Home » News » Calif. Gov. Newsom walks back commitment to local journalism

By the Free Speech Center, published on January 21, 2026

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AP Photo/David Zalubowski

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pulled back from his stated commitment to help fund local journalism, the journalism think-tank NiemanLab reported Jan. 20.

Newsom’s current proposed budget “includes no money for a fund formed last year to boost the state’s local newsrooms, casting doubt on whether a heralded effort to help California journalists will amount to anything and how serious Newsom is about supporting the struggling industry,” NiemanLab said.

Under a 2024 deal between California and Google, the two agreed to create a California Civic Media Fund for local journalism with a combined $175 million over five years. The deal came after Google successfully blocked legislation to require it to pay newsrooms for using their material.

See the full NiemanLab article.

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