Rebuild Local News

10/13/2026

The new State of Local News report has officially dropped, describing 2026 as a “Super El Niño Year for Local News.”

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰:

🏜️ The number of local news desert counties in the U.S. shot up by 26 in the last year, the largest one-year rise in at least five years. There are now 238 news desert counties.

📉 Between 2024 and 2025, the newspaper industry lost more than 7,500 jobs, a contraction of more than 8%, similar to the rate of loss seen in 2023-2024.

📰 In the past year, 170 newspapers have closed or merged. The pace of newspaper closures hit an average of about three per week.

📈 The report tracked the creation of 75 digital-only and print local news startups in the last year, a rise in national local news networks and a small but emerging cohort of content creators producing original local journalism.

💻 Since 2022, internet traffic to the largest local news sites has decreased by 50%, coinciding with growing consumer use of AI platforms.

Learn more at Medill Local News Initiative:

The latest insights and trends on the local news landscape across the country. Through data and graphics, explore the state of local news outlets and learn about news deserts, network sites and pathways to sustainability.

10/09/2026

𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted the largest public subsidy for community news in the country. Now, the big question floating around is whether the government can support local media without influencing it.

In his newsletter Second Rough Draft, former ProPublica president Richard Tofel poses that question directly to Rebuild Local News founder Steven Waldman in a candid Q&A.

Together, they discuss…
🔹 Why content neutrality matters, and how tying the credit to headcount rather than editorial judgment reduces the risk of political pressure
🔹 Why excluding certain ownership structures may sound appealing but invites manipulation
🔹 Whether newsrooms that backed the law now owe a debt to the politicians who passed it, and why the perception of capture is a valid concern

Read the full piece:

A conversation with Steve Waldman of Rebuild Local News

10/07/2026

Today was a powerful reminder of what's possible when we show up for local newsrooms and the communities they serve. 🤝

Media advocates, philanthropic funders, and state policymakers gathered for the Local News Policy Summit in San Antonio to explore how public investment and policy innovation can expand access to reliable, culturally responsive local news and civic information that actually meets communities' needs.

After significant progress in 2026, people came ready to share lessons from this year's efforts and map out the next generation of state legislative action. The conversations were honest, practical and full of momentum.

Rebuild Local News is proud to have co-hosted this summit with our friends at Free Press, the Latino Media Collaborative, and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. And a big thank you to the sponsors, including Democracy Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Press Forward and The Joyce Foundation, for helping make it happen.

10/06/2026

"A former intern bought Georgia’s The Monticello News. Weeks later, he grew subscriptions by 30 percent."

Read more at Columbia Journalism Review:

A former intern bought Georgia’s Monticello News. Weeks later, he grew subscriptions by 30 percent.

10/02/2026

“The new law offers newsrooms tax credits for retaining and hiring journalists. Its backers hope it can do much more.”

Read more at Poynter:

The new law offers newsrooms tax credits for retaining and hiring journalists. Its backers hope it can do much more.

10/01/2026

In the September issue of The Press Advocate, we cover:

✍️ California Governor Gavin Newsom signing the Community NEWS Act into law, establishing the nation's largest state investment in local news by total dollars

📈 New research indicating growing public recognition of the local news crisis and greater support for government assistance

🤝 The latest addition to the Rebuild Local News board of directors: William McKenzie, senior editorial advisor at the Bush Institute (George W. Bush Presidential Center) and longtime contributing columnist for The Dallas Morning News

Read the September 2026 edition: https://mailchi.mp/rebuildlocalnews/newsom-signs-nations-most-ambitious-law-to-strengthen-community-news

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the historic Community NEWS Act (AB 2222) into law, a landmark measure that will help California local news providers sustain and expand the coverage communities need to stay informed and civically engaged.

The law is projected to direct more than $200 million over five years to local news outlets that hire or retain local journalists, making it the nation’s largest state investment in community news by total dollars and establishing a model for other states.

Praised as a breakthrough approach to supporting local news, the Community NEWS Act brought together a historic coalition of more than 150 local, state, and national organizations from across the local news industry. All kinds of community news providers (print, digital, and broadcast including public media) are eligible for the tax credits, regardless of whether they're organized as a for-profit business, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a sole proprietorship.

The law also includes strong safeguards and firewalls against political influence. Outlets controlled by political action committees or dark money groups are excluded, and eligibility is based on objective criteria, not any review of editorial content.

The Community NEWS Act was sponsored by Rebuild Local News and introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward, with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks as joint author and Senator Jerry McNerney, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva joining as coauthors.

We applaud the legislative champions, local news advocates, and coalition partners who united behind this effort to strengthen California's newsrooms and the communities they serve.

Read our press release: https://www.rebuildlocalnews.org/gov-newsom-signs-nations-most-ambitious-law-to-strengthen-community-news/

Learn more with our policy explainer and FAQ: https://www.rebuildlocalnews.org/explainer-californias-community-news-act-ab-2222/

09/30/2026

BREAKING: The Community NEWS Act is now law in California! 🎉

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the Community NEWS Act (AB 2222), giving newsrooms across the state new support to hire and retain local journalists. That means more reporters covering city halls, school boards, and neighborhoods that need them.

Our sincere thanks to Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Chris Ward, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, and Senator Jerry McNerney for their leadership in making this happen. This historic milestone also belongs to the newsroom leaders, media advocates, and community organizations who came together to stand up for local news. It wouldn't have happened without you.

More from Rebuild Local News on this significant development coming soon.

09/29/2026

We’re pleased to welcome William McKenzie, senior editorial advisor at the George W. Bush Institute, to the Rebuild Local News board of directors. 🎉

In addition to his work at the Bush Institute, which is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, McKenzie is a longtime contributing columnist for The Dallas Morning News, where he won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. He was also editor of the Ripon Forum, “the longest running Republican journal of political thought.”

His leadership and perspective will further expand the breadth of voices helping guide our work, including our commitment to building support for local news across ideological and political lines.