California bets on tax credits to rescue local journalism

Editorial: Significant journalism bill nears the finish line

The challenges facing the local news industry are well known but still worth revisiting. On average, 2.5 newspapers have shut down every week across the United States over the past two decades. The recently-released 2026 Local Journalist Index report, produced by Rebuild Local News and Muck Rack, revealed a shortage of local journalists, with the national […]

California bets on tax credits to rescue local journalism

A bill sits on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk that would create a state tax credit for news organizations that hire and retain journalists.

Gov. Newsom, please sign AB 2222 – real investment in the local news Californians need

Lookout founder and CEO Ken Doctor urges Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 2222 – now on his desk – into law. "By creating refundable tax credits for employing full-time and part-time journalists," he writes, "the Community NEWS Act is a tonic to the digital wars on fact and truth. It would be of significant help to those in the real news media, legacy and start-up."