WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a proposal that the agency believes will support local journalism and incentivize the production of local programming by prioritizing the processing and review of applications from broadcast stations that invest in and prioritize local programming in communities across the country.

“We want to ensure our policies support local journalism because it is so vital for our communities and our country.  This creative proposal offers a new way to do just that,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

The adoption of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking sets in motion a process of seeking public comment before the FCC votes on the final rules and issues a Final Order. 

Specifically, the FCC said that it “proposes to adopt an application processing policy that, with respect to applications for renewal, transfer, or assignment of a license, would prioritize evaluation of those applications filed by stations that certify that they provide locally originated programming.  These applications would be the first to be reviewed, which would likely result in quicker action and, if the application is granted, quicker approval of these applications.”  

The idea was opposed by commissioner Nathan Simington who complained it was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” that was really a “collateral attack on the Commission’s elimination of the Main Studio Rule.”

“It purports to serve localism by providing an incentive to broadcasters to create or retain sources of `locally-originated programming.’" he said in a statement. "If broadcasters wish to have their broadcast license applications fast-tracked,—that is, timely processed—and those applications are otherwise encumbered by a hold, petition to deny, or `other processing issue’ (left to the staff’s discretion), then staff will timely act on the application.  While the language of the item suggests that this means that broadcasters with locally-originated programming have a leg up, what it actually means is that any broadcaster who originates news for Market A from a studio in Market B might now have any application—at least for which a `processing issue’ credibly can be discovered or manufactured—slowed.  This is a collateral attack on the Commission’s elimination of the Main Studio Rule, and the item all but says so.”

Simington also noted that “if, as it turns out, local broadcasters with locally-originated programming, per the item’s definition, pour in to thank the Commission for its leadership in correcting a longstanding issue with application processing time, I will happily admit my mistake, eat humble pie at an Open Meeting, and may even vote to approve the final order…Instead, what I think more likely is that broadcasters will come in worried, as I am, about weaponization of application processing, and may even demonstrate by a review of application processing times that this item, unlike a refresh of the vMVPD record, is an answer to a question that no one asked.”

Responding to the proposal, commissioner Brendan Carr noted that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was once again raising the issue of the main studio rule. “When I read the item, I was surprised to learn that it did something entirely different and separate from just proposing the prioritization of locally originated programming,” he said in a statement. “It also raised the FCC’s 2017 decision to repeal the main studio rule and determined—even though this is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with no evidentiary record before the agency—that this 2017 decision was an error.  Of course, there is no basis for asserting that conclusion here, but more fundamentally there is no reason to get into that rule at all in this Notice.  There are plenty of ways that the FCC can ground its prioritization proposal in the agency’s long-standing and statutorily-grounded commitment to localism.”  

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was adopted on January 10 and released on January 17. The date for comments is 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register and the Reply Comment Date is 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON—FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is circulating a proposal that would provide incentives to local TV and radio stations that invest in and prioritize local programming. 

“There’s something special about when you hear a local voice on the airwaves or see a familiar face on your television set in the evening.  Over time we’ve come to trust those voices and they provide an important service to these communities,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “We want to recognize that dedication when it comes time for license renewals and transactions and this proposal does just that.”

Although details have not been released, the NPRM would allow the FCC to prioritize the processing of applications for license renewal or for assignment or transfer of license filed by radio and TV broadcast stations that provide locally originated programming.  

The NAB applauded the move.

 “The FCC is right to acknowledge the vital role local broadcast stations play in connecting and informing their communities, especially at a time when misinformation runs rampant online and newspapers are shuttering, local broadcasting remains one of the most trusted sources of news and information, NAB spokesman Alex Siciliano told TV Tech sister brand Radio World. “We look forward to learning more about this proposal.”

NEW YORK and IRVINE, Calif.—Hearst Television announced today that its free streaming service, Very Local, is now available on Vizio smart TVs.

Very Local provides round-the-clock local news in Hearst Television markets nationwide. Viewers can also stream Very Local original series that encompass food, travel, adventure, dating and true crime—all with an emphasis on stories from viewers' hometowns, and content relatable to communities everywhere.

