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Resource fair puts veterans front and center

In The Greenville Pioneer, Veterans, Veterans - Greenville
December 14, 2021
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By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media

Local organizations shared resources available to veterans during a fair hosted by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey,
D-46, and Cairo’s American Legion Post 983.

CAIRO — A resource fair held at the Cairo Public Library put the interests of area veterans front and center.

The event, held Nov. 16, was hosted by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-46. The senator was unable to attend as she was quarantining at the time after receiving a positive COVID-19 test.

“The senator is very sad to miss this, but unfortunately she is still home quarantining,” Hinchey’s chief of staff, Leah Goldman, said.

Hinchey reached out to American Legion Post 983 Commander Mike Adrian to put the resource fair together to make veterans aware of the programs and benefits that are available to them.

“Sen. Hinchey approached me and said she wanted to have a resource fair so we jumped on board,” Adrian said. “This is all
about veterans, veterans’ benefits and resources they are allowed. It’s a nice program that Sen. Hinchey started.”

Representatives were on hand from a variety of organizations, from Columbia-Greene Community College to utility company
Central Hudson, Blue Star Mothers of Greene County, Albany Stratton VA Hospital, a therapeutic riding center, an agency that helps homeless veterans, and assistance with finding employment, among others.

The Veterans Resource Fair shared a wealth of information about programs
and services available to those who have served.

A representative from U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-19, handed out a resource guide with information on federal and other benefits and services available to veterans.

Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusmisky said the fair was a valuable resource for local veterans.

“I am glad veterans are here today to avail themselves of services that are available in the community,” Kusminsky said. “It’s great to see them out here.”

Blue Star Mothers First Vice President Karen Dudley said her group’s mission is to help veterans in any way they can.
“Blue Star Mothers is an organization that likes to fill the gaps in what veterans need,” Dudley said. “We have reached out to our veterans at the local nursing homes — we just replaced the flags for them — and we send them cards, we send packages overseas, wherever we can help. We go ‘mom’ on whoever needs it.”

Veteran Chris Algozzine from American Legion Post 983 in Cairo shared ways the Legion can help those who have served.

“It’s important to be a member of the American Legion so that you can interact with people who have served, understand what is happening to you and your family as veterans, and to find out all the programs that are available to you and get help if you need it with any of those programs,” Algozzine said. “It’s a great way for veterans to get together and help each other out.”

Greene County Legislator Harry Lennon, D-Cairo, attended the resource fair and said it provided an important service for veterans.

“I am hoping veterans come not only from Cairo, but from all over Greene County to take advantage of this,” Lennon said. “I hope we can build on this in the years to come. This is the first time it has been done in Cairo and everybody did a wonderful job putting this together — I hope we can continue it and make it bigger for all of the veterans of Greene County and for all
they have sacrificed for this country. We can’t thank them enough.”

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OUR VIEW: There is no replacement for quality journalism

In News - Greenville, Opinions, The Greenville Pioneer
September 18, 2023
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By Mark Vinciguerra

President, Capital Region Independent Media

Mark Vinciguerra

Across the country, quality journalism is critical for sharing important news affecting our society. Through their timely reporting, journalists play a uniquely critical role in informing, engaging, and empowering citizens. Without the dedicated work of journalists, corruption would remain undiscovered and unchecked. As crucial watchdogs, journalists are often the only stewards keeping a close eye on local institutions, governments. .and businesses.

Americans consume more news than ever, with news organizations reaching more than 135 million U.S.

 adults each week. But despite record audiences, news publisher revenue in the U.S. has dropped by more than 50% in recent years. 

One of the biggest threats to journalism is Big Tech. Just two platforms, Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads) and Google, control access to news online. These platforms have unprecedented dominance over the digital marketplace and capture more than 70% of all digital advertising revenue. Big Tech is reaping the financial benefits of news publishers’ painstaking work, while publishers are left with literal scraps – not enough to continue reinvesting at the same level to provide high-quality content their users need and enjoy and have come to expect.

The Big Tech platforms have overwhelming market power, more than any one company should have, setting the rules for news publishers and determining how journalism is displayed, prioritized and monetized. Left with no choice but to play by Big Tech’s rules, lest they lose what traffic they do still get to their sites, news publishers must hand over their valuable content without receiving compensation from the platforms.

Readers also lose in this scenario, as the algorithms the platforms use to decide what content they see and when lacks transparency and balance. Not only that, but readers also lose the freedom to decide for themselves what they want to read based on what is important to them.

The wildfires currently raging in Canada are a national emergency, one that requires those in a position to disseminate important safety and evacuation information to those who need it, to do so. Facebook is a key source of news for people in remote areas who are affected by the wildfires and who don’t have a local news source. They are turning to Facebook for news and are not finding the information they need to stay safe. Because of legislation recently passed by the Canadian government to require the tech platforms to pay news publishers for use of their content, Meta has decided to remove all news from Facebook rather than pay publishers, thereby depriving its users of information they need and want in a time of great threat to their safety.

