Local news in New Mexico is at a crossroads. This week, Rebuild Local News President @stevenwaldman.bsky.social sent a letter to @govmlg.bsky.social, urging her to sign legislation to support local newsrooms and keep communities informed.
Read more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...
Policy Manager @lorihenson.bsky.social said, “This policy is being introduced not only in New Jersey, but in cities and states around the country ... It’s such a simple and clear‑cut way to steer public dollars back to communities and support the local outlets that keep people informed."
Policy Manager @lorihenson.bsky.social said, “This policy is being introduced not only in New Jersey, but in cities and states around the country ... It’s such a simple and clear‑cut way to steer public dollars back to communities and support the local outlets that keep people informed."
New Jersey Sen. @andrewzwicker.bsky.social introduced a bill, S3744, that would require state agencies to direct 30% of their advertising budgets to local news outlets. The model follows NYC’s approach, which has already directed $72 million to community and ethnic news organizations since 2020.
"An under-the-radar merger could create a broadcasting behemoth that controls local news stations across more than forty states."
By @jonallsop.bsky.social at @newyorker.com: www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
Policy manager @lorihenson.bsky.social testified in support, noting that the bills would “ultimately allow Maryland’s local news organizations to deepen and expand coverage of essential civic and community life across the state.”
ICYMI: Maryland lawmakers introduced bills to require state agencies to spend at least 50% of ad budgets with local media. Instead of flowing to big tech, these dollars would strengthen local newsrooms and help ensure communities get vital info.
Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/maryland-int...
Text-heavy nfographic titled "The Information Ecosystem Depends on News." It features a "News-Driven Ecosystem" diagram with sections like the public, journalism, and raw information, emphasizing interconnected roles. Illustrations of trees and people symbolize growth and influence. The tone is educational, highlighting the significance of journalism as an anchoring tree for an informed society.
✨ #Educators - Use our NEW poster to help students:
🌱 Learn how the news-driven ecosystem forms an info web
🌱 Identify how content about news largely couldn’t exist without standards-based journalism
🌱 Reflect on what makes an ecosystem healthy & more
👉🏾 Download: go.newslit.org/InfoEcosystem
Want a clear view of how states are working to rebuild local news? The Press Advocate is our free monthly newsletter covering the latest policy action and new research on how the local news crisis is reshaping communities.
Sign up today to get the February edition, out Friday: eepurl.com/g_kGnP
Eligible outlets include:
📰 Print/Digital Newspapers published at least weekly with general‑interest news
📻 FCC‑licensed radio/TV stations serving a NY community
More questions? Visit the program's FAQ: esd.ny.gov/empire-state...
The program offers $30M/year in refundable tax credits:
1️⃣50% of wages for existing jobs (max credits: $25k/employee; $300k/business)
2️⃣$5k for each net new full‑time job (max credits: $20k/business)
NY Newsrooms: The Empire State Newspaper & Broadcast Media Jobs Program is officially open for applications, providing funding support for in‑state commercial newsrooms to retain staff and hire new employees. Apply by April 24, 2026!
Learn more: www.governor.ny.gov/news/governo...
Last week, Senior Policy Manager @genelewisperry.bsky.social testified before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee in support of a bill that would create a journalism fellowship program.
Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...
The journalist employment tax credit is a model that Rebuild Local News has helped develop and refine in other states. We’re encouraged to see this approach gaining momentum and strongly support the state’s commitment to ensuring residents have access to reliable local news and information.
Congratulations to Sens. Carrie Hamblen and
@senatorwirth.bsky.social, the New Mexico Local News Fund, CEO Belinda Mills of the New Mexico Press Association, Publisher Patrick Dorsey of the @thenewmexican.bsky.social, and all the local advocates whose leadership made this progress possible!
Big news from New Mexico this week: state lawmakers passed SB120, a refundable tax credit that would help local newsrooms cover 30 percent of a journalist’s wages. It’s now awaiting the governor’s signature.
Learn more: 2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo...
ICYMI: @niemanlab.org dug into our report on Illinois’ first‑in‑the‑nation journalism payroll tax credit. More than $4M awarded and 260+ jobs supported in year one.
Read more: www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/for-...
Hawai‘i has an average of 6.1 journalists per 100K residents, one of the lowest rates in the country. On Feb. 12, @mattdpearce.com testified in support of HB1458, which proposes a tax on social media ad revenue to help rebuild local news.
The full testimony: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...
A new study finds Americans know more about national and global events than what’s happening on their own block. The Civic Information Needs Census, operated by the Civic News Company and Embold Research, calls it the "Proximity Paradox."
Learn more: infocensus.org
Rebuild Local News President @stevenwaldman.bsky.social testified before the Senate today, urging Congress to adopt policies that rebuild local reporting capacity and ensure AI and Big Tech compensate small and independent outlets.
Watch his testimony: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...
Local news organizations across the U.S. are in dire need of this kind of structural support to supplement the ad-hoc fumes of one-off grants.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/for-...
Welcome to our new People & Operations Manager! Peter's background spans operations, finance, compliance and service in the U.S. Congress, experience that will help us support our distributed team and build systems grounded in our mission and values.
www.rebuildlocalnews.org/team/peter-r...
Local reporting doesn’t happen without local reporters. Our policy director @mattdpearce.com testified in support of SB5400, a bill that would support journalist jobs in Washington newsrooms through employment grants.
Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...
As Jeff Amazon divests in journalism, Illinois shows a new way to fund local news by and for local communities.
Amid all the bad journalism industry news, sharing this cool thing I’m doing with smart people at my job:
Illinois made history with the nation’s first employment tax credit for local news, awarding $4M and supporting over 260 journalist jobs in 2025. Our new report takes a closer look at what worked and how the policy could be strengthened.
Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/supporting-l...
Imagine if every county in Washington state had a local reporter.
In a new partnership, WSU’s @murrowcollege.bsky.social and @reportforamerica.bsky.social are aiming to make that a reality, with a plan to place 39 reporters statewide by 2029.
Learn more: www.reportforamerica.org/2026/02/04/w...
Last month, our Policy Manager @lorihenson.bsky.social testified in support of New Hampshire's HB1420, a bill giving small businesses an 80 percent tax credit on local news ads. A win for businesses, local news and the communities they serve.
Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...
Applications are live! 📢
Illinois newsrooms can now apply for refundable employment tax credits for retaining journalists ($15k each) and for new hires ($10k each). Credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apply Now: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/application-...
