SACRAMENTO, CA – August 21, 2024 – The California News Publishers Association (CNPA) acknowledges the public-private partnership announced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the State of California, Google, and other tech companies today as a meaningful step toward supporting local journalism. While this initiative is a positive development, it does not fully address the critical needs of California's news industry.
"We appreciate the effort to bring together resources from both the public and private sectors to support local journalism," said Charles F. Champion II, President and Chief Executive Officer of the California News Publishers Association. "However, we believe that the financial commitments from Google and other tech companies should have been more robust, given the substantial revenues they generate from the distribution of journalistic content."
Julie Makinen, Chair of CNPA, added, "There were ambitious legislative efforts over the past two years to put local news in California on a stronger financial footing. We always knew that getting legislation passed, signed, and implemented would be an uphill battle. This is not what we had hoped for when we set out, but it is a start, and it will begin to provide some help to newsrooms across the state. More must be done, and we are committed to working on that."
The partnership will establish a News Transformation Fund, under the umbrella of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, aimed at distributing tens of millions of dollars over five years to support local news outlets across California. In addition, it provides for the establishment of an AI accelerator program that will be accessible to news publishers. However, the details of that remain to be fleshed out.
"AI presents both opportunities and threats to the news industry. We would like to see this accelerator implemented quickly with significant access for California publishers and journalists to equip them with the know-how and tools to advance news gathering, connect with audiences more deeply, and improve their business while guarding against misinformation,” Makinen said. This is urgent, and more details need to be forthcoming as soon as possible." Publishers and journalists must be included meaningfully and fairly in the opportunities offered by this program.
CNPA is committed to maximizing the benefits of this initiative for local news outlets, especially those in underserved communities.
"We will continue to work diligently within this framework while pushing for broader reforms that ensure a sustainable future for journalism," Champion added. "This partnership is a beginning, not an end, and we remain dedicated to advocating for the resources and support necessary to maintain a free and vibrant press in California."
About the California News Publishers Association:
The California News Publishers Association represents over 700 newspapers and online publications throughout California. CNPA is dedicated to promoting the common interests of the state's news media, supporting the principles of freedom of the press, and ensuring that local news organizations continue to play a vital role in California’s democracy. Read more at www.cnpa.com.
For more information, please contact:
Charles F. Champion II
California News Publishers Association
President & Chief Executive Officer
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here