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Illinois bill would force Big Tech to compensate local news outlets

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Illinois bill would force Big Tech to compensate local news outlets


As private equity guts newsrooms, layoffs abound and misinformation runs rampant across social media, an Illinois bill aims to offer a targeted solution to the decades-old journalism business model.

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) introduced SB 3591, or the Journalism Preservation Act, in February. It would require Big Tech companies to track and compensate news organizations for the content they share, display or link to on social media platforms. 

“Local newsrooms should be compensated for their content,” Stadelman told The Daily. “If Big Tech benefits from it on their platforms, there should be some type of reimbursement, a revenue stream for that content.”

Illinois has lost over 86% of its journalists and more than a third of its newspapers since 2005, according to the Local Journalism Task Force.

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Medill Senior Associate Dean Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative and member of the task force, said the underlying problem is a fundamental shift in the business model.  Ad revenue previously directed toward newsrooms is now being collected by Big Tech companies like Meta and Google, he said.

News publications now rely on Meta and Google for 70% of their traffic, according to task force member and President of News/Media Alliance Danielle Coffey.

Stadelman’s bill would create a structure and arbitration process for local newsrooms and publishers to negotiate with Big Tech companies and create a revenue-sharing agreement for their content.

One discussed adjustment to the bill is paying the funds out directly to journalists, said Coffey, who recently testified in front of the Senate Executive Committee. Stadelman called the specifics of the bill on the distribution model “very fluid” and said he plans to introduce more changes soon.

Since its February introduction, the bill had its first reading on the Senate floor and was assigned to the Executive Committee. A committee vote on the bill will be on April 19.

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The bill is being modeled after laws adopted in Australia and Canada, and Stadelman’s team is also monitoring a similar act progress through the California legislature. 

“I do think that deliberation is important, so I respect the fact that they’re taking their time,” Coffey said. “At the same time, two newsrooms are closing every week (nationally) and journalists are getting laid off by the thousands.” 

Coffey said the government is the only recourse for dealing with Big Tech companies, but the sheer size of these tech giants makes it especially difficult to spur significant change. 

Meta and Google have employed several tactics to oppose regulatory measures in other countries, campaigning on their platforms and commissioning misleading polls, according to Dr. Courtney Radsch, director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute.

Radsch testified before the Canadian Parliament that Google and Meta have blocked access to news on their platforms during the legislative processes in Australia and Canada, claiming technical issues that were later found to be “negotiation tactics,” according to whistleblowers.

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In March, Meta Spokesperson Jamie Radice told The Verge that news isn’t the top reason people visit Facebook and Instagram. 

If the Journalism Preservation Act were to pass, Radice said Meta would “end the availability of news in Illinois.”

Radice could not be immediately reached for comment. 

“Because we’re dealing with very well-resourced adversaries in this space, there’s a lot of … crazy distracting rhetoric and scare tactics,” Coffey said. 

While Google initially threatened to do the same in Canada, the company eventually came to an agreement with the government to pay a lump sum of 100 million Canadian dollars annually to keep links to news articles in its search results, amounting to almost CA$21,000 per journalist.

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“If you’re a lawmaker, I think you’d rather support your local newspaper than supporting Big Tech,” Stadelman said. “This bill will help their local community, will help their local publishers, so I guess that’s how you try to counteract a strong lobbying effort like this.” 

Stadelman, a former reporter turned legislator, introduced and successfully passed a bill to create the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force in 2021. He served as the chair of the task force, which comprised journalism leaders across the nation including Franklin and Coffey.

Franklin said Stadelman and his team drafted two bills based on the policy recommendations in the task force’s final report – the Journalism Preservation Act and the Strengthening Community Media Act.

The latter was assigned to the Executive Committee in February. It contains a broad array of incentives, tax breaks and scholarships intended to repopulate local newsrooms, including a grant program that aims to support the hiring and retention of journalists, particularly in underserved rural areas. 

“Anything that has a financial ask directly from the state is always a much harder bill to pass,” said state Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet), who co-sponsored both bills.

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Despite these challenges, proponents of the bill said they are cautiously optimistic about the future of securing policy protections for newsrooms. 

“I understand what I’m up against here,” Stadelman said.

Email: [email protected] 

X: @janyasundar 

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Kasparas Jakucionis scores a season-best 23 points as Illinois tops No. 19 Arkansas

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Kasparas Jakucionis scores a season-best 23 points as Illinois tops No. 19 Arkansas



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KANSAS CITY (AP) — Freshman Kasparas Jakucionis scored a season-high 23 points, Tomislav Ivisic had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Illinois beat No. 19 Arkansas 90-77 on Thursday in the Thanksgiving Hoops Showcase.

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Jakucionis hit two free throws to give Illinois a double-digit lead with 3:49 remaining in the game. Arkansas had a turnover and a missed jumper on its next two possessions and Jakucionis hit an open 3-pointer to make it 85-71 at 2:42.

Kylan Boswell added 18 points for Illinois (6-1). Head coach Brad Underwood broke a tie with J. Craig Ruby (1922-36) for fifth place in program history with 149 wins.

Adou Thiero went 12 of 21 from the line and scored 26 points for Arkansas (5-2). Zvonimir Ivisic had 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Takeaways

Tomislav Ivisic won the battle against his twin brother, Zvonimir. Along with his double-double, Tomislav Ivisic made 6 of 9 3-pointers and blocked three shots. The 7-foot-1 center, playing his first college season, had 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

Key moment

Illinois stated the game on a 21-6 run and maintained at least a nine-point lead the rest of the way. Ben Humrichous made the Illini’s fifth 3-pointer with 12:36 left in the first half while Arkansas was 3 of 9 from the field.

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Key stat

Illinois made 55% of its shots in the first half, including 9 of 16 from 3-point range, while Arkansas was 0 for 7 from long distance and shot 44% overall. The Illini finished 15 of 31 from distance. Arkansas shot 5 of 17 beyond the arc.

Up next

Arkansas plays at Miami in the second SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday. Illinois plays at Northwestern on Dec. 6 to begin Big Ten play.



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Park Ridge, Illinois house left uninhabitable after fire

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Park Ridge, Illinois house left uninhabitable after fire


Park Ridge, Illinois house left uninhabitable after fire – CBS Chicago

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There were reports of victims trapped inside, but firefighters confirmed the home was empty when they arrived.

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Previewing the Illinois high school football state championship games

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Previewing the Illinois high school football state championship games


Top-ranked Loyola’s offense has three primary plays: running with Drew MacPherson, passing to MacPherson and running with quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald.

The key blocker on most of those Fitzgerald runs? MacPherson.

“[MacPherson] has breakaway speed,” Ramblers coach Beau Desherow said. “He’s also a really good receiver. His ability to block isn’t talked about enough. He’s a devastating blocker. He is a totally selfless player that will do whatever it takes to win.”

MacPherson leads Loyola (11-2) in touchdowns (19), rushing yards (1,038) and receiver yards (678). The Iowa recruit will be a major focus of York’s defense in the Class 8A state championship game at ISU’s Hancock Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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On the other side, the key is Bruno Massel. The Dukes’ quarterback may be the fastest in the state. The senior qualified for the Class 3A state track finals last spring in the 100 meters and 4×100 relay, earning a medal in the latter.

Massel vs. Loyola’s stout run defense is the matchup that could decide the game. Mount Carmel and Lincoln-Way East, programs that pride themselves on consistent running attacks, didn’t even attempt to succeed on the ground against the Ramblers this season.

The Griffins called just four rushing plays in the semifinals against Loyola and the Caravan ran nine rushing plays in a Week 9 loss to Loyola.

“We take away the run pretty early,” Desherow said. “Our defensive line has done an amazing job and our linebackers have stepped up. They are players. Max Mendoza had an amazing game [vs. Lincoln-Way East].”

This is the first title game appearance for York (11-2) The Ramblers, Mount Carmel in 7A and Nazareth in 5A are attempting to three-peat and all are favorites.

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Batavia’s Nathan Whitwell (28) carries the ball against St. Charles North.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Class 7A: Batavia (12-1) vs. Mount Carmel (10-3), 4 p.m. Sat.

This is a rivalry, but one-sided. Mount Carmel has ended Batavia’s last four seasons.

