SB 686: Government Control Over Oregon Media

Last week, I wrote about how the premise behind SB 686 is flawed, that social media companies are not taking money from local news organizations. Now, let’s consider what distortion this bill’s passage could have on our local market. To adapt a line from JRR Tolkien, does HB 686 create a governing body to rule Oregon media and in the darkness bind them? That depends on how benevolent you think its Civic Information Consortium will be.

If passed, this bill will establish, “as a nonprofit corporation the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. The purpose of the consortium is to support Oregon news content providers, journalism, news, public information projects and public interest initiatives that address Oregonians’ civic information needs by providing grants”. In the uncertain scenario the heavily taxed social media companies find it makes business sense to keep operating in Oregon, this Civic Information Consortium will decide who gets the money.

Who picks the people who will control the Civic Information Consortium? The governor, you know how the archipelago of Oregon boards works, right? What could go wrong?

Eric Shierman lives in Salem and is the author of We were winning when I was there.