Don’t Juneteenth Our Community

June 23, 2026

The authors argue that California's proposed 2026-27 state budget threatens Black and ethnic communities by eliminating funding for the Propel Initiative and California Local News Fellowship, two programs supporting local and ethnic media outlets. They draw a parallel to Juneteenth, emphasizing that delayed access to information equals denied freedom, and that communities need trusted news sources to understand how government decisions affect their lives. The Propel Initiative currently serves over 20 million hard-to-reach Californians by placing fellows in newsrooms and building reporting capacity, while the Fellowship develops culturally competent journalists for community-based reporting.

Who is affected

Black communities in California, particularly in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego
Over 20 million hard-to-reach Californians served by ethnic and community media
Black-owned media outlets including the Los Angeles Sentinel, The Sacramento Observer, and San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
More than 10 journalism fellows currently placed in newsrooms
Over 16 newsrooms receiving capacity-building resources
Early-career journalists participating in fellowship programs
Historically underserved Californians who rely on ethnic media for civic information

What action is being taken

The Legislature has released a proposed 2026-27 California State Budget that excludes funding for the Propel Initiative and California Local News Fellowship
Sen. Catherine Blakespear is defending the Fellowship during budget committee hearings and urging restoration of funding
The California Black Media coalition is placing fellows in newsrooms and building capacity in community outlets through existing Propel resources

Why it matters

This budget cut threatens the information infrastructure that Black and underserved communities depend on to understand policy decisions affecting housing, healthcare, education, and voting rights. Black Press outlets serve as civic institutions that provide not just news content but critical context about how government decisions impact their communities, functioning as translators of public policy and watchdogs holding institutions accountable. At a time when disinformation spreads rapidly and trust in institutions is fragile, eliminating support for community journalism weakens democratic participation by denying communities timely access to truth and leaving them unable to respond to systems moving against them before they're fully informed.

What's next

Lawmakers should restore the full $15 million for the Propel Initiative and California Local News Fellowship before the June 30 budget finalization deadline
Legislative leaders and the Governor need to include this funding in the final enacted budget

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