“The first time was a war,” Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron said. “The last three we had things happen in the first quarter and it got out of hand.”

The Caravan is young overall but has solid veteran leaders on both sides, including quarterback Jack Elliott and linebacker Matt Mucha.

“I’m the head coach but it is Jack Elliott’s team,” Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch said “It is not what I’m comfortable with it is what the kids see and what the kids trust. He comes with his own game plan on what we should run.”

Mucha has led the Caravan in tackles the last two seasons.

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“Our defense is peaking at the right time,” Lynch said. “Mucha is the best linebacker in the state and will be one of the best players on the field Saturday.”

Batavia’s top weapon is senior running back Nathan Whitewell, who has rushed for 1,669 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Caravan is allowing 22 points a game this season and the Bulldogs’ best chance at an upset may be to get in a high-scoring shootout.

Geneva's Taylin Taylor (1) catches a pass and turns up field as the Vikings play Batavia.

Geneva’s Taylin Taylor (1) catches a pass and turns up field as the Vikings play Batavia.

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Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Class 6A: Geneva (12-1) vs. East St. Louis (12-1), 1 p.m. Sat.

The Flyers dominated Loyola in Week 1 and their only loss was 14-13 to IMG Academy, a prep school powerhouse from Florida. East St. Louis is the best team in the state.

Flyers’ quarterback Kendrick Lyons has thrown for 2,402 yards and 31 touchdowns. Keandre McClendon leads the team with 12 sacks.

Geneva counters with perhaps the most talented player in the state, Georgia recruit Talyn Taylor. The senior wide receiver has scored 27 touchdowns.

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Joliet Catholic’s Larry Stringham (24) carries the ball against Mount Carmel.

Joliet Catholic’s Larry Stringham (24) carries the ball against Mount Carmel.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

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Class 5A: Nazareth (11-2) vs. Joliet Catholic (10-3), 10 a.m. Sat.

This could be the best game of the weekend. Nazareth is loaded with stars including quarterback Logan Malachuk and linebacker Gabe Kaminski. The Roadrunners have a special group of receivers in Garrett Reese, Jake Cestone, Trenton Walker and James Penley.

“Kaminski is a four-year starter and an awfully fun kid to watch,” Nazareth coach Tim Racki said. “He plays football the way it is meant to be played.”

The Hilltoppers don’t have a major star, just a lot of experience. It’s a testament to the strength of the program, which is tied with Mount Carmel for the most state titles, that it has advanced to another title game.

“This is probably the toughest schedule that I’ve been around as a coach or when I played here,” Joliet Catholic coach Jake Jaworski said. “We have definitely learned from those three losses.”

Running backs Larry Stringham (14 TDs) and Nate Magrini (13 TDs) lead the Hilltoppers’ attack.

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DePaul's Juju Rodriguez (2) looks to pass during the Rams' 21-14 semifinal win against Coal City.

DePaul’s Juju Rodriguez (2) looks to pass during the Rams’ 21-14 semifinal win against Coal City.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Class 4A: DePaul Prep (10-3) vs. Mt. Zion (10-3), 7 p.m. Fri.

The Rams’ Cinderella run to state is the best story of the playoffs. DePaul Prep has a daring offense, led by daring quarterback Juju Rodriguez, running back Nick Martinez and receiver Braden Peevy.

Mt. Zion is a regular playoff contender but this is its first title game as well.

Montini’s Louis Corpora (38) carries the ball against North Lawndale’s Trevion Anderson (21).

Montini’s Louis Corpora (38) carries the ball against North Lawndale’s Trevion Anderson (21).

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Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Class 3A: Montini (11-2) vs. Monticello (11-2), 4 p.m. Fri.

Montini’s losses this season are to larger Catholic League powers Marist and Fenwick. The Broncos, led by quarterback Israel Abrams (1,778 passing yards, 24 TDs) are heavy favorites.

Class 2A: Chicago Christian (12-1) vs. Maroa-Forsyth (12-1), 1 p.m. Fri.

The school from Palos Heights led by first-year coach CJ Cesario could have its hands full with the Maroa-Forsyth, one of the state’s traditional small school powers. The Knights’ offense is well-balanced with Christian Flutman throwing for 23 TDs and Kenny Jager rushing for 27.





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