By Regina Wilson, California Black Media
Last week, California arrived at a turning point in the decades-long quest to find a solution to the news crisis in our state.
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) brokered a deal that promises to change the future of news in our state. This isn’t just another plan — it’s a unique collaboration that brings together the State of California, news publishers and tech companies, to give our newsrooms the financial support they desperately need.
It also includes the launching of a new National AI Accelerator to explore how artificial intelligence can help journalism thrive in today’s digital world.
This partnership couldn’t come at a more critical time. Local journalism is on life support across our state. Across the country, news outlets are shrinking or shutting down at an alarming rate, leaving communities without vital information. A recent study from Northwestern University found that two and a half newspapers in the U.S. close every week. Since 2005, we’ve lost two-thirds of our newspaper journalists. In California alone, over 100 newspapers have disappeared in the last decade.
Assemblymember Wicks, along with the state and other key players, have come up with a pragmatic way to address this crisis. They’ve created an agreement to revive local journalism in California by using tech industry and public resources — without raising taxes on Californians.
Over the next five years, more than $250 million in public and private funding will go to California’s newsrooms, especially small, local, and community-focused outlets. This isn’t just about saving what’s left. It’s about creating a future where journalism can be strengthened enough to resume its critical roles as interpreter of current events; watchdog of developments in business and public policy; and reliable source of news and information.
As the Executive Director of California Black Media, I can’t stress enough how important this initiative is for ethnic and community media outlets. We’ve always been the trusted voices for historically underrepresented communities, providing news and information that larger outlets often overlook or under-explore. For many of us, this funding could mean the difference between staying open and closing down.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s support for this initiative, along with his backing of AB 1511, authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), demonstrates the administration’s strong commitment to local and underrepresented media. AB 1511 seeks to increase the state’s investment in marketing, advertising, and outreach dollars directed specifically to our local community news providers.
It’s important to note that this partnership is just the beginning. As Assemblymember Wicks said, this effort is about laying the foundation for a free and vibrant press in California.
As we move forward, I encourage all stakeholders — publishers, journalists, community leaders, and policymakers — to come together and make the most of this opportunity. The future of California’s media landscape is at a crossroads, and with the right support, we can ensure it is incrementally funded to become more diverse, dynamic, and democratic.
About the Author
Regina Wilson is the Executive Director of California Black Media.
