OCTOBER 2026 NEWSLETTER
Why you should consider joining CINA
Network of independent publishers is fighting for your future
By Greg Little | Mariposa Gazette | CINA Secretary
Many people may be wondering why they should join the California Independent News Alliance.
Well, as one of the founding members of CINA, let me count the ways.
I think it is important for our members, and people who might be considering becoming members, to understand how much work we have put into making some critical journalism programs a reality.
Many of you probably know about — and have applied for — the Civic Media Fund, a program that was once just a concept, then one that looked like it might not happen to a program that is now in place for the next three years.
So much work was done by CINA board members to make this a reality.
Laura Rearwin Ward, Reggie Ellis and myself all took trips to Sacramento to talk to lawmakers as well as the officials at GoBiz to lobby for this program. Also going to Fresno was Nicole W. Little, publisher of the Mariposa Gazette, as well as Paul Myers, who is Reggie’s business partner in Mineral King Publishing.
All of us were working on behalf of CINA in order to make our points about locally owned news publications.
We attended nearly all of the online meetings and argued that small, locally owned publications should have a voice and be on equal footing.
And it worked.
Not only did they listen to our positions, they implemented many of them, though not all. But that’s how lobbying goes: you win some and you lose some.
In the end, there will be $20 million a year distributed to news outlets throughout California and outlets like ours will be getting our fair share.
I call that a win.
The other critical piece of legislation was AB 2222, the bill that will give financial benefits to news outlets who employ local reporters, photographers and more.
This was a grind and your CINA representatives were right in the middle of guiding this legislation.
Laura was crucial in getting this legislation over the finish line. She attended many meetings and met with those who were working to convince lawmakers of its importance.
It paid off as it passed with super majorities in both houses of the legislature and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 30. Many people are calling this the most critical piece of journalism legislation ever passed in the United States.
There are many other examples of the work, as well, including the legislation that cemented legal notice advertising to be in print for years to come.
We have also partnered with many other groups, like California Black Media and Rebuild Local News, because all of us working together can make a difference in our industry.
These are just some of the ways CINA is working for small, independently owned publications across California. We formed this organization for that purpose; because we were frustrated our positions were not being heard at the highest levels.
That is why I encourage everyone to consider becoming a member of CINA. Any board member would be happy to speak with you about anything related to our organization and why we feel our work is paying off — and will well into the future.
Greg Little is the editor and co-owner of the Mariposa Gazette, the oldest weekly newspaper in California, founded in 1854. He is the secretary of the CINA Board of Directors.
CA Civic Media funding is taxable
News outlets should prepare
a spending plan or set aside for taxes
By Reggie Ellis | Mineral King Publishing, Inc. | CINA Treasurer
Small, independent newspapers who have struggled for decades may turn a profit this year thanks to California Civic Media Program funding. The funding is a welcome relief for news outlets struggling to pay off debt, catch up with vendors, or simply for owner-operators to repay themselves for unpaid time, untaken time off or just unrealized time with family and friends.
Yet there is a hidden cost to this uplifting amount of money: Taxes. All of the money news outlets will receive through the California Civic Media Program is taxable as income at both the state and federal level. For some publishers this may be just $20,000 as a single owner-operator, while for small and countywide publications, this could mean up to $250,000, the cap any one newsroom can receive under the 2026 funding per editorial position allocation.
As a reminder, there are two pots of money for which news outlets could apply. The pro-rata funding pays $20,000 for the first five qualifying, full-time editorial positions and $10,000 for the next five qualifying, full-time editorial positions or part-time editorial positions. There is also a needs-based pool of money, where newsrooms without any full-time staff can receive $40,000 and small to medium sized newsrooms could receive up to $250,000 depending on their plans to address the needs of underserved populations in their coverage area.
For example, if you are a newsroom without any full-time journalists, you may receive up to $40,000 in new funding under the needs-based assessment. For a newsroom at the breakeven point, this means you will have roughly $40,000 in profits for the 2026 fiscal year. Nearly 30% of that amount is tax based on the state rate for corporations (8.84%) and the federal rate for corporations (21%). In other words, unless you have a plan to spend all of the money before Dec. 31, 2026, you will need to set aside $11,936 (29.84%) to pay the tax bill.