"The addition of the Vizio platform marks a major step in the growth of our distribution for Very Local's programming," said Andrew Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President, Streaming Video Services, at Hearst Television. "We want to reach consumers with quality local content wherever they are and on their own timetable, and working with Vizio helps us substantially in that objective. We're confident Very Local will prove an excellent complement to Vizio's outstanding lineup of movies, TV shows, sports, kids and family content, news, lifestyle programming, gaming and more."

"We aim to give our audiences content that not only excites, but is relatable, too," said Chris Tanquary, Senior Director of Business Development at Vizio. "Very Local's addition to Vizio is sure to give our users the news, weather and shows that matter to them most, no matter where they are in the U.S."

Hearst’s Very Local App is available for free on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku or Vizio. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to the passage by the House of Representatives of the Build Back Better reconciliation package that includes provisions in the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, both the National Association of Broadcasters and the LPTV Broadcasters Association issued statements applauding the vote. 

“The Local Journalism Sustainability Act will provide meaningful incentives for local broadcast stations to hire and retain the newsgatherers who keep our communities informed, connected and engaged,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Local broadcast news is consistently ranked among the most trusted sources of news and information, and this bill would allow radio and television stations to employ additional journalists to report on the events, issues and emergencies affecting our nation.”

The LPTV Broadcasters Association also issued statements from Frank Copsidas, founder and president of the association and Michael Lees, executive director, supporting the passage. 

“We have actively supported the Local Journalism Sustainability Act from the beginning and the principle of investing to maintain and develop trusted local community news coverage,” said Lee. “The payroll tax credit should mean that is straightforward to implement, benefit from and track.”

The legislation must still be passed by the Senate. 

Introduced earlier this year by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Local Journalism Sustainability Act (LJSA) is currently sponsored by 16 senators, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Catherine Cortz Masto (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Edward Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). 

The legislation would support local news production by television and radio broadcasters, as well as certain print and digital publications, by making a tax credit available for the hiring and retention of up to 1,500 local news journalists per company each year over five years.

A broadcaster would qualify by owning or operating a broadcast station and employing local news journalists who work no less than 30 hours per week engaging in activities related to developing and providing local news to the community. The local news journalist must also reside within 50 miles of the station’s local community.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—At a time when misinformation is running rampant on social media, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has launched new spots underscoring the importance of fact-based broadcast radio and television journalism. 

The new spots are designed to highlight the work of broadcasters to deliver trusted, reliable coverage of the local, national and global events, the NAB said.  

“At a time when misinformation and disinformation are all too common online, the local journalism broadcasters provide is more important than ever – we deliver the facts Americans need to know without fear or favor,” said NAB president and CEO Gordon Smith. “We want to remind the public and our nation’s leaders about the indispensable role broadcasters play in our local communities every day as the most trusted source of news.”

Stations can download the spots, which are available in English and Spanish for TV and radio, at https://www.wearebroadcasters.com/resources/spots.asp.

The spots are part of NAB’s long-running "We Are Broadcasters" campaign, an initiative started in 2013 to educate policymakers and the public about the critical role local TV and radio stations serve in communities across the nation.

The new spots were created in response to research showing the business practices of big tech companies prevent local stations from recouping their investment in local journalism, as these platforms exert enormous influence over what online content is eligible to be monetized, the NAB said. At the same time, the tech giants are contributing to the spread of misinformation as their algorithms favor controversial content over high-quality journalism, the study showed.

The NAB said that the new “We Are Broadcasters” spots seek to remind policymakers and the public that TV and radio stations invest significant resources in local journalism for their communities, whether they are shining a light on corruption or preparing the public for a weather emergency.

The NAB also said that broadcasters support congressional action to ensure a level playing field to negotiate with big tech companies for fair compensation when their content is used online.

More information on the effort is available at nab.org/bigtech.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has come out in support of the Senate version of Local Journalism Sustainability Act, joining a large number of other organizations in favor of the bill. 

