An only-in-California problem: Why your newspaper delivery driver could disappear

There’s only one industry that appears in this country’s Bill of Rights.

It’s journalism. America’s architects viewed the press as essential to the functioning of our democracy.

And yet today we are testing what a post-news world looks like, with attacks on credible news and information due to double recessions and the polarized political arena.

Every scroll of our phones brings people screaming at each other. And as Hassan Minhaj, host of Netflix’s “Patriot Act” and a Davis native, tells us, this is not news. It is gossip.

But this is not what you’ll find in The Sun-Star. Reporters faithfully update readers with information on the latest counts and local outbreaks of the coronavirus. McClatchy’s family of newspapers — Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, San Luis Obispo and Merced — has been printing for more than 163 years in California.

News organizations up and down the state are rooting out corruption in local government and forcing people in power to share information they’d rather keep to themselves. Most have never had more people reading their stories, viewing videos and listening to podcasts — because local news has never been more important.

A great majority (73 percent) of Americans trust local news organizations. And those local papers we trust? They produce half of all original reporting, even though they account for 25 percent of media in any given community.

But during the coronavirus pandemic, 30 news organizations a month are disappearing. In California, 18 have closed.

They’re literally being replaced by Russian bots in our social feeds. The Pew Center reported last week that those who get their news from social media are less informed and less engaged in their local communities.

Since COVID began, 36,000 journalists in the U.S. have been laid off, furloughed or had their pay cut.

So back to the Bill of Rights. This country understood hundreds of years ago that access to credible information was critical to the future success of our country.

And here in The Golden State, newspapers have an only-in-California problem. Hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of people risk losing access to reliable, trusted information.

If the Legislature does not act before the end of this session, community newspapers will face a crushing financial blow: AB5, a new law that requires independent contractors like newspaper carriers to be classified as employees (versus contractors) goes into effect for newspaper carriers at year’s end.

Newspapers in California will face an increase of up to 80 percent in distribution costs. That, combined with ad revenue losses estimated at 40 percent due to the coronavirus-induced recession, will push dozens more newspapers over the edge.

Newspapers are likely to reduce home delivery, cut long-standing features or raise subscriber rates. Jobs that AB5 was designed to protect — carrier and distribution positions — will be eliminated.

We need help before the Legislature adjourns for the summer at the end of this month. You can ask your elected official to support an exemption for newspaper carriers. Exemptions for people such as musicians, freelancers and photographers are already being considered.

We are respectfully asking for time to make the transition in a way that doesn’t negatively impact those who need the news when people need it most.

We cannot let delivery of your local paper die. Our communities need us. And we need our communities. Now more than ever.

If you agree, please share this editorial with Merced’s elected leaders:

▪ Assemblyman Adam Gray. Email him at Assemblymember.Gray@assembly.ca.gov or call (916) 319-2021 (State Capitol office) or (209) 726-5465 (Merced office).

▪ State Sen. Anna Caballero. Email her district representative Joyce Dale at Joyce.Dale@sen.ca.gov, or phone the capitol office, 916-651-4012, or the Merced office, 209-726-5495.