SPRINGFIELD - Two pieces of legislation introduced by State Senator Steve Stadelman to revive the declining local news industry are receiving national attention:

• “It is the most ambitious package of local journalism policy that I’ve seen,” said Anna Brugmann, policy director for the nonprofit Rebuild Local News, in an article published by Northwestern University's Local News Initiative and picked up by several trade organizations including the Poyner Institute.

• "States across the country are increasingly recognizing the need for legislation that corrects the current marketplace imbalance by requiring the tech platforms to fairly compensate publishers for the use of their valuable content,"  President and CEO Danielle Coffee said in an article headlined "News/Media Alliance Applauds Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman for Introducing Journalism Preservation Act."

Senate Bill 3591 would establish the Journalism Preservation Act, requiring mega companies like Google and Facebook to compensate local news organizations for content they share and profit from. Senate Bill 3592 would create the Strengthening Community Media Act to offer an array of hiring incentives including a tax credit for news employers who expand their reporting staffs and for small businesses that advertise with local news organizations.

Both bills advanced to the Senate Executive Committee this week.