• by Ray Schultz , January 26, 2025

Washington state legislators are mulling a bill that would establish an annual $20 million fund to support local journalism. 

Introduced last week, Senate bill 5400 would establish the Washington Local News Journalism Corp., a program that would award grants to qualified newsrooms support to “employment of news journalists covering civic affairs in underserved  communities to deepen community understanding of complex community issues and policies,” the bill states.

The program will be paid for, in part, by a “workforce education investment surcharge is imposed on select advanced computing businesses.” Any funds raised over the $20 million would go to local education. 

“Local journalism is the backbone of an informed, engaged public,” says State Senator Marko Liias, (D-Edmonds), the lead sponsor. “It highlights the issues that shape our communities, holds leaders accountable, and drives civic participation.”

Liias was appalled by staff cuts at the Daily Herald of Everett, which had been acquired by a Southern newspaper chain. 

The bill states, “Over the past 10 years, newspaper advertising has decreased 66 percent, and newsroom staff have declined 44 percent."