Broad coalition supports AB 2222 to support local reporting across California
Editor’s note: As you know, the Alameda Post is a nonprofit news organization. Securing consistent funding for newsrooms like ours is an endless challenge, but we are fortunate in California to have a new state program that will support many local news outlets and another opportunity on the horizon. The legislation described below would provide reliable support for our newsroom’s efforts and for so many other struggling news organizations around the state. We have been working to support the passage of this bill, and hope you will, too.
On August 13, the Community NEWS Act (AB 2222) advanced out of the California Senate Appropriations Committee on a 5-2 vote and is now set for a vote by the full Senate. It has already passed the California Assembly with bipartisan supermajority support. The legislative session ends on August 31.
The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward, jointly authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, sponsored by Rebuild Local News (nonpartisan) and has gathered a notably broad coalition of support. It would create refundable journalist employment credits that would help local news organizations sustain and grow essential coverage of schools, local government and other community affairs.
“Local journalism is essential infrastructure for a healthy democracy, but newsrooms across California are being asked to do more with fewer reporters and fewer resources,” said Assemblymember Ward. “The Community NEWS Act is about investing directly in the people who keep our communities informed—helping local outlets retain journalists, hire new reporters, and continue telling the stories that would otherwise go uncovered.”…