing.
We recognize the legitimate burden of social responsibility and financial support of local, state and federal governments. We seek to minimize the regulations and restrictions on any facet of our operations, and taxes imposed on our industry.

6. Duty to underscore the fact that newspapers are important institutions in the communities they serve.
We believe that newspapers are important employers in more than 300 Iowa cities and towns. Newspapers play an important role in communities, keeping local citizens informed, stimulating local retail business and fostering economic development. If a community loses its local newspaper, what institution will next be lost . . . the school, the bank, the hospital? Newspapers and the free flow of information are essential for a progressive Iowa.