Below is veteran broadcaster Fred Young's prepared statement,  given before the Federal Trade Commission at the workshop on the future of journalism on December 1, 2009 in Washington.

An RTDNA member, Young is the former senior vice president of news for Hearst Television

"Thank you for allowing me time to speak on behalf of local broadcasters.

I am here to remind everyone that local television and radio stations are alive and well and functioning at a very high level.  In the language of emergency management, we are electronic first informers providing news and information in communities across this country.  We are there for our viewers and listeners consistently ─ every day!  In times of emergencies, we are the major source of information critical to the well being of our citizens. 

Like everyone here today, we have experienced economic challenges.   As the economy improves and advertisers reinvest in our news programs, we have data to show that we continue to be the preferred source of news for most citizens.

It should also be noted that those who write about us and purport to predict our future are usually competitors who are either experiencing the downturn with us or hoping to redirect our audience and revenues to their pocketbooks.

We all know there are many ways to get news today – many more competitors for eyeballs and advertising dollars.   But the broadcaster message to this group is that we need to stand together and share our enthusiasm for the values of relevant local news coverage – rather than tear each other down while predicting the death of excellence in journalism.   

We are observing the transition of some electronic and web based journalism into a medium of ready-fire-aim communicators who throw out content without substantiation… without balance and with rare admissions of error or ethical missteps.   All journalists, regardless of their distribution platform, need to reinforce our integrity while reminding our customers that our news is being produced by well trained journalists who are invested in their communities.

Today, there is much media chatter about shared investigative reporting - a good concept by the way.  But, it should be noted that many local broadcasters continue to support their own investigative reporting.  My company (and many peer group competitors) has Peabody and Murrow awards on our shelves reflecting excellent local reporting of local stories for local news viewers.

The Hearst group has received five Cronkite awards for political reporting from USC’s Annenberg School – sharply contradicting those who say that local broadcasters don’t cover politics.  While we do this good work, we are not waiting for our audiences to come to us.  Our local news brands have been extended to the internet, mobile and on-demand.  Every day at stations across the country there is ongoing dialogue about creative new ways to contemporize our products.

Our distribution technologies are changing.   Our mobility and efficiencies have improved.  Next generation news technology is making it easier to broadcast and post breaking news instantaneously.  Our industry is consolidating technical facilities. We are developing content and operational synergies within our companies.  You can see improvements every day on our digital on-air product, our web sites and on your phones and PDAs.    

I cannot conclude without acknowledging the pending retirement of Oprah Winfrey and the media speculation on the impact of her departure.  Oprah has been a major audience destination for many television stations for 24 years, driven by her skills and assisted by local television stations that aggregated viewers in her behalf.   Nonetheless, Oprah stations will survive!   News programs or new syndicated products will take over her time slot. 

These days I am often offended by the (agenda-driven) stories about broadcaster panic tied to Oprah’s departure.   You can take this to the bank:  if local broadcasters can cover hurricanes, tornados and ice storms; government misdeeds and political campaigns; the tragedies of 9/11 and Fort Hood; health care reform and swine flu epidemics; Super Bowls and steroid scandals --- we can deal with Oprah’s retirement.   We can assume some of the syndication monies may be redirected to fresh forms of local news programming.   Someone out there is sitting on the next great idea. 

Yes, there are fewer people in most stations than there were a few years ago.  But, those who are producing local news stories are working more efficiently.  Good work will always be done by good people.   At Hearst, our news executives are in demand for career discussions at the best journalism schools.   There is an excellent future in local TV news.   As the economy improves, the advertising dollars that return can be redirected to an even stronger news product.

And those who regulate our industry would do well to take note of the successes of good broadcasters in duopoly markets.  A synergistic approach with multiple stations is attracting new viewers and in some cases offering alternative news products in markets across the country.   Local broadcasters are doing good work in difficult times all around the USA.

Finally, some have suggested that the way to improve broadcast news is to get the government involved in one way or another.  Such suggestions concern me greatly.  They are rife with the potential for mischief and unintended consequences.  With all of its faults, the marketplace provides sufficient incentives for broadcasters to produce award-winning local news.

Thank you again for allowing me to talk about local news…a local information source that has been the fiber of the country for many years. Hopefully, we are returning to a time when our news programs will get more attention than our economics.  In the meantime, we will continue to serve our communities at the levels to which they have become accustomed."