As the world turns digital, newsrooms across the nation are losing subscribers, revenue and staff. California has lost a third of its newspapers since 2005. The number of journalists in California has shrank 68% since then. SoCal news staples The Los Angeles Times, San Diego Tribune, and OC Register have seen a 30% drop in circulation since 2015. As the number of journalists shrinks so does the local coverage.
Polls say readers prefer independent, non-partisan, fact-based reporting, yet today more Americans than ever turn to social media to get their news, according to The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
Hopes were high this year for California assembly bills 886 and 1327 that required online platforms like Google, Amazon and Meta to pay a share of the traffic spoils to fund local newsrooms. However, last month’s $250 million deal backed by Google may have killed any fees or revenue sharing for now in favor of a band-aid to cover the gushing red ink from local newsrooms.
As the number of journalists and local coverage shrinks, nonprofit news models are getting a second and third look. Instead of chasing clicks and eyeballs, nonprofit news organizations can focus on building trust and serving their audience. Supported by multiple revenue streams (philanthropic, advertising, memberships and more) nonprofit newsrooms are producing high quality content aimed at informing citizens, holding officials accountable, and reaching new audiences previously deemed marginal.
Last year nonprofit news organizations across the country increased revenue by 22% with similar growth in the number of nonprofit news organizations and staff, according to the Institute for Nonprofit News. Their latest index survey found a more resilient and stable nonprofit news sector, which bucks the downward trend in the wider media environment.
Below are some notable SoCal nonprofit newsrooms worthy of your attention and support.
AfroLA (Los Angeles)
Boyle Heights Beat (Los Angeles)
CALÓ News (Los Angeles)
inewsource (San Diego)
KPBS (San Diego)
Los Angeles Public Press (Los Angeles)
The Riverside Record (Riverside)
Voice of OC (Santa Ana)
Voice of San Diego (San Diego)
witnessLA (Los Angeles)
Local News LA (Coming soon to Los Angeles)
California Health Report (Statewide)
Cal Matters (Statewide)
Ed Source (Statewide)
The Imprint (Nationwide)
The Appeal (Nationwide)
