California's new attempt to help struggling newsrooms faces key test

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Set us as preferred A new plan by California lawmakers to help fund the state’s struggling journalism organizations could advance in the coming days but faces an uncertain future.Assembly Bill 2222 would create refundable tax credits for California local news organizations based on the number of journalists they employ, which in practice would provide direct cash infusions to participating newsrooms.

The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Christopher M.Ward (D-San Diego) earlier this year, is the latest effort to provide a lifeline for the news industry.

There has been much talk both in California and globally about government support for journalism.But this is potentially the largest relief plan to date, with the state tax board estimating it would make more than $40 million available to newsrooms annually.

The bill passed the Assembly and needs approval from the Senate to reach the governor’s desk.Publishers, journalists and their unions have long argued that online search and social media platforms are harming the journalism business by eating up advertising revenue while publishing content they don’t pay for.Previous attempts by California lawmakers focused on forcing Google, Meta and other platforms to pay their share, but this proposal has a unique solution to funding the program.

Ward described the bill as an important step in keeping a strong press corps in California, which he said is more important than ever in an era of digital misinformation.Ward said the bill would “strengthen democracy” and “keep the lights on” in newsrooms.

He cited President Trump’s own attacks on the press.“We thought, ‘What more can California do to help support them?’” he said.

Trump’s efforts to strip public radio and television stations of federal funds and the steep downward profit-losing trend for commer...