The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has announced the formation of a nine-member advisory board for its Civic Media Program. The board consists of leaders from various news organizations across California.
The Civic Media Program is a $20 million initiative funded equally by the State of California and Google. Its goal is to support local journalism and encourage community engagement throughout the state.
Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of GO-Biz, said, “An informed public is the foundation of a healthy democracy. By bringing together distinguished leaders from across the state who care deeply about supporting local journalism, expanding access to trusted information and improving newsroom sustainability, the Civic Media Program will help Californians stay connected to the issues that shape their lives and strengthen their communities.”
Members of the advisory board include Arturo Carmona (Latino Media Collaborative), Chuck Corra (Local Independent Online News Publishers), Erik Cushman (Monterey County Weekly), Julian Do (American Community Media), Sean Emery (Media Guild of the West/Southern California News Group), Jeff Glasser (Los Angeles Times), Marian Kaanon (Stanislaus Community Foundation), Julie Patel Liss (California State University, Los Angeles), and Regina Wilson (California Black Media).
The board will hold public meetings during the year to advise GO-Biz on program design and implementation. Details about these meetings will be available on the Civic Media Program webpage.
GO-Biz plans ongoing collaboration with journalists, publishers, advocates, and other industry figures as part of its commitment to broad engagement in strengthening local news.
To ensure editorial independence in grant distribution, GO-Biz selected the James B. McClatchy Foundation as third-party administrator for state funds after a competitive process. The Foundation has experience managing large-scale journalism grants in California.
Priscilla Enriquez, President and CEO of the James B. McClatchy Foundation stated: “Local journalism is essential civic infrastructure, and this program recognizes that communities across California need trusted, facts-based and timely information to fully participate in public life. Through long-standing regional partnerships in the Inland Empire and Silicon Valley, and statewide collaboration with community foundations across California, we’re prepared to help ensure this program reaches newsrooms where they are, while fully protecting editorial independence and honoring the leadership of journalists, publishers, and non-profit newsrooms who know their communities best.”
Program guidelines will be released later this spring. Applications open in summer with awards expected in fall.
Governor Gavin Newsom leads California with a focus on education policy, environmental protection initiatives, economic growth strategies and promoting efficient government service delivery for all residents. He also supports efforts aimed at building unity within communities statewide through innovative approaches to governance according to his official website.