The Senate and House versions of the bill would attempt to strengthen the financial basis of local journalism, which has been under severe strain in the last decade, by providing a number of tax credits designed to help local newspapers, local digital news operations and local TV and radio stations. 

“NAB applauds the introduction of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which would support and enable hiring additional local journalists for broadcast newsrooms,” NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith said in a statement. “At a time when misinformation and disinformation plague online platforms, broadcast radio and television continue to serve as reliable beacons of news that keep local communities informed and connected. We appreciate Sens. Cantwell, Wyden and Kelly’s leadership in ensuring a vibrant future for local journalism and we urge congressional passage of this legislation.”

The Senate version has also been widely supported by a number of other organizations according to Report for America, which is also backing the effort. 

In addition to the NAB, supporters include: Rebuild Local News, a coalition that represents more than 3,000 local newsrooms, as well as America’s Newspapers, Local Independent Online News Publishers, Institute for Nonprofit News, National Association of Hispanic Publications, National Newspaper Publishers Association, The NewsGuild-CWA, Local Media Consortium, National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Report for America/The GroundTruth Project, American Journalism Project, Solutions Journalism Network, Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Chalkbeat, Public Knowledge, Richner Communications, Wick Communications and JournalList.net

ATLANTA—Gray Television has been selected for Google’s GNI Innovation Challenge for 2021. Gray TV will receive $200,000 in funding for a multiplatform journalism project that will focus on the health disparities in the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia regions of the U.S.

Journalists from more than 25 Gray TV stations, the D.C. News Bureau and Gray’s National Investigative unit will work on “Bridging the Great Health Divide—Mississippi Delta and Appalachia” starting in early 2021.

“We’re proud to launch this initiative and give a voice to these underrepresented populations that have long lagged in basic health care,” said Hilton H. Howell Jr., Gray TV chairman and CEO. “We also aim to provide resources to help people make better informed decisions on health-related issues.”

Gray TV’s project is one of 30 that GNI is funding in 2021, including three projects from TV broadcasters.

The goal of the GNI Innovation Challenge is to help support quality local journalism in a digital age. For more information, visit the GNI Innovation Challenge webpage. 

Localism is a key factor in American's trust of the news media, and local TV leads the way.

That is according to 2018 Poynter Media Trust Survey and comes as the President launches almost daily attacks on the press as enemies of the people and conspirators with his opponents, and as the threat of "real" fake news from foreign actors has Washington forces on edge and critically eyeing edge providers.

A large majority (76%) of Americans have either a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust in local TV news, followed closely by local newspapers, the study found. But only 59% say that about national newspapers, 55% for network news and 47% for online news.

The study found that, generally, only 12% trust the press a great deal while 44% say they have a fair amount of trust.

Only a third of the respondents (32%) said the media deal fairly with both sides.

That's the bad news. But there was good news as well.

[Read: Survey: Local TV News Is Booming]

The good news is that those levels of trust and confidence are actually higher than a 2017 survey. In 2016, for example, only 32% said they had either a great deal of fair amount of trust in the media. For the current survey, that total is 54%.

In addition, a strong majority (66%) says news organizations “keep political leaders from doing things that shouldn’t be done."

The survey found that more than 25% of Americans say the government should have the right to revoke the broadcast licenses of news outlets that fabricate stories. The FCC already has that power over deception from broadcast licensees who are licensed to operate in the public interest. But the issue became a political flashpoint with President Donald Trump suggested licenses should be revoked over stories he believed were made up, a category that appears to also include stories critical of him and/or using unnamed Administration sources.

FCC chair Ajit Pai has pledged to Congress there would be no politically-driven license revocations.

According to Poynter, the study was conducted "among a representative sample of the U.S. population by the survey company YouGov, which recruits a large panel of opt-in respondents and then uses a weighting and matching algorithm to construct a final sample that mirrors the demographic composition of the U.S. population."

The year 2017 will go down in the record books as one of the most deadly — and expensive — years ever in terms of damage caused by natural disasters.

