Today, April 9, newsrooms and communities across the state and country are marking Local News Day [1]—a national day of action celebrating the trusted local news and information that helps communities stay informed and connected.
Local News Day is built around a simple idea: Start Local.
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At a time when national headlines dominate our feeds, it’s easy to overlook the news taking place inside of Alameda. But the most important news is close to home—the decisions affecting local schools, the businesses opening on Park and Webster streets, the community events bringing neighbors together, and the policies shaping our island city.
That’s the work we try to cover every day at the Alameda Post.
Local news is common ground. It’s the rare place where the story isn’t red vs. blue, it’s what’s happening right here and what it means for your family. When we share facts about our community, it’s easier to disagree without disconnecting.
And local news is more than headlines. It’s the information people rely on to understand their community and participate in civic life. It helps us stay connected and celebrate the stories that make our home unique. It helps us understand what’s going on in our community, and to make informed choices in local elections.
The Alameda Post is proud to participate in Local News Day. Local news works best when it’s part of the fabric of the community it serves. Every reader, tip, conversation, and contribution helps make that possible.
Yet, local newsrooms are struggling. Costs are increasing and sources of funding are diminishing, and meanwhile the dissemination of unverified facts via AI summaries and social media is rapidly obfuscating trusted news sources.
That’s why investment in local nonprofit news is especially important right now. According to a report released by the Wyncote Foundation [3], “the $650-$700 million in total revenue generated in 2024 by nearly 400 digital-first nonprofit newsrooms is roughly 1% of the combined advertising and circulation revenue earned by the newspaper industry in 2004.”
In California, we have a few programs in place to assist independent newsrooms like ours, and some promising opportunities to expand support for local news. I recently sent letters to our State Senator Jesse Arreguìn and Assemblymember Mia Bonta expressing the Post’s support as part of a coalition of local newsrooms that are requesting $35 million [4] to be allocated to support local news in the upcoming state budget.
$15 million of the request would go towards continuing funding for the California Local News Fellowship [5] and Propel initiative [6], which provide invaluable support, staffing, and training for news outlets across the state. The other $20 million of that request would be allocated to the California Civic Media Fund—which would trigger a $10 million contribution from Google—creating a potential total of $30 million to be allocated to news organizations around the state.
There is also a bill coming up for a vote in the State Assembly, AB 2222 [7], which could provide tax credits (paid out as grants for tax-exempt organizations) in the amount of $20,000 per journalist on staff, and $15,000 per new hire. These opportunities combined would make a tangible difference in our mission to serve this community with accurate, timely journalism
So today, I invite you to Start Local. Read a local story. Share it with a neighbor. Recommend our free weekly news digest [8] to a friend. Make a financial contribution [9] to support the newsroom that works tirelessly to keep our community informed daily. Reach out to your legislators and let them know you want them to support local newsrooms that keep local communities informed. Because in the end, the stories that shape our daily lives start right here.
Adam Gillitt is the Publisher of the Alameda Post [10]. Reach him at [email protected] [11]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Adam-Gillitt [12].
Editorials and Letters to the Editor
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