A free, independent press is the backbone of America.
Locally owned independent newspapers, in turn, are the backbone of a free press.
Without locally owned newspapers, governments can, and will, operate without boundaries — that is our basis, our purpose, and the reason we exist.
Diversity of ownership prevents central control and power strangleholds over information. Knowledge is power; your local independent news media has a vested interest in your community, because we live here and operate where you live. The media should be owned by the people whose primary interest is to protect the fact-based free flow of information — unlike national and global companies looking to squeeze profits for investors.
California is producing tumbleweeds as news deserts continue to expand in our state.
Big Tech and Big Media continue to aridify the news ecosystem as longtime community newspapers are stripped for their parts, and news reporters and news coverage are drastically reduced. CINA is committed to growing reporting coverage in California through awareness, grant funding, business development and legislation.
Welcome to a community of independent California news media owners, publishers and editors. We are partnering to revive and fortify California’s independent news ecosystem. We have seen how our lack of connection and engagement with other independent outlets has left us as islands unto ourselves, under siege by Big Tech and Big Media. The result has been a lack of representation in California’s journalism legislation, without the help of our peers to face the challenges of the news business.
We are taking next steps to secure our future and strengthen local independent news reporting in California through a better connection. We are organizing ourselves into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to be able to raise funds for more independent reporting — to inform publishers of the news business and of relevant legislation so we may advocate with a bigger voice for our interests.
We are following legislation, seeking input, finding allies, tracking bills, making calls, sending newsletter updates with action items, and showing up. It is working, so thanks to all who participate.
CINA is building opportunity through a public benefit corporation (California Independent News Association) to pull our reach together to win more large advertising contracts. We have been awarded one RFP already along with another group ad buy and we are seeking more.
We are discussing so much more: events and networking opportunities, content sharing, the "Google deal," forums, education, grant funding and more.
CINA is a professional alliance that seeks input from members before setting policy. It will take many hands to accomplish our many goals. We invite you to join us. We are planning affiliate memberships and donation opportunities as we move forward. We welcome your input and contributions, experiences, insights, and visions.
Most of us do this for love — for adrenaline, for craft, for our communities, and for the sunshine that facts bring to the people, leading them to truth and action. We are California’s Fourth Estate and we are writing our state’s first draft of history.
"Public Notice" (Asm. Heath Flora) AB 1444 OPPOSE without amendment.
What’s wrong with AB 1444? Section C.
"Public Notice" (Asm. Heath Flora) AB 1444 OPPOSE without amendment.
What’s wrong with AB 1444? Section C.
"The Keep News Independent Act" AB 611 (Asm. Alex Lee) is supported by California Common Cause, California Independent News Alliance, Rebuild Local News, and Media Workers. The bill requires a waiting period before a legacy local news outlet (print or digital older than 10 years) can sell to a company that is not independently owned. Publ
"The Keep News Independent Act" AB 611 (Asm. Alex Lee) is supported by California Common Cause, California Independent News Alliance, Rebuild Local News, and Media Workers. The bill requires a waiting period before a legacy local news outlet (print or digital older than 10 years) can sell to a company that is not independently owned. Public notice and notice to employees is meant to allow community's to come up with an offer to keep their newsroom local.
AB 611 passed the CA Assembly in 2024 and was delayed in the Senate Judiciary Committee. AB 611 can be brought back in 2026 - it is a 2 year bill.
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. An arrangement between the State of California and Google is being worked on to pay California news publishers to mitigate the damage the monopoly has caused to the news industry. The Librarian of California and a tentative board have been penciled out to work out distribution of any deal funds. These groups in
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. An arrangement between the State of California and Google is being worked on to pay California news publishers to mitigate the damage the monopoly has caused to the news industry. The Librarian of California and a tentative board have been penciled out to work out distribution of any deal funds. These groups include: California News Publishers Association, California Black Media, Latino Media Collaborative and Ethnic Media Services and Media Guild of the West. CINA seeks a position on the board.
CINA CEO
Publisher, Ojai Valley News Ventura County Sun, Ojai Magazine Ojai Media LLC
CINA Board of Directors
President & Publisher, East Bay
Embarcadero Media
Danville San Ramon, Livermore Vine, Pleasanton Weekly
gchannell@embarcaderomedia.org
Almanac, Atascadero News, Brentwood Press, Chino Valley Champion, Claremont Courier Coachella Valley Independent, Coastal View News, Compton Bulletin, Coronado Eagle, Journal Danville, SanRamon.com, East Bay Express Escalon Times, Fullerton Observer, Gilroy Dispatch, Good Times Santa Cruz, Gustine Press-Standard, Healdsburg Tribune, Hollister Freelance, Impulso, King City Rustler, La Nueva Voz, Larchmont Chronicle, Livermore Vine, Malibu Times, Manteca Bulletin, Mariposa Gazette, Metro Silicon Valley, Mid Valley Times, Moonshine Ink, Morgan Hill Times, Mountain View Voice, North Bay Bohemian, North Coast Journal, Oakdale Leader, Ojai Valley News | Ventura County Sun, Pace News, Pacific Sun, Palo Alto Online, Palo Alto Weekly, Paso Robles Press, Patterson Irrigator, Pleasanton Weekly, Point Reyes Light, Press Banner, Redwood City Pulse, Riverbank News, The Salinas Valley Tribune, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, San Jose Inside, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Clara Weekly, Santa Paula Times, Shafter Press, Wasco Tribune, The Ark, The Ceres Courier, The Desert Review, The Downey Patriot, The Ferndale Enterprise, The Independent, The Norwalk Patriot, The Pajaronian, The Riverside Record, The Sun-Gazette, Tracy Press, Tuesday Review, Turlock Journal, Vallejo Sun Valley News Group, Vida Newspaper, West Side Index
Send us an email for more information, to sign up for newsletters, or to join our membership.
We look forward to hearing from you and working together to revive and sustain local independent news outlets in California.
206 North Signal Street, Ojai, CA, USA
