About the Program
The California Civic Media Program is a $20 million public-private partnership with equal initial funding from the State of California and Google to support the work of California’s journalists and strengthen community engagement statewide.
All funding will be allocated at the direction of GO-Biz and disbursed through a third-party administrator. GO-Biz will appoint and consult an Advisory Board comprised of news leaders on how best to distribute the program’s funds.
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When will the advisory board be appointed and how will members be selected?
The advisory board will be appointed in early 2026 and be comprised of nine news industry leaders. A full list of predesignated member organizations can be found here.
What kinds of newsrooms qualify for the program and how can I apply?
Guidance on newsroom qualifications, along with details regarding the application process, will be released in the spring of 2026.
How will the third-party administrator for the state funds be chosen?
GO-Biz has released a request for proposals for a third-party administrator to independently process applications for the state funds, due January 16, 2026. GO-Biz will work with the advisory board to set program guidelines and qualifications but leave all application processing to this independent third-party.
