Contact your state lawmakers and tell them to support SB 911 to support quality journalism in California.

Friend —

California lawmakers have gotten serious about the local-news crisis and developed one of the most innovative policy solutions the state has ever taken up. But the bill (SB 911) is in trouble.

SB 911 would create the independent California Public Interest Media Consortium and invest $25 million in public funds to fill in these gaps. The bill would support community and ethnic media to ensure Californians have access to trustworthy local news. If this passes, it could be game changing for the state.

We are thrilled to see this kind of momentum lining up to support publicly funded media — but you know who isn’t so excited? Lobbyists representing some of California’s largest commercial media publishers.

The opposition is cozying up to lawmakers and leading an aggressive campaign against this landmark legislation filled with scare tactics and half-truths. These lobbyists want to torpedo the bill because they know it will benefit communities more than their bottom lines.

Urge your lawmakers to pass SB 911 to give you the news and information you need.

We’ve been working with our state allies like California Common Cause and the Latino Media Collaborative to fight for SB 911, which is an extraordinary opportunity to serve Californians’ information needs and reinvigorate civic life in communities like yours.

If we don’t make our voices heard, this will end up being another victory for an industry that has laid off thousands of reporters and stopped serving our communities.

Click here to tell CA lawmakers to pass SB 911 and support community news and information needs.

With disinformation on the rise and local commercial news disappearing, too many Californians aren’t getting the information they need about public health, employment opportunities, local schools and elections. And this crisis is hitting poor people, people of color, rural communities and non-English-speakers the hardest.

California’s commercial media lobby may want this bill to disappear but the people of California don’t. Tell your state lawmakers to support SB 911 today.

In solidarity,

Mike Rispoli
Free Press Action
freepress.net

P.S. Too many California communities have become news deserts. Tell your lawmakers to pass SB 911 to give Californians the news and information they need.