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 is composed of leaders from the news industry across California.
The Civic Media Program is a $20 million public-private partnership, with equal funding from the State of California and Google. Its goal is to support journalists in California and promote community engagement throughout the state.
Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin 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.”
The advisory board includes representatives from organizations known for supporting local reporting in California:
– Arturo Carmona, President of the Latino Media Collaborative
– Chuck Corra, Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy at Local Independent Online News Publishers
– Erik Cushman, Publisher at Monterey County Weekly
– Julian Do, Co-Director of American Community Media
– Sean Emery, President of the Media Guild of the West and Journalist at Southern California News Group
– Jeff Glasser, General Counsel at the Los Angeles Times
– Marian Kaanon, President and CEO of the Stanislaus Community Foundation
– Julie Patel Liss, Chair of the California State University, Los Angeles Department of Television, Film & Media Studies
– Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media
The board will hold public meetings during the year to advise GO-Biz on program design and implementation. Information about these meetings will be posted on the Civic Media Program webpage.
GO-Biz plans to continue working with journalists, publishers, advocates and other news industry leaders. To ensure editorial independence in grant distribution, GO-Biz has chosen the James B. McClatchy Foundation as a third-party administrator for state funds after a competitive process. The Foundation has experience managing large journalism grant programs 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.”
Detailed guidelines for funding will be released by GO-Biz this spring. Applications will open in summer with awardees announced in fall.
Governor Gavin Newsom leads California with an emphasis on strengthening community unity through various initiatives aimed at opportunity for all residents (official website). He was elected as governor in 2018 (official website) after previous roles in business and local government.
For more information or questions about the Civic Media Program advisory board or grants process contact CivicMedia@gobiz.ca.gov.