In one of the most active hurricane seasons ever, Harvey, Irma and Maria left a trail of wreckage in their respective wakes. Fires ripped through California, killing people and devouring more than 1.3 million acres, according to the state’s Department of Forestry. The bill in the U.S. alone is more than $300 billion, according to federal estimates.

In all this mayhem, viewers turned faithfully to one source with resources to provide visual updates and predictions: local TV weather.

Investors are paying attention, and stations are beginning to not only change the way they report the weather, but making investments in new digital strategies to deliver better weather news, faster. Just this month, comedian and entrepreneur Byron Allen acquired The Weather Channel in March for $300 million from Blackstone Group, Bain Capital and Comcast NBCUniversal, further affirming weather’s importance as a content draw across TV, digital and mobile platforms.

At a time when consumers want on-demand weather on a myriad of devices, local TV stations are doubling down on their weather investments. New technology, such as augmented reality, drones and sophisticated mobile apps, creates new ways to cover weather and deliver information. On social media, meteorologists can deliver live updates and intimate videos. It all plays to stations’ real edge in weather: market ties and beloved personalities.

“Local meteorologists have the weather knowledge,” Rodney Thompson, The Weather Co.’s VP of systems and software operations, said. “If it is sunny and nice, I can get that information many places. But when I need it broken down, I trust a hyper-local source.”

The Forecast: More Digital, Mobile and Social

As mobile devices become go-to sources for weather, local broadcasters say digital doesn’t cannibalize their audience, but rather creates new touch points. “Digital is a gift. It allows us to connect with viewers in ways traditional TV never allowed us to do,” Pete Delkus, chief meteorologist for Tegna-owned ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas-Fort Worth, said. “So many people just want short bursts of information.” Delkus hosts a weekly Facebook Live session on Friday mornings previewing weekend weather from his home, giving viewers a peek into his off-screen life.

In Portland, Ore., Meredith-owned Fox affiliate KPTV chief meteorologist Mark Nelsen pens a weather blog and hosts a weather-themed podcast. “We do these things to peel back the curtain and share the process behind the forecasting,” KPTV executive news director Corey Hansen said. “We need to give our viewers options to get weather anywhere they want it.”

[Read: Driving Station Workflows in the Field]

Social media is a critical distribution channel, particularly during extreme weather. Univision said about 60% of its digital audience comes through social. “We go heavily with events and regular updates on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. … People are riveted by it,” digital managing editor Selymar Colon said. The stations often simply post live radar images and webcams, drawing large audiences, according to Colon.

In Los Angeles, social media even influences coverage of natural events. Before social, KNBC VP of news Todd Mokhtari said, stations typically reported earthquakes that registered a 4.0 or higher on the Richter scale. Now, he said, even small trembles prompt residents to post on social media, and KNBC will report a tremor as low as 2.5. Information may come from a news crawl or a push notification, or, for stronger shakes, live on-air. “If one person felt it, they all want to hear about it,” Mokhtari said.

During extreme conditions like tornadoes, Griffin Communications-owned CBS affiliate KWTV Oklahoma City dedicates a meteorologist to updating all social accounts. “Social allows us to have a two-way conversation with viewers and to provide them the most up-to-date weather and safety information no matter where they are,” chief meteorologist David Payne said. “We can spend an unlimited amount of time talking about the forecast and answering viewer questions in real time.”

In the last six months, CBS owned-and-operated TV stations have ramped up digital video production for both extreme weather and for more light-hearted fare, like a look inside the weather office. “These aren’t things you’d see on the broadcast side, but we can do on digital,” CBS Television Stations senior VP of news David Friend said. “It takes us beyond the realm of regular newscasts and breaks out of that straight jacket.”

Online and on mobile apps, station executives said live radar is a popular draw. “Even if we’re not on the air with news, it will give you a live sweep that includes where you work and where you live,” Ric Harris, president and GM of NBC-owned Philadelphia stations WCAU and WWSI, said.

On the TV screen, graphic innovations are improving forecasting as well. Outlets including ABC’s KABC Los Angeles, Tegna’s WFAA and Univision’s central weather operation, have introduced augmented reality graphics, which rise up from the studio floor and can simulate hard-to-visualize dangers, like flooding and tornadoes. “It is amazing new technology. It is eye candy to some degree, but also valuable info that you can’t get on your phone,” WFAA’s Delkus said.

