Friend,

While Republicans have been focused on ramming through Trump’s horrendous budget proposals, Free Press Action’s Future of Journalism team has been barnstorming the country to call on state lawmakers to pass policies that strengthen local news and information.

The latest out of Washington isn’t great: The GOP voted to slash funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, threatening the survival of the hundreds of NPR and PBS stations that so many of us rely on. It’s tough news — and honestly, it feels like a gut punch for everyone who cares about independent journalism, public safety and the stories that bring us together. Thank you again for signing our petitions and making hundreds of calls to Congress until the bitter end.

Free Press Action was built for moments like this, though — and we’re winning tough fights in communities across the country to build a media system that truly serves all of us.

In the last few weeks, Free Press Action and our allies secured millions of dollars for local newsrooms and journalism jobs in New Jersey and California. We also stopped a corporate-backed bill in Oregon that would have deleted local news from residents’ social-media feeds, made it harder to access quality journalism and solidified corporate media’s stranglehold on the state.

Before we dive into more details about our state-level work, we have to ask: Will you make your very first gift to Free Press Action? Your donation will fuel our work to protect access to trustworthy local news.

When we organize, we win. In New Jersey, after a huge outpouring of public support, lawmakers reversed a proposed funding cut to the state’s Civic Information Consortium — restoring $2.5 million for projects that improve government transparency, support reporters of color, and keep communities informed about health and safety issues.

In California, in response to our efforts, lawmakers allocated $15 million to expand the Local News Fellowship program, which supports early-career journalists working in underserved communities.

And in Oregon, we joined forces with small publishers and media advocates to block a bill that would have entrenched corporate media in the state — and made it harder for independent newsrooms to survive.

These are the kinds of fights that matter, and we’re just getting started. With the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, we’re doubling our organizing efforts to ensure every community has access to the trusted news and information they need.

Donate today to help Free Press Action fight back, no matter what. Every dollar from supporters like you is a direct challenge to the corporate greed that’s destroying local news — and to Trump’s efforts to crush free speech and independent media.

We know that with you by our side, we can keep working with local communities to ensure they have the news they need and deserve.

In solidarity,

Sarah and the team at Free Press Action