The LCB

A regionally-focused, national wire service: Story’s not in Washington — your politicians are. Founded by veteran journalist @mattlaslo

[The LCB @LCBureau]

🤦‍♂️

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Imagine being a TV Network and f’n with independent journalist.

Bullies. All.

[The LCB @LCBureau]

@MattLaslo 🤦

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Imagine being a TV Network and f’n with independent journalist.

Bullies. All.

[Prof. Laslo @Prof_Laslo]

BFD

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

@gc22gc @RTCACapitolHill @ReedReports @ABC @NBCNightlyNews @CNNBusiness @msnowevents @cspan @scrippsnews @MyNews13 @PabloReports According to 2016 and 2024 results (let alone Iraq War…), independent journos seem to deserve a lot more access than our failed — not failing — peers…

[The LCB @LCBureau]

🙏

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Day 50 of my congressional Bureau being shuttered by @RTCACapitolHill (the TV Networks), so I'm proposing every network set $500 to $1,000 as a minimum day rate for independent contractors:

"The RTCA does not count the payments I've made to my team members this year as proof of part-time employment, yet the Executive Committee has refused to tell me or my legal team what an acceptable payment amount would be for a "freelancer"... Let me propose this: broadcasters in Washington, D.C., should take the lead nationwide and set $500 a day as an acceptable industry-wide day rate. If you and others are willing, I'd even gladly endorse setting $1,000 as the minimum day rate for stringers. Would that satisfy you and your employee on the RTCA Executive Committee?"

Letters just went out to each Radio-TV Gallery Executive Committee member's outlet: @abcnews / @Disney, @NBCNews, @CNN, @MSNOWNews, @NY1, @scrippsnews and @cspan.

[The LCB @LCBureau]

@MattLaslo @askapolpolitics @RTCACapitolHill @ReedReports @ABC @NBCNightlyNews @CNNBusiness @msnowevents @cspan @scrippsnews @MyNews13 @PabloReports 🙏

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Day 50 of my congressional Bureau being shuttered by @RTCACapitolHill (the TV Networks), so I'm proposing every network set $500 to $1,000 as a minimum day rate for independent contractors:

"The RTCA does not count the payments I've made to my team members this year as proof of part-time employment, yet the Executive Committee has refused to tell me or my legal team what an acceptable payment amount would be for a "freelancer"... Let me propose this: broadcasters in Washington, D.C., should take the lead nationwide and set $500 a day as an acceptable industry-wide day rate. If you and others are willing, I'd even gladly endorse setting $1,000 as the minimum day rate for stringers. Would that satisfy you and your employee on the RTCA Executive Committee?"

Letters just went out to each Radio-TV Gallery Executive Committee member's outlet: @abcnews / @Disney, @NBCNews, @CNN, @MSNOWNews, @NY1, @scrippsnews and @cspan.

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

I haven't filed a story from the Capitol since Jan 6 - forget rioters, I'm scared of TV Networks

Full video here: https://t.co/oAwNkgXMwR

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Please, take my credential and let my team go back to work.

Please 🙏@RTCACapitolHill @ReedReports @frankthorp @ryanobles @ABC @NBCNews @MSNOWNews @scrippsnews 🙏

[The LCB @LCBureau]

🥊 news 🥊

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Scooplet: Capitol Hill's lone MMA fighter delivers Trump a bruising snub ahead of White House UFC fight

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Scooplet: Capitol Hill's lone MMA fighter delivers Trump a bruising snub ahead of White House UFC fight

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

Read my latest here: https://t.co/kUVIgZJvlo

[The LCB @LCBureau]

@askapolpolitics 🔥

[AskaPol politics @askapolpolitics]

Notice each congressional letter in this 🧵 is personalized?

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

The Honorable Jennifer A. Hemingway, US Senate Sergeant at Arms:

"Since 2012, I’ve run The LCB — a regionally-focused national wire service that’s delivered
tailored political coverage to 73+ million individual Americans, including listeners of WLRN’s
Florida Roundup, readers of Orlando Weekly and listeners across the DMV — WAMU here in
DC, Virginia Public Radio and WYPR in Baltimore. Over my two decades covering Congress,
I’ve personally trained 50+ interns. In the midst of today’s AI revolution, The LCB’s evolved into
a hub for independent journalists where I mentor, coach and train reporters on how to be their
own brands and run their own outlets, whether on Substack, YouTube or traditional broadcast
outlets. At The LCB, we seek partnerships more than we care about paydays; collaborations
more than dollars and cents..." https://t.co/tpG0CBID9G

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

"Dear Ranking Member @SenPadilla,

This is my 20th year covering Congress, including for Sacramento’s Capital Public Radio, San Diego’s KPBS and San Francisco’s KQED. My niche is cutting through the political noise by tailoring Congressional coverage to local audiences coast to coast via my Bureau, The LCB — a regionally-focused national wire service that’s reached 73+ million individual Americans..." https://t.co/tpG0CBID9G

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

"Dear @SenMcConnell,

I’ll never forget your face lighting up while discussing your former boss, Senator John Sherman Cooper, for southeastern Kentucky’s WEKU or peppering you with questions about mustard gas cleanup at the Bluegrass Army Depot for Kentucky Public Radio. Since 2012, I’ve run The LCB — a regionally-focused national wire service that’s delivered tailored political coverage to 73+ million individual Americans, including to hundreds of thousands throughout Appalachia..." https://t.co/tpG0CBID9G

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

"Dear Leader @chuckschumer,

...Press freedom is vital, but for the first time in my 20 years covering Congress, the nation’s TV Networks have weaponized the Radio-TV Correspondents’ Association (@RTCACapitolHill). Since May 1, RTCA shuttered my Bureau without reporting a single violation to the Senate Rules Committee or Speaker, as Congress mandates, “pending action thereon, the offending individual may be suspended.” Rather, RTCA refused my lawyers’ requests to put a complaint in writing. We’ve met all their proof of employment inquiries, yet five times now they’ve added new ones. By bypassing Congress, RTCA’s acting unilaterally and outside its jurisdiction..." https://t.co/tpG0CBID9G

[Matt Laslo @MattLaslo]

"Dear @LeaderJohnThune,

As a Regional Reporters Association board member since 2009, I’m proud to be correspondent for National Native News and the 15 South Dakota radio stations that air it, including KTSD in Pierre, KDKO in Lake Andes and KCSD in Sioux Falls. Since 2012, I’ve run The LCB — a hub for independent journalists that’s delivered tailored political coverage to 73+ million individual
Americans..." https://t.co/tpG0CBJaZe