🗞 Google follows California in cutting funding for local journalism

Hello! Here’s what’s in this week’s issue:

» Google follows California in cutting funding for local journalism

» NPR sues Trump administration

» API and News Revenue Hub to collaborate on revenue, social

» How Pulitzer winners used AI

» Why some towns keep local news and other don’t

» How platform driven news reaches Gen Z

🗞 Google follows California in cutting funding for local journalism

Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would cut funding for a local news initiative from $30 million to $10 million due to a $12 billion budget shortfall. Following the move, partner Google decided to cut its contribution as well, slashing it from $15 million to $10 million.

⚖ NPR sues Trump administration

NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging President Trump's Executive Order 14290 that aims to eliminate federal funding for NPR and PBS, arguing that the order violates the First Amendment. The plaintiffs claim that the funding cut threatens the editorial independence and financial stability of public media outlets relied upon by millions of Americans. Read more here.

🤝 API and News Revenue Hub to collaborate on revenue, social

The American Press Institute and News Revenue Hub announced plans to collaborate this year on helping local news organizations develop new revenue streams and enhance community engagement. The collaboration will offer joint webinars, research, coaching, and experimental initiatives to support both nonprofit and commercial newsrooms.

🤖 How Pulitzer winners used AI

Nieman Lab recently wrote about how the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes mandated that applicants disclose any use of AI in their reporting. The results? One winner and three finalists acknowledged using AI tools, mostly for data analysis and pattern recognition.

🔎 Why some towns keep local news and other don’t

A new study attempts to identify why some communities lose local news coverage, leading to news deserts, while others don’t. The author identifies five key drivers to the issue including whether or not competitive publishers collaborate, a lack of diversity in reporting, and the fact that news media tends to follow the money. Read more here.

📱 How platform driven news reaches Gen Z

New platform-driven news outlets are effectively engaging younger audiences by using visually rich, informal content on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube according to Reuters. These outlets often feature influencers and creators over traditional journalists, focusing on topics such as entertainment, culture, and lifestyle.

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Local Stories

⏩ At Colorado Community Media, the optimism of 2021 has given way to bitter reality

⏩ The second location of Lookout Local launches in Eugene, Oregon

⏩ A horse named Journalism showed what’s possible -- in horse racing and local news media

⏩ Kimi Yoshino, founding Baltimore Banner editor-in-chief, joins The Washington Post as Managing Editor

⏩ Oregon’s Les Zaitz: Strong journalism key to local news success

⏩ Asian American journalists in local newsrooms push for visibility and representation

⏩ Times of San Diego website relaunches with sections for 7 trusted community newspapers

⏩ A look at the Ditch Weekly, a newspaper run by 20 teenagers and covering Montauk, New York, with a goal to distribute 2,000 copies a week through Labor Day

⏩ Let's Get Out There: How a Sioux Falls journalist simplifies local news

⏩ Ronnie Dugger, the founding editor, publisher, and owner of the Austin-based Texas Observer, where he exposed bigotry and corporate greed, has died at 95

⏩ Andrew Fitzgerald is the new ONA Board Vice President; Ryan Kellett joins the board leadership as Treasurer