The deadline to apply for funding was on Aug. 21, 2026. At that time, the James B. McClatchy Foundation, the organization administering the CA Civic Media Program, reiterated that funding would be allocated in the fall of 2026. Fall has a variety of astronomical, meteorological, and academic meanings, but, for the purpose of finance, it generally means the period from Oct. 1 through mid-December.
Since most private businesses are on a calendar year for their fiscal year, that doesn’t give news organizations a lot of time for tax planning. The bottom line, which is now hopefully a healthy profit, is that news outlets need to begin planning to spend the amount they applied for or be prepared to set aside about 30% of it for taxes. Since no news outlet knows exactly how much they will receive, publishers will need to prioritize their spending list up to the full amount, in case the allocation is lower than the estimate in their application.
Please remember the California Independent News Alliance is not a tax preparer and recommends all news outlets to consult with their certified tax professional when planning for potential profits.
Reggie Ellis is the publisher and co-owner of Mineral King Publishing, which owns five weekly newspapers in the San Joaquin Valley. He is treasurer of the CINA Board of Directors.
CINA to hold 3rd Annual Meeting & Conference
Event will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027 in Fresno, California
By Reggie Ellis | Mineral King Publishing, Inc. | CINA Treasurer
In the last year, we have brought together a once disparate group of independent news outlets to accomplish great things on behalf of both members and non-members alike. Now it’s time to get together to build on that momentum for next year.
The third Annual Meeting and Conference for the California Independent News Alliance (CINA) will again be held in the midway point of the state. Mineral King Publishing, Inc., which owns five weekly newspapers in Fresno and Tulare counties, will host the event on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027 in Fresno, California. The conference and hotel accommodations will be at the Piccadilly Inn, 5115 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727.
The hotel is conveniently located within minutes of the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, making air travel to the conference easier and equidistant for most newsrooms throughout the state. Lunch will be provided at the conference. Group rates are available for rooms.
Tickets for the annual meeting and conference are $60 for members and $75 for non-members. Independent, California-based community, local, regional and ethnic media are welcome. To purchase tickets, visit https://cina.news. For questions, contact CINA Treasurer Reggie Ellis at rellis@midvalleytimes.com or by calling 559-909-2996.
More details on the conference program will be released in the coming months.
Reggie Ellis is the publisher and co-owner of Mineral King Publishing, which owns five weekly newspapers in the San Joaquin Valley. He is treasurer of the CINA Board of Directors.
AUGUST 2026 NEWSLETTER
CINA members benefit from state ad buy
State Controller’s Office places $500 ads in 22 independent news outlets
By Reggie Ellis | Mid Valley Times | CINA Treasurer
Network of independent publishers is fighting for your future
By Greg Little | Mariposa Gazette | CINA Secretary
Many people may be wondering why they should join the California Independent News Alliance.
Well, as one of the founding members of CINA, let me count the ways.
I think it is important for our members, and people who might be considering becoming members, to understand how much work we have put into making some critical journalism programs a reality.
Many of you probably know about — and have applied for — the Civic Media Fund, a program that was once just a concept, then one that looked like it might not happen to a program that is now in place for the next three years.
So much work was done by CINA board members to make this a reality.
Laura Rearwin Ward, Reggie Ellis and myself all took trips to Sacramento to talk to lawmakers as well as the officials at GoBiz to lobby for this program. Also going to Fresno was Nicole W. Little, publisher of the Mariposa Gazette, as well as Paul Myers, who is Reggie’s business partner in Mineral King Publishing.
All of us were working on behalf of CINA in order to make our points about locally owned news publications.
We attended nearly all of the online meetings and argued that small, locally owned publications should have a voice and be on equal footing.
And it worked.
Not only did they listen to our positions, they implemented many of them, though not all. But that’s how lobbying goes: you win some and you lose some.
In the end, there will be $20 million a year distributed to news outlets throughout California and outlets like ours will be getting our fair share.
I call that a win.
