Lawmakers weigh $15 million proposal to continue UC Berkeley local‑news fellowship after initial one‑time funding ends

The Senate budget subcommittee considered a legislative proposal to provide $15 million one‑time general fund to continue the University of California, Berkeley’s Local News Fellowship program, which places early‑career reporters and editors into local newsrooms for two‑year fellowships.

Ian Klein of the Legislative Analyst’s Office summarized the proposal and recommended rejecting it in the May Revision context. “We recommend rejecting this proposal,” Klein said, citing the state’s deteriorated fiscal condition since January and arguing the program’s existing funds remain available and new spending should be held to a high bar.

UC representatives said the program received $25 million in one‑time funding in the 2022 Budget Act for three cohorts and that funding will be exhausted by early 2027. Supporters — including legislators and community newsroom leaders who testified — said the fellowship has placed dozens of reporters across the state and helped fill reporting gaps in local news deserts. Volunteer advocates and several legislators described the program as a legislative priority to maintain local reporting capacity for civic coverage.

Senator committee members asked for detail on cohort sizes and how the fellowship was administered. UC staff said the first cohort had 39 fellows and the second cohort 75, and that the Legislature previously appropriated funds to UC which then distributed grants to outlets for fellows’ salaries. Committee members said they understood the program’s civic value but emphasized the need to weigh it against other priorities given the constrained budget.

No final action was taken. Several public commenters, local outlets and media coalitions later urged the subcommittee to continue funding the fellowship during the public comment portion of the hearing.