Applications Open This Summer for the California Civic Media Program Supporting Local Journalism

June 10, 2026

California has established a $20 million Civic Media Fund through a public-private partnership, combining equal contributions from the state government and Google, to support struggling local journalism across the state. The program, administered through GO-Biz with oversight from a nine-member advisory board and managed by the James B. McClatchy Foundation, will begin accepting grant applications in summer 2026 and distribute funding by fall 2026.

Who is affected

Local news outlets across California (print, digital, and broadcast media)
Community media organizations and ethnic media outlets
California residents who rely on local news and information
Newspaper journalists (two-thirds of whom have been lost nationwide since 2005)
The James B. McClatchy Foundation (appointed as third-party administrator)
Regina Wilson and California Black Media
The nine-member Advisory Board
GO-Biz (Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development)
Tech companies Google and Meta

What action is being taken

GO-Biz is administering the $20 million Civic Media Program
The Advisory Board is holding public meetings throughout the year to provide recommendations on program approach and guidelines
The James B. McClatchy Foundation is designing overarching program guidelines in conjunction with GO-Biz
Google is providing a $10 million matching contribution to the fund

Why it matters

The Civic Media Fund addresses a critical crisis in local journalism, where California has lost over 100 newspapers in the last decade and the country loses an average of two and a half newspapers weekly. Local journalism is essential for maintaining an informed public, which serves as the foundation of healthy democracy, and community news organizations play vital roles in informing residents, strengthening civic engagement, and holding institutions accountable. This program represents governmental and corporate acknowledgment that the journalism industry has been severely harmed by federal policies and market shifts over decades, and that immediate intervention is necessary to preserve access to reliable local information and community connection.

What's next

Grant applications will open in summer 2026
First round of award decisions and funding distributions will be announced in fall 2026
The Advisory Board will independently process and score all grant applications ahead of final awards
Meetings will continue to be noticed on the Civic Media Program webpage

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint