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Lawmakers weigh a proposed continuation of UC Berkeley local‑news fellowships
Summary
The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education reviewed a legislative proposal to provide $15 million one‑time to continue UC Berkeley’s local news fellowship program, which places early‑career journalists in newsrooms across California.
The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education debated a legislative proposal to provide $15 million one‑time general fund for a UC Berkeley local news fellowship program that places early‑career reporters and editors into newsrooms for two‑year fellowships.
Ian Klein of the Legislative Analyst’s Office summarized the LAO view and recommended rejection. “Given the state’s budget condition, it is harder to justify new spending on one‑time programs and initiatives,” Klein said, and noted the governor’s May Revision had tightened the state’s fiscal picture since January. The LAO added that existing funding from the 2022 appropriation remains available and argued new spending “would come at the expense of existing programs.”
UC representatives described the fellowship program’s track record. “The University of California received $25,000,000 as part of the Budget Act of 2022 on a one‑time basis for three cohorts of journalistic fellows,” a UC speaker told the committee, describing cohorts that have placed dozens of fellows in local outlets.
Several legislators and outside advocates spoke in favor of continuing the program. Steve Glaser, who said he serves as a volunteer supporter of the program, described a broader newsroom crisis and argued the fellowship “is a priority for the state” because local reporting supports representative democracy. Senator Blake Spear, who previously worked as a journalist, said fellows are “professionals, to cover the news in 34 different newsrooms” and that the cost is modest relative to the state budget.
Public commenters during the hearing included editors and publishers from small and community news organizations that said fellows have produced stories they could not otherwise cover and boosted audiences. A range of outlets and journalism advocates submitted written and oral testimony supporting continued funding.
Ending: The LAO recommended rejection and the subcommittee did not adopt a funding change during the hearing; supporters urged lawmakers to preserve the program in the final budget negotiations.
