A shot in the arm for small business advertising would boost local economies

A little-noticed initiative by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, and six other senators would boost local jobs, accelerate sales, and improve economies. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, S. 2434, is designed to help local news media support their newsgathering missions.

One provision goes far beyond offering aid to community newspapers, local news websites and other news-gatherers. It woul...