Meta would let its users incur serious risks to their safety and well-being just to make a point, putting its head in the sand. 

Canadians, as well as the American public, deserve a free and diverse press, which supports a healthy and vibrant democracy. The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) is a bipartisan bill that will provide news publishers with the ability to negotiate with and be fairly compensated by Big Tech for their valuable content.

The JCPA is modeled after a law that was passed in Australia, which included baseball-style arbitration and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars and newsroom growth and a vast increase in journalism jobs there. The need to save America’s newsrooms transcends party lines, garnering strong support from both sides of the aisle and among voters. Seven in ten Americans polled said they support Congress passing the JCPA.

Quality journalism is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity in times of rampant misinformation online and in which increasing natural disasters and public-health crises are only going to get worse. Only quality journalism can keep communities informed with timely and accurate breaking news and events coverage and report the truth about their government’s activities being carried out on their behalf (using their tax dollars) that impact their safety, health, and livelihood.

When COVID-19 arrived in the U.S., news publishers took their paywalls down on stories about the public-health emergency so all Americans had free, unencumbered access to critical health and safety information as the country shut down and hospitals filled to their brims. News publishers do this because it is the right thing to do. But without support in the form of fair compensation from the tech platforms, newspapers will continue to disappear from American communities.

The JCPA is our best bet to protect quality journalism and ensure it is here when we need it. There is no replacement for quality journalism. Now is the time for Congress to act and finally get publishers the compensation they deserve. Communities cannot afford to wait any longer.

Call your member of Congress and tell them to pass the JCPA: 202-224-3121. For more information about the JCPA, visit www.JCPABill.org.

Mark Vinciguerra is president and owner of Capital Region Independent Media, which publishes the Ravena News-Herald.

Tax credit aimed at aiding local newsrooms adopted

In News, News - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
April 23, 2024
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By Doug LaRocque and Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

Publishers, journalists and lawmakers banded together at the Capitol in March to promote a tax credit aimed at helping local newspapers survive and thrive. Contributed photo

A payroll tax credit designed to support local news outlets was approved as part of the final New York state budget unveiled Saturday.

The passage follows months of lobbying by journalists and news advocates for passage of the tax credit, which is modeled on the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

Under the tax credit, eligible newspapers will benefit from the $30 million program that will provide a 50% refundable credit against the first $50,000 of a journalist’s salary, up to a total of $300,000 for each news outlet.

The program also sets aside $4 million to incentivize print and broadcast outlets to hire new journalists.

In January, the Empire State Local News Coalition — comprised of over 200 local publications — was formed to help push the tax credit across the finish line. It is the first tax credit of its kind in the nation.

Zak Richner, president and founder of the news coalition, labeled the passage of the act as “an absolutely amazing feat, as evidenced by the fact that no other state has successfully enacted similar legislation.”

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act was sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, D-47, who stressed the importance of maintaining viable and independent newsrooms.

“I’m elated that our first-in-the-nation Local Journalism Sustainability Act is passing in the state budget,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “A thriving local news industry is vital to the health of our democracy and it’s our responsibility to help ensure New Yorkers have access to independent and community-focused journalism. Thank you to Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Gov. Hochul, our Assembly sponsor [Carrie] Woerner and the over 200 local publications of the Empire State Local News Coalition who helped pass our bill. Our efforts will help ensure that our democracy will not die in darkness.”

Capital Region Independent Media and NYVT Media worked tirelessly on behalf of the legislation’s passage; combined, the group owns and publishes seven community papers, including six in New York state.

“The passage of this historic and landmark legislation is a true game changer for local media!” said Capital Region Independent Media President Mark Vinciguerra. “In our operation alone, we will be able to add reporting resources and cover beats and communities more fully. Thanks to the legislative leadership, the governor and all those who lobbied so hard on behalf of this law.”

Publisher and Vice President Warren Dews Jr. said the legislation will have a far-reaching impact.

“I’ve been in this business for over 30 years, and I have seen companies that don’t care about local media kill what I love. This new legislation will change lives and communities across the state and beyond,” Dews said.

Legislative support

One of the sponsors of the legislation was Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-113, who said it is important to ensure that small local newsrooms remain viable.

“Our local news outlets are vanishing. As more and more become absorbed into national conglomerates or rely on the national press to fill their pages, I am incredibly proud to have secured this new position in the state budget that supports sustainability and growth of the local, independent news industry,” Woerner said.

State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-41, echoed their comments and said she was proud to help support the sustainability of community newspapers.

Ravena News-Herald

The Ravena News-Herald is a weekly newspaper reporting on the news in the Ravena, Coeymans and New Baltimore communities of beautiful upstate New York.

Greenville Pioneer

Greene County’s independent newspaper. Featuring local news, letters to the editor, upcoming events, police blotter, columns from local writers and more.

The Columbia Paper

The Columbia Paper is a weekly newspaper reporting news and events from the communities of Columbia County in beautiful upstate New York.

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