As the 2026 midterm elections approach, a coalition of nonprofit news organizations is calling on readers to support local journalism directly. The initiative, highlighted in a recent press release, argues that commercial local TV stations have increasingly prioritized national content over community-specific reporting, leaving a void that nonprofits are working to fill.
The press release points to a shift in the media landscape, particularly after the FCC lifted the ownership cap in 2026. Companies like Gray, Scripps, Sinclair, and Nexstar have focused more on national stories, which are seen as more profitable. This trend is criticized in an op-ed by Dak Dillon, who writes, "why is a local station spending five minutes reading national headlines that every viewer already saw on their phone before the newscast even started?" The op-ed, available at https://www.newscaststudio.com/2026/08/13/daks-take-local-news-isnt-actually-that-local/, argues that such segments are outdated and fail to serve local audiences.
In contrast, nonprofit newsrooms across California are providing in-depth, local coverage. CalMatters, a nonpartisan nonprofit covering California issues, has acquired The Markup to bolster reporting on technology and its impact. Donations can be made at https://give.calmatters.org/campaign/564470/donate.
Bay City News Foundation serves the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, targeting news deserts and collaborating with other media. Its donation page is https://localnewsmatters.org/support-our-publication/.
The San Francisco Public Press focuses on under-covered topics and historically underserved audiences, publishing online and on KSFP-FM. Support it at https://sanfranciscopublicpress-bloom.kindful.com/.
Mission Local covers San Francisco with dedicated neighborhood reporters and trains emerging journalists. Donations are accepted at https://mission-local.donorsupport.co/page/donate.
Open Vallejo, an award-winning nonprofit, illuminates issues in Vallejo, while the Vallejo Sun covers Solano County. Their donation pages are https://openvallejo.org/donate/ and https://www.vallejosun.com/membership/, respectively.
The Central Valley Journalism Collaborative strengthens local news in the San Joaquin Valley. Support it at https://cvlocaljournalism.org/supportus/.
National organizations like the Institute for Nonprofit News and States Newsroom also seek donations to sustain their networks. The Institute for Nonprofit News supports over 500 independent newsrooms, with donations at https://inn.org/donate/. States Newsroom provides state-focused coverage from every capital; donate at https://statesnewsroom.com/donate/.
Civic News Company, parent of Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat, emphasizes local-first journalism. Donations can be made at https://civicnews.org/donate/. LION Publishers supports independent news businesses; its donation page is https://lionpublishers.com/donate/.
The implications are significant: without robust local news, voters may lack information on municipal, state, and congressional candidates. The press release warns that news deserts—even in areas like San Francisco—could spread, affecting democracy and free speech. By donating, readers can help ensure reliable, nonpartisan coverage during the 2026 midterms and beyond.
