Committee considers $20 million annual grant program to support local journalism; opponents question funding source
Senate Bill 5400 would establish a Commerce Department grant program to fund local journalists in underserved communities and dedicate $20 million per fiscal year from the Workforce Education Investment Account to the effort; witnesses praised the goal but opponents urged a different funding source.
The full story
Senate Bill 5400 would create the Washington Local News Journalism Core Program at the Department of Commerce to make grants that support reporters covering civic affairs in underserved communities. The bill would direct $20 million per fiscal year from the Workforce Education Investment Account (WEIA) to fund grants and raise the cap on the advanced-computing surcharge from $9 million to $15 million to cover the increase.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.