Pascrell Criticizes Shuttering of Fios1News

PATERSON, NJ – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today reacted to published reports that Verizon will close Fios1News in November, a decision that will effectively shut down a local news outlet popular throughout much of the tristate area.

“A healthy democracy rests on a vibrant news media,” said Rep. Pascrell, a stalwart defender of local media. “The closure of Fios1News will weaken the bonds of regional cities and towns by depriving them further of the oxygen of local news Verizon customers have long relied on. That 150 hardworking Fios1News employees will lose their jobs makes Verizon’s decision here even more destructive. As an integral carrier of information into the homes of millions of Americans, Verizon should take very seriously its responsibility to our state and regional community and reverse its decision.”

In February 2019, Rep. Pascrell was an outspoken critic of an attempted takeover of the Gannett corporation by a Wall Street hedge fund with a history of gutting media outlets. At the time he said, ““Across America, newspapers have been shuttered or swallowed whole, slowly starving our communities of information about their towns and neighbors. This problem is especially acute in my state New Jersey. I have no doubt that our inability to obtain incisive journalism is a driving cause of our growing national divisions… I stand with the journalists and communities threatened by this and other similar takeover bids.”

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