The other critical piece of legislation was AB 2222, the bill that will give financial benefits to news outlets who employ local reporters, photographers and more.
This was a grind and your CINA representatives were right in the middle of guiding this legislation.
Laura was crucial in getting this legislation over the finish line. She attended many meetings and met with those who were working to convince lawmakers of its importance.
It paid off as it passed with super majorities in both houses of the legislature and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 30. Many people are calling this the most critical piece of journalism legislation ever passed in the United States.
There are many other examples of the work, as well, including the legislation that cemented legal notice advertising to be in print for years to come.
We have also partnered with many other groups, like California Black Media and Rebuild Local News, because all of us working together can make a difference in our industry.
These are just some of the ways CINA is working for small, independently owned publications across California. We formed this organization for that purpose; because we were frustrated our positions were not being heard at the highest levels.
That is why I encourage everyone to consider becoming a member of CINA. Any board member would be happy to speak with you about anything related to our organization and why we feel our work is paying off — and will well into the future.
Four CINA members attend dinner
Fresno meeting focused on journalism
Greg Little | Mariposa Gazette | CINA Secretary
Four members of the California Independent News Alliance, including two board members, were recently in attendance at a journalism-focused dinner and meeting in Fresno.
Reggie Ellis, board treasurer, and Greg Little, secretary, attended the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative gathering at a steakhouse in Fresno, where various topics were discussed.
Ellis is the president and publisher of Mineral King Publishing in Sanger and Little is the editor and co-owner of the Mariposa Gazette.
Also attending were Paul Myers, vice-president of Mineral King Publishing and Nicole W. Little, publisher and co-owner of the Mariposa Gazette.
The meeting was hosted by the journalism cooperative and was intended for people to share their ideas and thoughts on the current state of the business as well as what the future might hold.
There were also some key players in attendance from the McClatchy Foundation, the group which is administering the Public Media Fund that will be distributing millions of dollars to local media outlets in California.
Priscilla Enriquez, the president and CEO of the McClatchy Foundation, was in attendance, as was Keiona Williamson, the journalism sustainability director and the coordinator of the Public Media Fund project.
Joe Kieta is the executive director of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative and he coordinated the gathering in Fresno.
Newspapers, online publications and public radio members were all in attendance, as were academic representatives and more.
One part of the meeting was for people seated at the different tables to have a conversation about the state of the media. Then, a representative from each table was given a microphone to relay what was discussed.
During his turn, Greg Little told the audience that although one of the topics they were discussing was the future outlook of journalism, he felt they should also consider looking at the past to see what has worked. He said learning from history, and incorporating some of those successes, could be a key factor in shaping the future.
It was also announced at the meeting that a CVJC summit will be held on Oct. 27 at UC Merced to address many of the issues at hand. That includes the impacts of AI and many more topics.
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Additional Information
Are you a member with something to say about California's independent news? Please submit your editorial comments on this page.
CINA Member voices - EDITORIAL COMMENT
Is the press dividing Americans and fueling contempt?
By Laura Rearwin, founder California Independent News Alliance
Distrust in the media is well founded.
The role of newspapers is to hold government and power to account on behalf of the people. When the media is controlled, blocked, censored or manipulated by powerful interests, it becomes untrustworthy.
How we got here:
The shift toward opinion-infused reporting began in 1987 with Ronald Reagan and the end of the “Fairness Doctrine,” which required balanced reporting, enforced by the FCC. Also under Reagan came new rules that allowed for greater media consolidation than before. Then, under Bill Clinton, we got the Telecommunications Act (1996) that opened the floodgate to the mass-media consolidation we have today.
Controlling information flow
Today, 80% of U.S. news organizations and half of all daily newspapers are owned by private equity and hedge funds and, according to the Medill School of Journalism, more than two newspapers per week have closed over the last five years.
Well-funded interests seek to control the narrative and the flow of information to their advantage. With the loss of campaign finance control, these entities often work hand in glove on censorship and propaganda campaigns to control what the public receives through chain-media and social platforms. Those algorithms drive the anger, the fear and profit. The citizens are being used, and Big Media is part of the problem.
