California's expected $30 million funding for newsrooms has been slashed to $10 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year due to a significant budget shortfall. Governor Gavin Newsom attributed the 67% funding cut to wider financial pressures, including a $12-billion deficit. The funding was part of a deal with Google established last year to support local journalism amidst decreasing finances. This reduction poses challenges to newspapers struggling to maintain coverage and staff, highlighting systemic issues within the state's funding approach for the media.
"The sole reason for the reduction is more limited/fewer resources than projected in the January budget," stated Department of Finance spokesperson H.D. Palmer.
"The deal was born of negotiations that began with a proposed funding bill written by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), known as the California Journalism Preservation Act..."
"It was designed to aid newspapers that have seen their finances collapse in recent years, leaving fewer journalists to cover institutions and communities."
"Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed slashing funding by 67% for a pioneering deal with Google to support struggling California newsrooms, citing financial pressures that have promoted wider budget cuts."
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