Univision used similar imaging to depict Hurricane Harvey and Northeast snowstorms. “Our chief meteorologist can explain things not just by saying it or showing video, but also with graphics,” Colon said.

At Hearst Television, new graphics alert viewers to major upcoming weather events, like a yellow caution or a red animated image for severe weather. “We’re trying to do a better job of laying out to the audience to call their attention to things that will make them safe,” Hearst senior VP of news Barbara Maushard said.

“We could have the fanciest trucks and radar, but at the end of the day, it’s about communicating with folks at home … the technology is extremely important and you have to be able to communicate to the people at home and bring it home to the people,” WFAA’s Delkus said.

The 2017 Hurricane Season

Last year’s hurricane season tested TV stations’ ability and resolve. When Hurricane Harvey lashed Houston with heavy rain and flooding, local broadcasters struggled to stay on the air and cover the market.

ABC-owned KTRK used boats equipped with Dejero cell-sat technology to report live, show emergency conditions and assist stranded viewers. The station deployed a drone to survey conditions overhead until the station’s helicopter could resume flying, and simulcasted its TV broadcast on Facebook Live.

Also in Houston, Tegna-owned CBS affiliate KHOU leaned on its corporate cousin WFAA. After KHOU’s building flooded, knocking it off the air, WFAA stepped in as the temporary Houston affiliate and newsroom. Its ex-tended coverage was simulcast in Houston and streamed on Facebook Live.

“We became the Houston news operation,” WFAA’s Delkus said.

Weeks later, as Floridians braced for Hurricane Irma, broadcasters across that state activated disaster plans. With stations in Tampa, West Palm Beach and Orlando, Hearst Television held daily, group-wide calls to coordinate resources and coverage. Reporters from 11 different markets were sent to the state to assist.

WPBF, Hearst’s West Palm Beach ABC affiliate, launched into hurricane mode first, with more than two days of extended coverage. When the storm turned away from the Southeast coast, Hearst’s team pivoted, sending teams to Tampa and Orlando, although its crews avoided the Florida Keys.

NBC affiliate WESH Orlando’s weather team forecasted the storm would shift westward and travel up the central part of the state, which shaped its plans. “We have great tools and great people who understand markets and have watched storms for years,” Hearst’s Maushard said.

At Fox’s TV station group, new drones allow the stations to cover weather disasters sooner and from fresh perspectives. WTVT Tampa used its drone to capture lake flooding after Hurricane Irma, while WAGA Atlanta’s surveyed tornado damage. Nearly all of Fox’s markets now have drones, which have flown more than 600 missions to date and are manned by highly-trained pilots.

When Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico Sept. 20 and devastated the island, Univision deployed reporters from its TV stations and digital team across 78 towns, and also connected about 100 families with their relatives on the mainland. With all three hurricanes, Univision stations leaned heavily on their digital assets, including live updates on station websites, YouTube and Facebook.

Western Wildfires

As fires burned across California, broadcasters across the state worked desperately to cover the fast-moving blazes and keep viewers informed and safe. In Los Angeles, stations used their own radars, as well as National Weather Service radar, to track smoke, fire conditions and wind patterns.

To cover the Los Angeles-area fires and their aftermath, KABC dispatched its drone to fly over Ventura neighborhoods devastated by the Thomas fire and broadcast live images. The station’s helicopter deployed its augmented reality mapping system to show before-and-after pictures, including dramatic images of the Montecito mudslide.

Advanced weather vehicles, some equipped with mobile radar, also assisted in difficult conditions. KNBC Los Angeles’ Storm Ranger sports utility vehicle, built by Accelerated Media Technologies, is equipped with radar that has a range up to 90 miles and can distinguish between smoke and smog. “You can put a radar truck someplace outside of L.A. and see a fire before anyone knows it is happening,” AMT president Tom Jennings said.

