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Title:Local Journalism Task Force
Meeting Information:

​The Task Force shall meet a minimum of 5 times to review, study, and analyze existing literature as well as quantitative and qualitative data on the status of journalism in the State of Illinois.

Contact Title:Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Function:The Local Journalism Task Force is established to: (1) conduct a comprehensive, nonbinding study relative to communities underserved by local journalism in Illinois; and (2) review all aspects of local journalism including, but not limited to, the adequacy of press coverage of communities, the ratio of residents to media outlets, the history of local news in Illinois, print and digital business models for media outlets, the impact of social media on local news, strategies to improve local news access, and public policy solutions to improve the sustainability of local press business models and private and nonprofit solutions.
Senate Confirmation:No
Composition:The Task Force shall consist of the following 13 members: one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; one member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member appointed by the Governor; one representative of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University; one representative of the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield; one representative of the School of Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; one representative of the Illinois Press Association; one representative of the Illinois Broadcasters Association; one representative of the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association; one representative of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council; one representative of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association; one representative of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and one representative of the Illinois Municipal League.
Authority:20 ILCS 4108

 Member Names
Name (Last, First)Term ExpiresMember SinceAffiliationAppointed ByPositionTitleCounty
Abudayyeh, Jordan9/2/2021GovernorMember
Butler, Rep. Tim9/14/2021Minority Leader of the House of RepresentativesMemberMember of the House of Representatives
DeWitte, Sen. Don10/21/2021Minority Leader of the SenateMemberMember of the Senate
Usher, Nikki9/3/2021StatuteMemberRepresentative of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
VACANTPresident of the SenateMemberMember of the Senate
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the School of Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Illinois Press Association
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Illinois Broadcasters Association
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Illinois Legislative Correspondants Association
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association
VACANTStatuteMemberRepresentative of the Illinois Municipal League
Vella, Rep. Dave8/24/2021Speaker of the House of RepresentativesMemberMember of the House of Representatives