San Diego, CA – Assemblymember Chris Ward joined local leaders, journalists, labor, and community stakeholders today to call for urgent state action to stabilize public media and strengthen local journalism across California.
At a press conference held ahead of key budget and policy decisions, speakers highlighted a coordinated effort to secure $80 million in state funding for public media and advance AB 2222, the Community News Act, legislation to support local newsroom jobs through targeted tax credits.
“Public media and local journalism are essential pillars of our democracy,” said Assemblymember Ward. “At a time when federal cuts and market pressures are pushing trusted news sources to the brink, California must step up to ensure communities, especially those in underserved areas, continue to have access to reliable, local information.”
The proposed $80 million budget request would help offset the loss of federal funding, stabilize operations for public media outlets, and invest in long-term sustainability, including dedicated support for ethnic media organizations serving diverse communities across the state.
"Californians rely on their public media station for access to emergency information, educational workshops, cultural events, children’s programming and news,” said Deanna Mackey General Manager of KPBS San Diego. “The loss of $30 million in total annually across all California public media stations immediately threatened this essential service. The California Public Media Stabilization Fund is an investment in the people of California. It will be what ensures that facts stay louder than misinformation and that curiosity triumphs over indifference."
AB 2222 would establish refundable tax credits for local news organizations based on the number of journalists they employ, with additional incentives for hiring new reporters—ensuring support reaches a wide range of outlets, including nonprofit, independent, and ethnic media organizations.
“The Community NEWS Act takes aim at the heart of the local news crisis by making it more affordable to hire and retain the journalists who cover our communities,” said Matt Pearce, policy director of Rebuild Local News. “This First Amendment-friendly policy directs extra support toward small community outlets and job creators hoping to expand local coverage.”
“Let’s get AB 2222 across the finish line. And let’s do what needs to be done to pass the important one-time appropriation supporting public media,” said Lou Slocum, SAG-AFTRA National Board Member. “All of us at SAG-AFTRA are proud to stand with our colleagues at local stations nationwide and are grateful to Assemblymember Ward for his support.”
“Ethnic media outlets that serve Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian communities are closing at an alarming rate — taking with them trusted, culturally competent voices. That is why LMC is proud to support AB 2222 and thank Assemblymember Chris Ward,” said Arturo Carmona, President of Latino Media Collaboration. “We applaud him for championing a targeted, fiscally responsible, and equitable approach to investing in the media infrastructure that elevates our democracy.”
Advocates emphasized that both proposals are designed to strengthen access to trusted, community-based information while maintaining strong safeguards for transparency and editorial independence.
“Local journalism is the backbone of informed communities,” Ward added. “When we invest in reporters, we invest in accountability, civic engagement, and a stronger democracy for all Californians.”
As California faces a rapidly evolving media landscape, today’s announcement reflects a growing effort to preserve and strengthen the state’s information infrastructure and ensure no community is left without access to trusted local news.