Empire State Local News Coalition celebrates the launch of three newspapers in communities that previously lost local outlets

The Empire State Local News Coalition is excited to celebrate the opening of three New York newspapers in Westchester and Long Island communities that previously lost their local papers amid a wave of newsroom closures. This victory for independent, local journalism comes just months after the coalition helped drive the passage of New York’s groundbreaking $90 million Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program — the nation’s first tax credit incentivizing hiring at local media outlets.

Over the past 20 years, New York State has lost roughly half of its newspapers and thousands of journalism jobs. The Empire State Local News Coalition, comprising more than 200 local New York newspapers, formed in early 2024 after the closure of several Westchester newspapers. The coalition’s statewide advocacy campaign resulted in a refundable tax credit that provides local media outlets with a 50% refundable tax credit on the first $50,000 of each employee’s salary, with a cap of $300,000 per business over three years.

The impact of this legislation is already being felt, with two of the three Westchester communities that lost their newspapers earlier this year relaunching the Riverstown Dispatch (Ardsley, Hastings-On-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington) and The Recorder (Bedford, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge). A third newspaper, the Floral Park Villager, debuted on Long Island in a community that lost its own weekly paper during the COVID-19 pandemic, further demonstrating the program’s ability to revive local journalism and reestablish connections within these communities. 

The Empire State Local News Coalition continues to advocate for long-term sustainability in local media while addressing the evolving challenges facing newsrooms across the state. 

“When we support local journalism, our communities win. The launch of new local, independent news outlets in Westchester and Long Island is a testament to the momentum created by New York’s passage of the nation’s first tax credit for hiring at local media outlets. We started the Empire State Local News Coalition after some of these very communities lost vital news sources earlier this year and are thrilled by this resurgence.” — Zachary Richner, founder, Empire State Local News Coalition, and director, Richner Communications, Inc.

“We launched the Rivertowns Dispatch to bring back local news to the communities of Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Ardsley & Dobbs Ferry, New York after our old local newspaper closed earlier this year. We launched the Dispatch because we believe starting with a shared set of facts makes for richer community life, and that newspapers can be fun as well as useful. We are thrilled for the passage of the New York Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program because it makes it easier for us to hire full-time, quality journalists to share the news and information our communities want and need. We are so grateful to the Empire State Local News Coalition for its advocacy in bringing urgency to the challenges facing New York’s local media industry.”  — Allison Schulte, publisher, Rivertowns Dispatch

“After the sudden closing of The Record-Review, we witnessed firsthand how Bedford, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge residents rallied to protect local news. We were also heartened by the advocacy of the Empire State Local News Coalition, which stood with our community and made the fight to save local news a critical issue for Albany leaders. The launch of The Recorder, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, shows New Yorkers recognize that a healthy democracy depends on access to reliable, quality news sources to stay informed. Looking ahead, we will continue to advocate for a diversified local news ecosystem bolstered by policies that support nonprofit outlets.” — Lloyd Trufelman, co-founder and publisher, The Recorder

“The recently passed New York Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs program played a major role in our decision to expand our local coverage with the launch of the Floral Park Villager. The loss of Floral Park’s longtime newspaper, the Gateway Bulletin, during the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for this tight-knit community. With the tax credit, there is a path to long-term fiscal stability for outlets like the ones we operate and a clear message that New York State is serious about supporting local news. We’re excited to continue telling the stories that matter most to our communities, and will work with the Empire State Local News Coalition to advocate for policies to help save local newsrooms and allow them to thrive for years to come.”  — Meg Morgan Norris, Floral Park Villager

About the Empire State Local News Coalition:

Comprising more than 200 print and online newspapers, the Empire State Local News Coalition launched in 2024 to advocate for sound public policy that ensures the important work of local news organizations can continue across New York state. Through our independent journalism, we aim to serve, inform, uplift and protect New Yorkers. We care deeply about our local communities as well as the future of New York’s free press. For more information, visit SaveNYLocalNews.com.