
Google, which joined California in promising funding
for newsrooms in the state, has now jumped on board in reducing that support.
Earlier this week, California announced that its expected $30 million payout to support newsrooms will be
cut by $20 million during the state’s 2025-26 fiscal year.
Google is now following suit, reducing its $15 million commitment by a third, according to multiple reports.
The
result is that combined funding will now total $20 million, down from the $45 million originally committed.
Reports say that Google could still increase its contribution.
On the
California side, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is facing a $12 billion increase in the state’s anticipated budget shortfall.
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This resulted in
creation of the News Transformation Fund, through which Google was to pay $55 million over five years, starting with $15 million in the first year, and the state was to provide $30 million in the
first year and $10 million per annum over the next four years.
“We appreciate the leadership of Governor Newsom and Assemblymember (Buffy) Wicks in fulfilling the framework established
last year,” says Jaffer Zaidi, vice president of global news partnerships at Google’s parent company Alphabet according to Politico.
Zaidi
adds, “We’re committed to its success, and based on the agreement, we’re pleased to match the State of California’s initial contribution to the Civic Media
Fund.”