For KNBC executives, the Storm Ranger provided more coverage and security. “We need to be within 30 miles of a fire and we can pick up the smoke very accurately, and then we are not worried about truck and crew being near danger,” KNBC’s Mokhtari said. Meteorologists also traveled in a Jeep equipped with sophisticated weather tools and cameras, providing “a new tool to get meteorologists involved in fire coverage since so much of it is driven by weather,” Mokhtari added.

Similarly, in Sacramento, Hearst-owned NBC affiliate KCRA relied heavily on its weather technology to track air quality, smoke, fires and even mudslides. “The technology allows them to be engaged from a weather perspective,” Maushard said.

Sophisticated vehicles can help in smaller markets, too. In Montana, remote locations and mountains often make it difficult for stations cover fires. Accelerated Media Technologies is building a new Ford Explorer for Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned NBC affiliate KECI equipped with IP LiveU, combined with a Viasat Ka Band satellite that will allow the station to travel closer to fires and broadcast live. “The coverage wasn’t done before because the technology wasn’t available yet,” Jennings said. “Now they will be able to get high-resolution images and informations out of the mountains.”

Winter 2018 Nor’easters

Across the Northeast in March, storms blanketed the region under wet, heavy snow. After one storm, CBS O&O WCBS New York deployed its drone to survey damage in Westchester County, where downed power lines and trees “looked like Lincoln Logs,” Friend said, adding, “The drones were an incredible news gathering tool.” Anchor Chris Wragge set out in WCBS’ “Mobile2” vehicle and reported exclusively for digital outlets, a shift in strategy.

“It is an example of the importance we put on the digital portion of our coverage,” Friend said.

With varied conditions across the New York market, WCBS also relied on its user-generated content assets, including the Weather Watcher Network and Social Snow Patrol. All CBS O&Os have a select group of local weather aficionados who report conditions and share photos and video.

“That’s another way to drill down and make coverage as local and personal,” Friend explained.

In Philadelphia, NBC’s WCAU deployed its Storm Ranger vehicle to track storm conditions, one feature of its wall-to-wall storm coverage. With Storm Ranger’s mobile radar, “We were able to see different micro-climates, like where the snow was more intense and where it was beginning to taper off,” president/GM Harris said.

In Boston, no stranger to extreme winter weather, TV stations have relied on their well-crafted advanced preparations. At Hearst’s WCVB, Maushard said: “They were on with extended coverage in advance and that is more important than anything. They were aggressive early and they had people in place.”

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WHEREFORE, ART THOU—I posted a meme on Facebook a while back—a cross-stitch saying, “Journalism. It’s a tough job with insane pressure and pretty crappy pay. On the other hand, everybody hates you.”

I think folks in the field ranging from unpaid interns to multimillion-dollar salary types have felt that shade, lately. When your profession is more reviled than “Wall Street investment banker,” you need crisis PR, which, of course, you cannot afford. So you expound on the difference between news and opinion, even if it’s like taking a squirt gun to a wildfire.

You do everything you can not to make mistakes, but you do because there is no longer a copy desk and a phalanx of editors making your life a living hell by insisting that you check something for the thousandth time! If you’re a TV journalist, you’re also your own camera operator and editor.

So you own your mistakes, but in doing so, risk your credibility because why should anyone believe someone who makes mistakes? Six-hundred so-called “news” outlets just ran with your mistake if you happen to be reporting on something of interest to the average American, or you’ve managed to fit “Spam,” “tourniquet” “Tom Brady” and the pope into a teaser.

What is lost in the din is that journalists live in and serve communities. In December 2016, alone, local broadcast journalists helped raise $23.6 million for children’s medical care, food banks, the disabled, wildfire victims, families in need, the homeless, Make-A-Wish grants, World War II veterans and injured service members’ families.

They delivered thousands of articles of clothing and toys, plus tons of food to those in need. They ran educational campaigns on bullying and hosted public discussions among police and African-American community members. They exposed heroin abuse, helped traumatized military veterans obtain treatment and promoted a reading challenge at the local library.

“And that’s,” a prominent journalist once said, “the way it is.”