Gavin Newsom’s own state portal announces: “Governor Newsom signs bill strengthening local journalism, defending a free press as cornerstone of democracy”, as he signs a law that gives your tax dollars, via ‘tax credits’ to pay newspeople, starting next year. That’s not defending, it’s paying the press.
Now that your tax dollars are being used to pay “journalists” via a tax credit, maybe you should have the right to see your tax dollars at work. Why not try to stop by a TV newsroom that is receiving funds under a new California law–AB2222, signed into law by Gavin Newsom–and see if you can have a chat about the station’s news coverage.
Radio Ink reports, “SAG-AFTRA backed the legislation, with SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin saying, “Gov. Newsom’s signing of the Community NEWS Act is a huge win for the quality journalism needed to build a healthy, informed society. Thank you Gov. Newsom, Assemblymember Chris Ward and AB 2222’s allies in the California Legislature for making the policy changes necessary to ensure continued access to the news and information that keeps our democracy thriving.”
You mean we wouldn’t get thriving news and information if Newsom hadn’t signed the bill into law? Now Gavin can claim he “saved the news industry”. Or will this rightly be another way the media has, with the help of the state, weakened its own credibility?
