Vermont Governor Phil Scott Prioritizes Local News in State Advertising Spending
Vermont Governor Phil Scott has signed an executive order mandating state agencies to prioritize local news outlets when allocating state advertising dollars. This directive aims to support local journalism by ensuring transparency in state advertising and establishing a framework for annual reporting on spending. The order was signed in the presence of members from the Vermont Journalism Coalition and the Vermont Association of Broadcasters. The initiative acknowledges the economic challenges faced by local journalism, as highlighted by a study from Northwestern University, which reported a significant decline in the number of journalists in Vermont over the past decade. The executive order is considered a pioneering move in the U.S., with similar intentions noted in Colorado's state budget. 