Government agencies enjoy the dark — 3 examples
- Even at the local level, government agencies seek to control their own narratives. The city of Ojai rarely advertises in our local newspaper beyond what is required by law. Instead, they spend marketing dollars in Irvine, make their own printed mailed “news” letter, and officials share press releases to their low-traffic Facebook page and website. Meanwhile, the Ojai Valley News has six times the followers of Ojai city, and more than 4.5 million pageviews a year. If transparency were the goal, the city could spend less for more impressions.
- In 2021, Ojai Unified School District’s past embattled administration — either in anger or in secrecy — actually took their legally required public notices out of the Ojai Valley News to publish in newspapers outside the district to the Fillmore Gazette and to The Star. Regardless of whether it was to avoid public transparency or to defund the local newspaper of tens of thousands of dollars — either one hurts our community.
- Even though the state of California encourages County governments to place local rural election ads, and provides reimbursement for them from the Secretary of Sate, the County of Ventura has opted not to do so.
Media literacy in our community
For the past seven years, the Ojai Valley News has had both a publisher and an editor. The advantage of that separation is a stronger wall between news and opinion. Still, canceling over opinion has happened in Ojai. It’s a shame when people give up their right to know what is going on in their community over anger at speech on the opinion page. Opinion is extra, not the point; it is a platform for the voices of our town to speak their minds — our local platform.
The paper is a watchdog for the people, truly here to report without fear or favor. When I hear people refer to an editorial comment as an “article,” or refer to me as “the editor,” I know right away we have a lack of media literacy, because publishers don’t read or edit articles in advance of publication, and articles should not contain editorial comment. It’s also hard when council members refuse to comment or speak to reporters — which is another attack on the press and the public right to know. It can also appear that the news reporting favors certain individuals.
Many news organizations have made the mistake of shaping their reporting to partisan bias, and they are paying the price — in trust.
A complicated national example is when the Washington Post, which built up a partisan audience, opted in 2024 not to endorse a presidential candidate, one that most every reader had already decided to vote for. In the following week, 250,000 people canceled their subscriptions. (Similarly, 8,800 quit the L.A. Times.) For some, the lack of a presidential endorsement was a catalyst, but others sited changes in the big newsrooms. Ojai Valley News copy editor Julie Price Coleman shared her perspective: “I quit (subscriptions to) both the Post and the L.A. Times several months after the election, when I was reading news that had clearly been cherry-picked and whitewashed. As a Watergate-era journalist, I couldn’t believe the things the reporters were not allowed to cover.”
To be sure, part of that lack of news literacy is with big-chain media blurring those lines in their editorial news, and breaking the rules of good journalism, and writing to gain a partisan audience.
The problem of the post-truth era
Unfortunately, it’s hard nowadays to even agree on a set of facts, because information sources have rightfully become suspect.
Good journalism involves freedom of access to information, fact-checking and interviewing all sides of a conflict. Good reporting needs sunlight without censorship. As free speech and privacy rights evaporate abroad, the threat to those rights grows in the U.S.
The trap of political parties and heroes
The self-censorship that comes with allegiance to party and politicians comes with loss of empathy, curiosity and an open mind. Demonizing and name-calling are powerful tools of control. They are used nationally, within parties and within our community to discourage people from thinking for themselves, or even allowing the expression of alternative points of view.
Ownership matters: the hope of independent media
Luckily, independent news reporting is growing. Yes, it means we are hearing conflicting narratives, based on different sets of “facts.” Choosing our sources is challenging. Stretch yourself and explore the new world of independent news. We now have the ability to get more information and consider the source influences. We have gained clarity on how the most powerful abuse the public trust to forward their interests — through politicians and media.
The press should be in the hands of the many — not the few. Press freedom is worth fighting for, because as the independent press is surveilled, censored and attacked, so goes our individual freedoms and right to know. The question is whether we can acknowledge the possible shortcomings of our information, set aside our blue or red team, and listen with respect to the concerns and fears of our neighbors. Can we disagree without contempt?
For more information, interested participants can contact
CINA at 559-909-2996 or via email at hello@cina.news
