Newsom stated that a free press is necessary to hold governments accountable and that the legislation is intended to help news organizations hire and retain staff. Critics of the bill describe the measures as a taxpayer funded subsidy for failing media organizations.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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California Creates $55M Annual News Subsidy to Help Hire Journalists
US Politics20 days ago
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2222, establishing a program that provides financial grants to qualifying local news organizations based on their staff sizes. The law is estimated to cost roughly $55 million per year and pays $20,000 annually for each of the first five full-time journalists and $15,000 for every additional full-time reporter. Newsrooms also receive an additional $15,000 for new hires and $7,500 for qualifying part-time employees.
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