LAWS: Fellowship program proposed to help newspapers

Continued from Page 1 or provided some documentation of a harassment, assault or stalking allegation like a police report or court record making pure fabrication less likely.

Finally, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee is charged with reporting on how the exemption affects employee safety as well as public accountability.

A late floor amendment, however, makes the change applicable not just to state employees, but all public employees subject to the Public Records Act. Debate over this provision continues.

Fellowship Program

Another encouraging proposal making its way through the Legislature is the creation of a journalism fellowship program.

The Senate’s pro - posed budget includes a line earmarking $2.4 million of the state’s workforce education funding for “the development and operation of a journalism fellowship program focused on civic affairs.”

The program was proposed by Sen. Karen Keiser. The idea is to train workers, support higher education journalism programs and help fill gaps in local reporting created by the decline of local news organizations.

The legislation does not specify how the program would work. All of that is to be worked out at Washington State University where an advisory group will be convened.

Passage at this date is not guaranteed, but the idea is getting some traction in budget talks.