What would it take to revitalize local journalism in communities around the country? Steven Waldman of the Rebuild Local News coalition joins andrewyang.com/podcast to discuss what is happening in states, the role of big tech and more.

Local news is a way to reduce polarization - and its struggles are an underrated reason why America is unable to get on the same page. andrewyang.com/blog/is-local-…

Alarming. "The number of partisan-backed outlets designed to look like impartial news outlets has officially surpassed the number of real, local daily newspapers in the U.S." From NewsGuard and Axios via Sara Fischer. axios.com/newsletters/ax…

“News is a public good, and public goods deserve public support,” RLN Policy Manager Lori Henson said. “The truth is, if our citizens and our lawmakers want good information, reliable information, it’s going to have to put resources in that direction.”

The Latest: “The number of partisan-backed outlets designed to look like impartial news outlets has officially surpassed the number of real, local daily newspapers in the U.S.” Via Sara Fischer at Axios: axios.com/newsletters/ax…

@blackiowanews @LPostCollective Jesse Hardman Documented Nicolás Ríos The Frontline Observer Anthony Victoria B Five Wards Media Newark Stories Kate B. Maxwell The Mendocino Voice Maritza L. Félix Conecta Arizona @CaloNewsLA @DeniseFlorez The Journalist's Resource Denise-Marie Ordway The Conversation U.S. Howard Manly Hearken Jennifer Brandel Charlottesville Tomorrow Jessie Higgins Honolulu Civil Beat VTDigger Libbie Sparadeo David Grant "Where’s the Line? How Nonprofit Newsrooms Can Engage in Public Policy Discussions" featured The Riverside Record's Alicia Ramirez (she/her), Rebuild Local News's @annabrugmann, The Baltimore Banner's Kate Griesemer and Los Angeles Public Press's Shifty 🏴‍☠️.

It was great to be in Mississippi with a growing coalition of publishers and stakeholders to talk about policy support for the state's newsrooms. Mississippi communities deserve an investment in strong local news.

A majority of Americans support more public funding for local, independent news. They know that local news is a public good that deserves public support.

The Knight Foundation has rolled out a comprehensive marketplace of tools — provided at low or no cost — to help underresourced newsrooms cover the election. poynter.org/reporting-edit…

Amazing news!

This Just In: In a significant step, the California Senate passed Sen. Steve Glazer’s SB1327 today with a bipartisan 27-7 vote, which would create an employment subsidy, providing $500 million per year for local news. rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-local-…

In his statement, Steven Waldman said, "This is a historic milestone for the bill… While further negotiations with various stakeholders are expected, this decisive action sends a powerful message: something must be done, and major tech companies must be part of the solution."

Small news publishers, we want to hear from you! We're partnering with The Tiny News Collective to research advertising sales (incl. sponsorships) and tech. Share your insights to help us better understand and support news orgs with limited resources. Take our survey: tinynewsadvertising.paperform.co

"In memos to government agencies, boards and commissions including the LCBO and Metrolinx, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has mandated that the organizations must spend at least 25 per cent of their advertising budget with Ontario-based news organizations." thestar.com/business/doug-…

"In recent months, the amount of organic search traffic Google has been sending to publishers has fallen off a cliff. Newsrooms nationwide... have watched their formerly reliable search traffic numbers and page rankings plummet." via Editor & Publisher (E&P) Magazine editorandpublisher.com/stories/concer…

The Ontario government is requiring Crown corporations and agencies to spend 25% of ad budgets on local news. Our Policy Manager Lori Henson tells The Globe and Mail that redirecting govt ad spending can be an effective tool with real bipartisan appeal. theglobeandmail.com/business/artic…

In Knight First Amendment Institute, Wesley advocates for a federal public trust to subsidize the news and information ecosystem. “We must reimagine the relationship between the press and the public and consider bold new forms of public support for journalism.” knightcolumbia.org/content/the-ri…

Federal ad spending has doubled to $1.8 billion since 2018, but who’s benefiting? Our Policy Manager Lori Henson calls for more government transparency and support for community news outlets to ensure public funds are used effectively. Read the report: rebuildlocalnews.org/federal-govern…

We’re introducing a model bill to improve transparency in state agency advertising. It’s designed to be adaptable across states and ensures clear reporting on ad placements by media type. Learn more: rebuildlocalnews.org/wip-the-model-…

Our report shows great need for the federal government to better track and disclose its advertising spending, and great potential for those funds to better support local news.