A bill authored by a San Diego legislator and passed by the California Assembly Friday that would help the state’s local news organizations is heading to the governor’s desk this weekend.
Assembly Bill 2222, the Community NEWS Act, was co-authored by assemblymembers Chris Ward, D-San Diego, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, to help local news organizations retain and hire journalists. The bill next goes before Gov. Gavin Newsom to be signed in to law.
The new law would create targeted, refundable employment tax credits to help local news organizations sustain and grow their newsrooms.
“Local journalism is the backbone of an informed and engaged community, but newsrooms across California are being asked to do more with fewer resources,” Ward said. “At a time when independent journalism is under attack and communities are losing the reporters they rely on, California has an opportunity to invest directly in the people doing this essential work.”
Ward continued “The Community NEWS Act will help local outlets retain journalists, hire new reporters and keep Californians connected to the stories that matter. I’m proud to see AB 2222 heading to the governor’s desk, and I urge Governor Newsom to sign it.’
Beginning in 2027, AB 2222 would provide eligible outlets with a $20,000 credit for each of their first five full-time qualifying journalists, $15,000 for each additional full-time journalist and $7,500 for qualifying part- time journalists. Outlets could receive an additional $15,000 for each new full- time journalism position.
Eligible outlets include print, digital and broadcast news organizations, including qualifying nonprofits and public broadcasters. Because the credit is refundable, eligible nonprofits can benefit even if they do not otherwise owe income tax.
“In recent decades, the U.S. has lost more than 80% of its local journalists, and California ranks among the 10-worst states in terms of the number of journalists covering our communities. But it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Matt Pearce, director of policy for Rebuild Local News, a national nonprofit advocating for policies to support community news and information.
“We’re thankful for Assemblymember Ward’s leadership in sending the Community NEWS Act to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. This is a nation-leading approach that would support local news jobs and access to high-quality community information in every corner of California, while fully protecting press independence thanks to the bill’s nonpartisan and First Amendment- friendly approach,” Pearce added.
AB 2222 would also establish accountability standards for participating outlets including ownership or nonprofit board disclosure, media liability insurance, a public error-correction policy and restrictions on control by political action committees.
The legislation would additionally conform California tax law to updated federal rules governing the deductibility of excessive executive compensation.
